Sam Delaplane

Sam Delaplane
Pitcher
Born: (1995-03-27) March 27, 1995 (age 29)
San Jose, California
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Samuel Louis Nathan Delaplane (born March 27, 1995) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played college baseball for Eastern Michigan University. Delaplane was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 23rd round of the 2017 MLB draft. Despite spending time on the 40-man rosters of the Mariners and San Francisco Giants, he never played in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Early life

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Delaplane is the son of Fred and Sue Delaplane, and has a brother, Brad.[1]

He attended Leigh High School ('13) in San Jose, California,[2] which is where he was born.[3][4] Playing baseball as a pitcher and catcher, he was All-League First Team and San Jose Mercury Honorable Mention in his senior season, as he was 6–2 with a 1.66 ERA on the mound and batted .342.[1][3][5]

College

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Undrafted out of high school, Delaplane attended Eastern Michigan University, earning a degree in marketing.[6][7] He spent four seasons (2014–17) playing college baseball for the Eastern Michigan Eagles, and was first-team All-Mid-American Conference in his senior year.[7] During the summer of 2016, he played for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League.[8][9] He was named 2017 first team All-American (D-I) by the Jewish Sports Review.[10] Delaplane was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 23rd round of the 2017 MLB draft.[7]

Professional career

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Seattle Mariners

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Delaplane split his debut season of 2017 between the AZL Mariners of the Rookie-level Arizona League and the Tacoma Rainiers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, combining to go 2–1 with a 3.00 ERA and 50 strikeouts over 33 innings (13.6 strikeouts per 9 innings).[11] He spent the 2018 season with the Clinton LumberKings of the Single–A Midwest League, going 4–2 with 10 saves (3rd in the league) and a 1.96 ERA, and 100 strikeouts over 59+2⁄3 innings (15.1 strikeouts per 9 innings; he struck out 38% of batters faced).[11][6]

In 2019, he split the season between the Modesto Nuts of the High–A California League and the Arkansas Travelers of the Double-A Texas League, going a combined 6–3 with 7 saves and a 2.23 ERA, and 120 strikeouts (leading all minor league relievers) over 68+2⁄3 innings (15.7 strikeouts per 9 innings; second-best in minor league baseball for pitchers who pitched 50 innings) in 46 relief appearances.[12][11][13][14] Delaplane had the highest K-BB% (37.0%) and pure strikeout rate (45.8%) in minor league baseball, and his curveball/slider had the second-highest swing-and-miss rate of all slider in baseball.[15][16] He was named a mid-season California League All Star.[17] In September 2019 Jim Callis named him to MLB Pipeline's Second Team Prospect Team of the Year.[18]

Following the 2019 regular season, Delaplane played for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League, and in six appearances was 0–1 with two saves and a 1.13 ERA over eight innings with 15 strikeouts and 1 walk.[19] He was named a Fall League All-Star.[20][21] In April 2020 Fangraphs ranked him #11 on its list of Mariners' prospects.[15] In July 2020 CBS Sports opined: "Sam Delaplane is one of, if not the best relief prospect in the game."[22]

Delaplane did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[23] On November 20, 2020, Delaplane was added to the 40-man roster.[24] That month MLB Pipeline named him Seattle's #20 Prospect.[25] In February 2021, Fangraphs ranked him #9.[26] On April 13, 2021, Delaplane underwent Tommy John surgery, effectively ending his 2021 season.[27] On May 27, Delaplane was designated for assignment by Seattle.[28]

San Francisco Giants

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On May 31, 2021, Delaplane was acquired by the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations.[29] He was placed on the 60-day injured list the next day as he continued to recover from Tommy John.[30] Following the season, on November 30, 2021, Delaplane was non-tendered by the Giants and became a free agent.[31] Delaplane re-signed with the Giants on December 1 on a minor league contract and was later invited to spring training.[32] He was added to the 40-man roster in June 2022; later in the month, after four rehab outings with the San Jose Giants in which he tallied 11 strikeouts, he was put on the 60-day injured list with a right forearm strain.[33][34] On November 15, Delaplane was designated for assignment by the Giants after they protected multiple prospects from the Rule 5 draft.[35] He was non–tendered by the Giants in November 18, and became a free agent.[36] Delaplane re–signed with the Giants on a minor league contract the following day.

Through 2022, in four minor league seasons, Delaplane was 12–6 with 17 saves and a 2.41 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 15.3 K/9 (278 strikeouts in 164 innings), and a 4.63 SO/W ratio in 104 relief appearances.[37]

On July 4, 2023, while playing for the High–A Eugene Emeralds, Delaplane combined with Hayden Birdsong, Mat Olsen, and William Kempner to no-hit the Tri-City Dust Devils. The no-hitter was the first since 2015, and the first since the franchise became a part of the Giants organization.[38] He elected free agency on November 6. [39] In 2023 Delaplane pitched for the Double–A Richmond Flying Squirrels, Eugene, and the Single–A San Jose Giants, and was 5-4 with a 4.14 ERA across 32 relief appearances. In his 45+2⁄3 innings, and gave up 31 hits and 36 walks while striking out 67 batters (13.2 strikeouts per 8 innings).[40] Delaplane elected free agency following the season on November 6.[41]

