Homer Bailey

At 38 years old, Homer Bailey has this physical status:

David Dewitt Bailey, Jr. (born May 3, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.

He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds from 2007 through 2018 and the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics in 2019. The Reds selected Bailey in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft.

Prior to the 2007 season, both Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus named Bailey the top prospect in the Reds' farm system.

Because of his success at the minor league level, Bailey's debut was highly anticipated when he was called up to the major league level in June 2007.

He made his major league debut on June 8, 2007, against the Cleveland Indians.

At the time of his debut, Bailey was the youngest player in the National League.

Bailey has pitched two no-hitters in his career.

On February 19, 2014, Bailey signed a six-year, $105 million contract with the Reds.

Early life

Bailey, nicknamed "Homer" after his great-grandfather, attended La Grange High School in La Grange, Texas. During La Grange's 2004 baseball season, Bailey won 15 games and lost none. Additionally, he had a 0.68 earned run average (ERA) and 201 strikeouts in 92+2⁄3 innings pitched. That year, USA Today, named Bailey as a member of the USA Today All-USA high school baseball team and their High School National Player of the Year. Bailey completed his high school career with 41 wins, 4 losses, a 0.98 ERA, and 536 strikeouts in 298 innings pitched. In 2004, the Cincinnati Reds selected Bailey with the seventh pick in the Major League Baseball amateur draft.

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Professional career

Bailey made his Rookie Class debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2004, making him his first appearance with the Gulf Coast Reds. Bailey played in six games, started three, and made his first decision for the GCL Reds that season.

Bailey was promoted by the Reds to the Dayton Dragons, the Reds' Class A franchise in the Midwest League. Bailey appeared in 28 games this season and set a record of 8–4. After the season, Baseball America named Bailey as the second-best prospect in the Midwest League.

The Reds promoted Bailey to the Sarasota Reds in 2006, their highest Class-A franchise in the Florida State League. Despite the fact that he played only three games and lost five, Baseball America named him as the top prospect in the Florida State League. Bailey was promoted to the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Reds' affiliate in the Double-A Southern League, after he had played in 13 games.

Bailey had the best statistics of his minor league career while at Chattanooga. He won seven games, lost just one, and had a 1.59 ERA in 13 games. He also struck out 77 batters in 68 innings. Bailey's averaged in excess of ten strikeouts per nine innings through each of his last three minor league teams as a result.

Bailey appeared in three spring training games for the Reds in 2007. When the Reds sent him to their minor league camp on March 16, he lost his only decision and had a 19.64 ERA. He debuted with the Louisville Bats, the Reds' Triple-A affiliate in the International League, during the regular season. Bailey was regarded as the top prospect in the Reds' farm system and as one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. Bailey made his Reds debut against the Cleveland Indians in early June 2007.

In his home game against the Cleveland Indians, Bailey made his major league debut as the starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. Bailey pitched five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts, as well as qualifying for the win. The Reds dropped Bailey down to Triple-A Louisville on July 8, 2007. Bailey pitched 5+2/3 innings against the Giants on September 20, 2007. Bailey won his third game of the season after giving up three runs and a walk. Bailey won in nine starts in 2007 and finished fifth in the Majors 4–2 with a 5.67 ERA.

The Reds optioned Bailey to Louisville in 2008 on March 26, 2008. Bailey was called up to the Reds rotation on June 5, 2008. Bailey was recalled by the Reds from Detroit on June 18, 2008, after going 0-3 with an 8.76 ERA in his three starts, and named Daryl Thompson. Bailey was 0–6 with a 7.93 ERA in eight starts to close the 2008 season in the Majors.

Bailey joined the Triple-A Louisville Bats in 2009 after failing to qualify for a spot on the Reds' roster.

Bailey got off to a good start for the Reds on May 23, 2009. Regardless of his appearance, he was going to be sent back to Triple-A Louisville. Bailey shuts down triple-A hitters, holding hitters to a ERA of less than 2.00 over his next six starts after being sent back down. Bailey was recalled and met the Cleveland Indians again on June 27. Bailey won despite walking seven batters. Bailey withdrew the St. Louis Cardinals for 7.1 innings, one start later. The two men were charged with a grand-slam put up by reliever David Weathers.

