Dontrelle Willis

At 42 years old, Dontrelle Willis has this physical status:

Career

Willis attended Encinal High School in Alameda, where he played baseball for four years. Willis' senior year, he had a 0.70 earned run average (ERA) with 111 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched and was named California Player of the Year. He first wanted to play college baseball at Arizona State. In the eighth round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs.

Willis was promoted to the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League in 2001. He had eight victories and a 2.98 ERA. Against Willis, the opposition hitters only batted.217 against him. Several Northwest executives said Willis was Boise's best player in a Baseball America poll.

The Cubs traded Willis, fellow pitcher Julián Tavárez and José Cueto, and catcher Ryan Jorgensen to the Florida Marlins in exchange for pitcher Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca on March 27, 2002.

Willis had a rough start after being traded. Willis, on the other hand, started getting better as he got to a low Class A ball. He had a 10–2 win-loss record by the time he started the season with the Class-A Jupiter Hammerheads and finished the season in 10–2 win-loss. He went 2–0 with a 1.83 ERA in five starts, leading the Midwest League in ERA. He was named the Marlins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year for his efforts.

Willis returned to Jupiter in the 2003 spring training. The idea was to introduce him with the Class-AA Mudcats. The intention was that he would make the leap to AAA and be able to start in Florida or a back-of-the-bullpen position later this year. Willis was then sent by the Marlins to Carolina to work on consistency and control. Willis' ERA for Carolina was 1.49.

Willis made his major league debut against the Colorado Rockies on May 9, 2003. He pitched six innings, gave seven hits and three earned runs, and got a no decision. Willis went five innings, three earned runs, and four walks for his first Major League victory on May 14, his first Major League win. Willis, who was pitching nine innings and allowed no runs in a 1–0 win over the Mets in his first shutout on June 16, his first career shutout. Tom Glavine, one of his childhood heroes, was Willis' opponent in that game.

Willis was named National League Rookie of the Month in June 2003, becoming the first Marlins pitcher to be named Pitcher of the Month. He was the first rookie pitcher to win Pitcher of the Month after Hideo Nomo in 1995, and he became the first rookie pitcher to win seven straight starts since Jason Isringhausen in 1995. Willis was 5–0 with a 1.04 ERA in five starts. Willis was 9–1 in 13 starts going into the All-Star Break in mid-July. Kevin Brown, a Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, was recalled for the National League All-Star team as a health replacement. He was the second Marlins rookie to make the All-Star team, after Alex González did it in 1999.

Willis began game 4 of the 2003 National League Division Series against the Giants after coming out of the bullpen in game 1 of the 2003 National League Division Series. Willis allowed five hits, two walks, and struck out three batters but allowed five earned runs in 5+1 3 innings pitched. Despite struggling with his pitching, Willis went 3-for-3 with a triple and scoring a run during the Marlins' 7-6 victory over the Cubs, the team's first pick. Willis' command in game 4 was a struggle once more. Willis took the loss after surrendering three hits and five walks in 2+1/3 innings pitched. In game 6, he allowed a run in one inning of relief for his only other appearance in the series. Despite his modest contributions, the Marlins went on to defeat the Cubs in seven games. In the 2003 World Series, the Marlins then defeated the New York Yankees.

Willis was named National League Rookie of the Year by the 2003 season. In 27 starts for the year, he went 14–6 with a 3.30 ERA in 27 starts.

Willis began in 2004 as a 3–0 and did not get a salary in his first three starts. Willis was 6-for-6 with a home run in his first two starts. His seven straight hits in the regular season fell one short of the club record held by Gary Sheffield and Preston Wilson. Willis struck out in his first at bat against the Phillies, snapping his streak of ten consecutive hits dating back to last year's postseason. Willis had a record of 10–11 and a 4.02 ERA in 2004.

Willis began the 2005 season by pitching two shutouts against the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies. Willis was 5–0 in five starts and allowed five earned runs in 35 innings pitched for a 1.29 ERA during the month of April. He was named NL Pitcher of the Month.

Willis won by six runs against the Rockies on May 6, becoming the league's first six-game champion. Willis won the major league for the first 10-game game on June 8, beating the Seattle Mariners 5–4 for five runs. Willis was the third pitcher in Marlins history to win ten games before the All-Star break. Willis pitched a shutout against the Braves on June 23, making him the first 12-game winner in the league.

Willis was 13–4 with a 2.39 ERA and a 1.14 walks plus hit per inning pitched going into the All-Star break. Willis was named to the All-Star team but did not pitch in the game. Willis went 9–6 and posted a 2.91 ERA and a 1.13 walks per innings pitch the remainder of the season, after the All-Star break.

