Josh Fleming (baseball)

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Josh Fleming
Fleming with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1996-05-18) May 18, 1996 (age 28)
Bridgeton, Missouri, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 23, 2020, for the Tampa Bay Rays
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record20–14
Earned run average4.77
Strikeouts161
Teams

Joshua Randol Fleming (born May 18, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Amateur career

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Fleming attended Columbia High School in Columbia, Illinois, where he pitched for the Eagles. He enrolled at Webster University, where he played college baseball.[1]

Professional career

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Tampa Bay Rays

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The Tampa Bay Rays selected Fleming in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB draft. He signed and made his debut with the Princeton Rays, that year. Fleming's 2017 stat line included a 5.40 earned run average (ERA) across 12 games (nine starts). In 2018, Fleming began the season with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, where he posted a 1.20 ERA over ten games. Fleming began pitching for the Charlotte Stone Crabs in July, achieving a record of 3–3 with a 4.11 ERA. In posting a 2019 season record that included a 3.31 ERA over 21 games, Fleming was named the MVP of the season by the Montgomery Biscuits .[2] He finished the season with the Durham Bulls, compiling a 5.14 ERA across four games.[3]

In July 2020, the Rays added Fleming to their 60-man roster.[4] On August 21, after Rays starter Yonny Chirinos was ruled out for the rest of the 2020 season with a torn UCL, Kevin Cash announced Fleming would be called up to make his debut on August 23, against the Toronto Blue Jays. His contract was officially selected to the active roster on August 23.[5] Fleming earned the win in his big league debut, pitching five innings with three strikeouts and two earned runs in a 5–4 Rays victory.[6] He finished the season with a 5–0 record and a 2.78 ERA in 32+1⁄3 innings.

On July 7, 2021, Fleming combined with Collin McHugh, Diego Castillo, Matt Wisler, and Peter Fairbanks to no–hit the Cleveland Indians. However, since the feat was achieved in a truncated seven–inning doubleheader game, it was not recorded as an official no-hitter.[7] Fleming made 26 appearances for the Rays in 2021, which included 11 starts. In 104+1⁄3 innings pitched, he logged a 10–8 record and 5.09 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 1 save.[8] In 2022, Fleming made only 10 appearances (3 starts) for the Rays, missing time with an oblique injury. In 35.0 innings of work, he struggled to a 2–5 record and 6.43 ERA with 29 strikeouts.[9]

In 2023, Fleming began the year with the Rays, pitching in 11 games before he was scratched from a scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox and placed on the injured list with elbow soreness on June 2.[10] An MRI revealed cartilage buildup on his elbow bone as well as inflammation, and he was transferred to the 60–day injured list on June 10.[11] He was activated on August 12.[12] Following the season on November 4, Fleming was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Durham.[13]

On November 6, 2023, Fleming was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies. However, he was not tendered a contract for 2024 and became a free agent on November 17.[14]

Pittsburgh Pirates

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On February 14, 2024, Fleming signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[15] In 17 games for Pittsburgh, he compiled a 5.68 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 19 innings pitched. On May 14, Fleming was designated for assignment by the Pirates.[16] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians on May 18.[17] On June 14, the Pirates selected Fleming's contract, adding him back to the active roster.[18] He was designated for assignment again on July 26.[19] Fleming elected free agency on July 28.[20]

Seattle Mariners

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On August 6, 2024, Fleming signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners organization.[21] On November 6, he elected free agency.[22]

Personal life

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Fleming and his wife, Katie, met at Webster University (where she played volleyball) and were married in St. Louis in November 2020.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "Webster alumnus makes Major League Baseball debut". August 22, 2020.
  2. ^ Greenberg, Ben (September 24, 2019). "Josh Fleming Named MVP of Double-A Montgomery Biscuits". websterathletics.com. Webster University Athletics. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  3. ^ "Josh Fleming Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "Rays' Josh Fleming: Set for roster pool". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. Rotowire. June 28, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  5. ^ Adams, Steve (August 23, 2020). "Rays Select Josh Fleming, Designate Sean Gilmartin". mlbtraderumors.com. MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  6. ^ Justice, Richard (August 23, 2020). "Rays' rally sets up Fleming to win debut". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  7. ^ "5 Rays pitchers no-hit Indians for doubleheader sweep". apnews.com. July 7, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Rays Send Lefty Josh Fleming Down to Triple-A Durham, Call up Ralph Garza Jr". si.com. May 7, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  9. ^ "Rays' Josh Fleming ready to atone for a rocky 2022 season". tampabay.com. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  10. ^ "Rays' Josh Fleming: Placed on IL with elbow soreness". cbssports.com. June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  11. ^ "Rays' Josh Fleming: Shifts to 60-day injured list". cbssports.com. June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "Rays move Shane McClanahan to 60-day injured list, ending his season". tampabay.com. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "Rays' Josh Fleming: Removed from 40-man". cbssports.com. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "Josh Fleming Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  15. ^ Gorman, Kevin (February 14, 2024). "Pirates sign C Yasmani Grandal, LHP Josh Fleming, place pair on 60-day injured list". TribLIVE.com.
  16. ^ "Pirates Designate Josh Fleming For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  17. ^ "Pirates' Josh Fleming: Outrighted to Indianapolis". cbssports.com. May 18, 2024.
  18. ^ "Pirates Designate Niko Goodrum For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "Pirates Designate Josh Fleming For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  20. ^ "Transactions".
  21. ^ "Mariners Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. August 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  22. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  23. ^ "Josh Fleming Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
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