Randy Wolf

Infobox MLB player
name=Randy Wolf


width=300
position=Starting pitcher
team=Houston Astros
number=39
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1976|8|22
debutdate=June 11
debutyear=1999
debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies
statyear=September 30, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=90-78
stat2label=Earned run average| stat2value=4.26
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=1,227
teams=
*Philadelphia Phillies (by|1999-by|2006)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2007)
*San Diego Padres (by|2008)
*Houston Astros (by|2008-present)

Randall Christopher Wolf (born August 22, 1976 in Canoga Park, California) is a left handed pitcher who plays for the Houston Astros.

Amateur career

Wolf played PONY League Baseball in West Hills, CA. He played high school baseball at El Camino Real in Woodland Hills, CA, where he was named High School "Pitcher of the Year" by the Los Angeles Times in 1993, and "Player of the Year" in 1994. Wolf continued his amateur career at Pepperdine University where he was Freshman 1st Team All-America, West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, 2nd team College All-American, and West Coast Conference All-Star.

Draft and minor leagues

He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 25th round of the by|1994 draft, but didn't sign. He was then drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the second round of the by|1997 MLB draft.

He rose through the minor leagues quickly, including stops with Single-A Batavia (1997, 4-0, 1.58, 7 starts), Double-A Reading (by|1998, 2-0, 1.44, 4 starts), and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (1998, 9-7, 4.62, 23 starts & 1999, 4-5, 3.61, 12 starts).

Major League Career

Philadelphia Phillies

Wolf made his major-league debut on June 11, by|1999, against the Toronto Blue Jays, pitching 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run, and recording his first career victory in the Phillies 8-4 win over Toronto.

Perhaps his best season was in by|2003, when he was selected to the National League All-Star team and finished the year with a career-high 16 wins.

On August 11, by|2004, Wolf hit two home runs while pitching the Phillies to a 15-4 win against the Colorado Rockies.

On July 1, by|2005, Wolf underwent Tommy John surgery, missing the remainder of the season and the first half of the by|2006 season. He made his return to the Phillies' rotation on July 30, 2006. He finished the 2006 season with a 4-0 record, pitching only 55 innings.

After the 2006 season his contract with the Phillies expired and he became a free agent.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Wolf signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers. On July 4, Wolf went on the 15-day DL due to left shoulder soreness. He was expected to recover, but he underwent shoulder surgery and missed the rest of the season. On November 1, the Dodgers bought out his by|2008 option and allowed Wolf to become a free agent.

an Diego Padres

On December 1, 2007, Wolf signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres. On April 15, by|2008, Wolf had a no-hitter through 6.2 innings against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park before Brad Hawpe hit a single.

Houston Astros

On July 22, 2008, Wolf was traded to the Houston Astros for Chad Reineke.

Miscellaneous Notes

Wolf developed his own fan club among the Phillies fans, which was known as The Wolf Pack, who came to games sporting wolf masks. This even spawned the Phillies promotional team to have a Randy Wolf Mask giveaway night.

Wolf has an older brother Jim Wolf who is a Major League umpire. To avoid a potential conflict of interests, Jim Wolf is not allowed to work behind the plate for games his brother pitches.

In 2007, Wolf purchased a house in Los Angeles' Hollywood Hills from rocker Slash.

External links