Willis struggled against the Cubs during his last game before the All-Star break. He allowed eight runs in 4+1/3 innings, all earned. In each of his first two starts after the break, he struggled to make it to the sixth inning in games against the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants. Willis recorded his highest win total against the Pirates on July 28th, went seven innings, allowed three runs, no earned runs, and was on his 14th victory of the season, his highest win total in a season. Willis defeated the Reds on August 7 for his 15th victory in his career. He went eight innings, allowed four runs, and no earned runs. Willis won the Padres by shutting them out in nine innings on August 17, his 16th victory of the season and second in baseball. Florida was one-and-a-half games behind Houston and Philadelphia in the wild card standings, despite the win.

Willis won his 19th game of the season against the Mets on September 2, beating Carl Pavano's franchise record for most games in a season. Pavano set the most victories in a season by a Marlins' pitcher for a year. Willis pitched six innings against the Washington Nationals on September 7, his 20th victory of the season. He became the first African-American pitcher to win 20 games in a season since Dave Stewart did it in 1990, and in the process, he became the first pitcher to win 20 games and have 20 hits as a batter since Mike Hampton did it in 1999 for the Astros. Willis was the first pitcher to bat seventh or higher since Montreal's Steve Renko batted seventh on September 22, 1973. Willis was 1-for-4 against the New York Mets. He retired with a 2.63 ERA and 1.13 walks per innings pitched, his best record in his career. His 22 victories were the most in baseball. He's also pitched seven complete games and five shutouts, the most in baseball. Willis is still the only pitcher in Marlins history to win 20 games in a season.

Willis came in second place in the N.L. Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals received the Cy Young Award of the St. Louis Cardinals. He received the Warren Spahn Award, which is given to the best left-handed pitcher in each league.

Willis' numbers dropped from his 2005 peak to his low in 2006. Willis started the season by going 1–6 for a 4.93 ERA, but he didn't win his second game of the season until June 2. He maintained solid numbers for the year, going 12-12 with a 3.87 ERA from June to September, including 11–6 with a 3.39 ERA from June to September. His 12 victories were tied for the most on the Marlins. Willis has also played for the Marlins in complete games (43) (1923+13), walks (83), and struck by pitch (19).

Willis defeated the Baltimore Orioles on June 20, scoring his 50th career victory in a single game.

Willis was shot and killed off a grand slam from Mets pitcher José Lima on July 7, becoming the first pitcher to reach a grand slam since Robert Person did it in 2002. It was his fourth home run in his career. He hit two home runs off of 'liver Pérez and Roberto Hernández' on September 20, 2006. He was the first pitcher since Randy Wolf in 2004 to reach two home runs in a game.

Willis decided on a one-year deal with the Marlins in January 15, 2007, avoiding wage arbitration.

Willis was 10-15 with a 5.17 ERA and a 1.60 walks plus hits per innings pitched in 2007 and 2008. It was his worst season of his career up to that point. With 118, Willis led the National League in earned runs allowed.

Willis was 68–54 with a 3.78 ERA during his time with the Marlins. During all five of his Marlins years from 2003 to 2007, he played at least ten games a season.

Willis was traded by the Marlins and fellow All-Star Miguel Cabrera to the Detroit Tigers for Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, Mike Rabelo, Eulogio de la Cruz, Dallas Trahern, and Burke Badenhop on December 5, 2007. Willis' three-year, $29 million contract extension was announced two weeks later. Willis pitched five innings against the Chicago White Sox on his first visit to the Tigers.

Willis suffered his left knee and left the game before even registering an alert. Willis had walked nine batters but struck out none in his first two outings despite being placed on the disabled list the next day. The command of his pitches became a challenge early in the season, and Tiger boss Jim Leyland pitched him in relief for the first time later this year, with no success. In a loss to the Oakland Athletics on June 3, 2008, he was brought right back to the rotation.

Willis was demoted to the Single-A Lakeland Tigers on June 10, 2008, a day after he got off eight earned runs and five walks in 1+13 innings against the Cleveland Indians. Willis had enough service time in the major leagues to warrant his permission prior to the game, but he said he wanted to work on his command. Willis was called back to the Tigers in time for the roster expansion on September 1, 2008. He got off to a losing streak and two no-decisions in the first three weeks. Willis had a 0–2 record and a 9.17 ERA. Willis struggled with his pitching in 24 innings and walked 35 batters.

