John Bale (baseball)

Infobox MLB player
name=John Robert Bale
position=Pitcher
team=Kansas City Royals
number=49
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1974|5|22
birthplace=city-state|Cheverly|Maryland
debutdate=September 30
debutyear=1999
debutteam=Toronto Blue Jays
statyear=September 13, 2008
stat1label=Win-loss
stat1value=3-6
stat3label=Earned run average
stat3value=4.62
stat4label=Strikeouts
stat4value=121
teams=
*Toronto Blue Jays (by|1999-by|2000)
*Baltimore Orioles (by|2001)
*Cincinnati Reds (by|2003)
*Hiroshima Toyo Carp (by|2004-by|2006) (NPB)
*Kansas City Royals (by|2007-present)

John Robert Bale (born May 22, 1974 in Cheverly, Maryland) is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the Kansas City Royals. Bale and his wife, Genevieve, reside in Tampa, Florida, with their daughters Madison and Olivia, and son, Zachary. Genevieve's brother is NHL player Vincent LeCavalier [ [http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080403&content_id=2488071&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc The Official Site of The Kansas City Royals: News: Royals look to continue winning ways ] ] .

Bale, a graduate of Crestview (Fla.) High, was an All-State selection in baseball his senior season after going 11-2 with a 0.38 ERA. He is an alumnus of The University of Southern Mississippi, where he went 9-8 with a 4.01 ERA his junior year. He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 12th round of the by|1994 MLB Draft, but did not sign.

Early career

After being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 5th round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft, Bale made his Major League debut with the Blue Jays on September 30, mlby|1999. On December 11, mlby|2000, Bale was traded from the Blue Jays to the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Jayson Werth.

After one season in Baltimore, he was then traded to the New York Mets for Gary Matthews, Jr., although he never appeared in a game for the Mets.

On May 8, mlby|2003, Bale signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds, with whom he appeared in 10 games.

Japan Baseball

From by|2004 to by|2006, Bale pitched for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan's Central League.

Return to MLB

On December 8, mlby|2006, it was announced that Bale would return to Major League Baseball, after signing a two-year contract with the Kansas City Royals.

Bale appeared in 26 games for Kansas City in mlby|2007, all in relief. He had a 1-1 record with a 4.05 earned run average, surrendering 45 hits in 40 innings. He began the mlby|2008 season in the Royals' starting rotation after a strong spring training. “Bale earned it,” Royals manager Trey Hillman said to the Kansas City Star on March 25. “Johnny has been outstanding all through spring training. He’s been hit in spots but, pretty much, from day one he’s commanded three pitches." [ [http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/548112.html Kansas City Star, March 25, 2008.] ] . In one of the more bizarre instances in recent Royals history, Bale, who was already on the disabled list due to a shoulder injury, broke his left (pitching) hand in May 2008 when he punched a hotel door in what Bale called "a moment of frustration." It was later reported that Bale was upset from a rehab pitching session that did not go well.

References

External links