Long Island Ducks

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On April 11, 2024, Delaplane signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[42] In 23 appearances for the Ducks, he compiled a 3–2 record and 4.63 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 23+1⁄3 innings pitched. On July 9, Delaplane retired from professional baseball.[43]

Pitching style

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Delaplane mixes up a 93–96 mph rising four-seam fastball, and an excellent 83–88 mph curveball-grip curveball/slider hybrid that has a high spin rate and late downward movement and which he releases straight over the top like his fastball.[44][15][16][6][45]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sam Delaplane – Baseball". Eastern Michigan University Athletics.
  2. ^ Crowley, Kerry (May 31, 2021). "SF Giants trade for a San Jose native, place Scott Kazmir on restricted list". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Sam Delaplane High School Baseball Stats Leigh (San Jose, CA)". MaxPreps. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  4. ^ Kevin Sparrer and Mike Barnhart (December 27, 2012). "Student athletes find success at the next level". The Mercury News. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  5. ^ "Student athletes find success at the next level". The Mercury News. December 27, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Preusser, Kate (February 2, 2021). "40 in 40: Sam Delaplane". Lookout Landing.
  7. ^ a b c Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball (June 14, 2017). "Delaplane Selected by the Mariners in the 2017 MLB Draft". emueagles.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  8. ^ "#12 Sam Delaplane". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  9. ^ Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball (August 23, 2016). "2016 Eastern Michigan Summer Baseball Review". emueagles.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  10. ^ "Brodkowitz, Wanger Named First Team All-Americans by Jewish Sports Review". July 20, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c "Sam Delaplane Player Page". MLB.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  12. ^ "Mariners add four players to their 40-man roster". The Seattle Times. November 20, 2020.
  13. ^ Modesto Nuts (June 7, 2019). "Eight Players Named to the 2019 All-Star Game". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  14. ^ Nicholas Stillman (May 23, 2019). "Confessions of a third day draft pick: Sam Delaplane talks analytics, development, and draft day". Lookout Landing. SB Nation. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  15. ^ a b c "Sam Delaplane's Slider Has Him Soaring Toward Seattle". Fangraphs. April 2020.
  16. ^ a b Trupin, John (September 10, 2019). "The 2019 LL Mariners Minor League Awards". Lookout Landing. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "Sam Delaplane Stats, Highlights, Bio". Milb.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  18. ^ Callis, Jim (September 10, 2019). "MLB Pipeline 2019 Prospect Team of the Year". MLB.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  19. ^ Ryan Divish (August 29, 2019). "Reliever Reggie McClain has been 'effective' for Mariners despite struggles early in appearances". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  20. ^ Jonathan Mayo (October 8, 2019). "Here are Saturday's Fall Stars Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  21. ^ Alexis Brudnicki and Jesse Borek (October 13, 2019). "How each player did in the Fall Stars Game". MLB.com. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  22. ^ "MLB Prospect Watch: One young player for each team who could make an impact in 60-game season". CBS Sports. July 13, 2020.
  23. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". MLB Trade Rumors. June 30, 2020.
  24. ^ Connor Byrne (November 20, 2020). "Mariners Add 4 Players To 40-Man Roster". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  25. ^ "Mariners protect four from Rule 5 Draft". MLB.com.
  26. ^ Jake Mailhot (February 12, 2021). "The Mariners Begin Building Their Bullpen of Tomorrow". Fangraphs.com.
  27. ^ "Sam Delaplane". Instagram.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021.
  28. ^ "Mariners Select Hector Santiago, Designate Sam Delaplane". MLB Trade Rumors. May 27, 2021.
  29. ^ "Giants Acquire Sam Delaplane". MLB Trade Rumors. May 31, 2021.
  30. ^ "Giants' Latest Roster Moves". MLB Trade Rumors. June 2021.
  31. ^ "Sam Delaplane: Non-tendered by San Francisco". CBS Sports. December 2021.
  32. ^ "Giants announce non-roster invitees". March 14, 2022.
  33. ^ "Giants' Sam Delaplane: Shut down again with forearm strain". CBS Sports. June 21, 2022.
  34. ^ "Sam Delaplane College, Amateur, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History".
  35. ^ "SF Giants protect Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, and several other prospects from Rule 5 Draft". Sports Illustrated San Francisco Giants News, Analysis and More. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  36. ^ "Giants non-tender 10 players". mccoveychronicles.com. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  37. ^ "SF Giants activate Austin Slater and add intriguing arm in series of roster moves". June 5, 2022.
  38. ^ "SF Giants pitching prospects throw a combined no-hitter at High-A Eugene". Sports Illustrated San Francisco Giants News, Analysis and More. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  39. ^ "Transactions". MiLB.com.
  40. ^ "Sam Delaplane Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  41. ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  42. ^ "2024 Transactions". atlanticleague.com. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  43. ^ "Transactions". baseball.pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  44. ^ Preusser, Kate (March 5, 2020). "LL's top Mariners prospects 2020: 18–15". Lookout Landing.
  45. ^ "Top 38 Prospects: Seattle Mariners". May 17, 2021.
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