After a blood test revealed something troubling, Willis was put on the 15-day disabled list in March 2009 for an anxiety disorder; he started a treatment program aimed at addressing the condition. Willis was taken off the disabled list and into the active roster on May 13, 2009, his first appearance of the 2009 season. Willis made seven starts after returning, with poor results, before being sent to the disabled list on June 19 with the same anxiety disorder. Willis' last game of the season allowed six earned runs and eight walks. Willis ended the season with a 1–4 record and a 7.49 ERA.

Willis was one of the Tigers' starting rotation in spring training in 2010. Willis started against the Kansas City Royals on April 8, 2010, giving the Tigers six innings and recording a no-decision. He gave up two earned runs, walking two, and striking out four out four.

Willis was assigned by the Tigers to be on duty on May 30, 2010. Willis played in 24 games (22 starts) during his Tiger career. In 101 innings pitched, he was 2-8 with a 6.86 ERA.

Willis was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for starting pitcher Billy Buckner on June 1, 2010. He wore number 35, which was his old uniform number 35, which he wore for the Marlins. He pitched six scoreless innings with four walks and three strikeouts in his Diamondback debut. He won his first game as a member of the Diamondbacks for the first time. Willis was pitched four innings, giving up two runs and three hits, and walking six batters on June 10. He cracked a finger nail in the second inning, and after the fourth inning, he was forced to leave the game due to the fingernail pain.

Willis went 1-1 in six games (five starts) with the Diamondbacks, a 6.85 ERA in 24+13 innings pitched. Willis was first scheduled for transfer on July 4, 2010 and then released.

Willis was signed to a minor league deal by San Francisco and began pitching for the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League on July 15, 2010. Willis was given a free agency on November 6, 2010.

Willis has signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2011 season. He was invited to spring training to see if he'd be a starter or bullpen. Willis was recalled to the Louisville Bats as of March 27, 2011. Willis was called up on July 10 and made his Reds debut against Milwaukee at Miller Park. Willis pitched six innings, giving up two runs while striking out four runs and walking four. He also played on offense, going 1-for-2 with a double. Willis made his second appearance for Cincinnati against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 18, 2011. Willis started on August 3 and hitting a solo home run but was charged with a no-decision.

Willis pitched eight innings, knocked out ten batters, and gave three earned runs against the Rockies, but was charged with the loss. His 10 strikeouts were the most he had seen in a start since being thrown out 11 against the Diamondbacks on August 14, 2007. His eight innings pitched was the most innings he pitched since his time with the Florida Marlins, where he pitched eight innings against the Cubs on September 25, 2007. Willis pounded two-two-three innings and allowed four runs against the San Diego Padres on August 14. Willis said that his forearm was already a little tighter after he had warmed up in the bullpen earlier.

Willis decided to a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies worth $1 million on December 15, 2011, and was supposed to pitch out of the bullpen. He was released on March 16, 2012, after just three appearances in the Grapefruit League. Willis signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles on March 20. On April 12, a left forearm strain resulted in a dispute with the company, which wanted him to be a relief pitcher. He put the blame for the injury on working out of the bullpen, despite wanting to be a starter again. He surrendered four runs and six hits in 2+2/3 innings pitched, his first appearance since the problem was fixed. He made four appearances with the Norfolk Tides, going 0-3 with an 8.53 ERA while still allowing eight runs and ten hits in 6+13 innings. On July 2, 2012, he declared his retirement as an active player.

Willis signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on January 3, 2013. After seven pitches, he left his first game in spring training and was forced to leave the game due to a shoulder injury. Willis was released by the Cubs on March 30, 2013.

Willis signed the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League on April 5, 2013. He had the highest ERA in the Atlantic League, leading to a 2.56 ERA in 14 starts. Willis managed to post a 5-4 record and knocked out 52 batters in 87+2/3 innings. He was ranked second in the league in complete games with three players by August 3. His efforts earned him a spot in the Atlantic League All-Star pick, and he was named as the starting pitcher for the Liberty Division, complete with a flawless inning. Willis was signed by the Angels to a minor-league deal on August 8, 2013 and assigned him to the Salt Lake Bees, the Angels' AAA affiliate.

Willis signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on January 10, 2014 and was later released on April 16, 2014. The Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League announced on July 5, 2014, that they had agreed to verbal contract terms with Willis. On July 18, 2014, he made his first appearance with the Bluefish.

Willis signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers on January 21, 2015. However, on March 13, 2015, he announced his resignation.

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