Bailey's first two seasons with the Reds were seen as disappointing, and the 2009 season didn't start off much better. Bailey's season got more consistent, and as a result, he was more accurate, with only 3 runs or less in his final 9 starts. He had a 4.53 ERA in 113+1 innings in the 2009 season.

In 2010, Bailey pulled the Reds out of spring training. In May, he was on the disabled list with shoulder pains. Bailey was considered for the bullpen during his recovery, but the Reds decided to move Mike Leake to the bullpen to keep Bailey in the rotation after a good start against the Florida Marlins. Bailey had a 4.46 ERA in 19 starts in 2010 and finished 4–3 on a 4–3 record.

Bailey's record for 2011 was 8-2007, with a 4.43 ERA.

Bailey pitched the first no-hitter at PNC Park on September 28, 2012, the 15th in Reds history, after a 1–0 road victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bailey struck out ten on 115 pitches, allowing just one walk to Andrew McCutchen in the seventh, while Pirates shortstop Clint Barmes reached first base on a mistake by Reds third baseman Scott Rolen in the 3rd inning. This was the first no-hitter for the Reds since Tom Browning's flawless game on September 16, 1988, and the first game against the Pirates since Bob Gibson on August 14, 1971. Bailey was a hitout with 168 strikeouts, a 13-10 record, and a 3.68 ERA in 2012.

Bailey pitched a 3–0 no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park on July 2, 2013, defeating Tim Lincecum—himself a no-hit pitcher just 11 days later. It was the third time in history and the first time since Nolan Ryan did it in 1974–75 that the same pitcher had the final no-hitter of one season and the first no-hitter of the following season. It was also the seventh time in history, and the first time since Nolan Ryan in 1975 that both no-hitters in a row were credited to the same pitcher. Bailey was unstoppable through six innings when he walked Gregor Blanco in the seventh innings with a complete count. He retired the next nine batters in order, missing only one pitch in a perfect game. Bailey was bailed out by Joey Votto when Buster Posey struck a fast ground ball to first late in the game. Bailey was late to cover first, where Posey most likely would have been safe. Votto realized this and threw the ball to third where he had Gregor Blanco. Posey may have been hit if Blanco made it to third, but it may have been a fielder's pick. Bailey, along with Jim Maloney and Johnny Vander Meer (who had done it in consecutive starts), became the third Reds pitcher to have more than a single no-hitter in history. Bailey's 2013 season was an 11-12 record with 199 strikeouts in 209 innings pitched.

Bailey threw his no-hitter in the MLB Showcase game, with Reds legend Sean Casey in the booth.

Bailey's 2014 season was short lived, as he was ill with arm fatigue and ended the year 9–5 with a 3.71 average.

Bailey, who is still recovering from forearm exhaustion, started the 2015 season on the disabled list. It was announced on May 1, 2015, that his right elbow was diagnosed with a torn UCL, requiring Tommy John surgery, and that it prematurely ended his 2015 season.

Bailey's return to the Reds was stalled after he complained about pain after undergoing a rehabilitation stint with the Reds' AA affiliate in Pensacola. Bailey made his return to the Reds on July 31, more than a year after his first appearance.

Bailey underwent bone spur removal surgery on February 8, 2017. It took 4 to six weeks to recover. On June 24, he made his season debut by throwing 1+2/3 innings and allowing 8 runs. He had a 6.43 ERA in 18 starts at the start of the season.

Bailey had an ERA of 6.68 in 12 starts before being placed on the disabled list due to right knee inflammation. Bailey was forced out of the rotation after nine straight losses on September 7, 2018, despite his record on the season being 1–14 and his 20 starts average was 6.09 per 10 starts.

Bailey, along with Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray, were traded by the Reds to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Kyle Farmer, and cash considerations. Bailey was released by the Dodgers on the same day.

Bailey signed a minor-league deal with the Kansas City Royals that included an invitation to spring training on February 9, 2019. Bailey's squad was voted out of Spring Training and had his deal ruled on April 3.

Bailey was traded to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor-league infielder Kevin Merrell on July 14, 2019. At the end of the season, he became a free agent.

Bailey also signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins on December 31, 2019. Bailey won his first match over the Cardinals on July 28, 2020, on his first appearance. Bailey was scheduled for assignment by the Twins on September 25, 2020, days after being revived from an Illinois stint. He was announced on September 27.

Bailey signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics team on June 22, 2021, and was assigned to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.

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