Andrew Burton Cashner (born September 11, 1986) is an American former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Mod ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) for the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
,
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
,
Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The franc ...
,
Texas Rangers,
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
, and
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
.
Early life and education
Cashner was born and raised in
Conroe, Texas
Conroe is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Texas, United States, about north of Houston. It is a principal city in the metropolitan area.
As of 2021, the population was 98,081, up from 56,207 in 2010. Since 2007, the ...
. His father, Jeff, runs a family
mortuary
A morgue or mortuary (in a hospital or elsewhere) is a place used for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification (ID), removal for autopsy, respectful burial, cremation or other methods of disposal. In modern times, corpses have cus ...
business while his mother, Jane, is a seamstress. The second of three children, he grew up on a
ranch
A ranch (from es, rancho/Mexican Spanish) is an area of land, including various structures, given primarily to ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle and sheep. It is a subtype of a farm. These terms are most often ...
where he became an expert at horseback riding and calf roping, and was involved in the local
4-H
4-H is a U.S.-based network of youth organizations whose mission is "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development". Its name is a reference to the occurrence of the initial letter H four times i ...
and
Future Farmers of America
National FFA Organization is an American 501(c)(3) youth organization, specifically a career and technical student organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education. It was founded in 1925 at Vi ...
youth organizations. He began playing baseball during his childhood, practicing with his brother and mother on a regulation-size baseball diamond which his parents constructed on their property.
He graduated from Conroe High School in 2005 and was drafted by the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
, but decided to attend college instead. He attended
Angelina College
Angelina College is a public community college with its main campus in Lufkin, Texas. It has nine off-campus centers in Crockett, Hemphill, Jasper, Livingston (Polk County Center), Nacogdoches, Pineland (Sabine Center), San Augustine, Tr ...
and
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University (TCU) is a private research university in Fort Worth, Texas. It was established in 1873 by brothers Addison and Randolph Clark as the Add-Ran Male & Female College. It is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples ...
. Cashner pursued a degree in communications at TCU. He was drafted in college by the
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The team plays its home baseball games at Coors Fie ...
and
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
, but only accepted the latter team's second offer when they made him a first-round draft pick.
[
]
Minor league career
Cashner was drafted by the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
in the first round, 19th overall, in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.
First round selections
;Key
Supplemental first rou ...
out of Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University (TCU) is a private research university in Fort Worth, Texas. It was established in 1873 by brothers Addison and Randolph Clark as the Add-Ran Male & Female College. It is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples ...
. He was rated the Cubs fourth-best prospect prior to the 2010 season by ''Baseball America
''Baseball America'' is a sports enterprise that covers baseball at every level, including MLB, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in the MiLB, college, high school, and international leagues. It is currently published in the form o ...
''. Throughout three minor league seasons in the Cubs organization Cashner only gave up three home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
s.
Major League career
Chicago Cubs
Cashner was called up to the majors for the first time on May 31, 2010. He made his major league debut that day. In the 2010 season, Cashner appeared in 53 games as a relief pitcher.
On March 26, 2011, Cashner was named the Cubs' 5th starter. However, Cashner only made one start for the team before being forced out with a rotator cuff injury. After a rehab stint in the minors, Cashner returned to the Cubs in September in the role of relief pitcher.
San Diego Padres
On January 6, 2012, the San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
acquired Cashner and outfielder Kyung-Min Na from the Cubs for first baseman Anthony Rizzo
Anthony Vincent Rizzo (born August 8, 1989) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs. He is a three-time ...
and right-handed starting pitcher Zach Cates. Cashner began the season as a relief pitcher, appearing in 27 games in relief and compiling a 3.81 ERA and 29 strikeouts.
On June 9, 2012, he made a short start against the Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...
before being sent down to increase his arm's endurance in preparation for a starting role. He returned to the majors on June 28 to join the starting rotation after making 3 starts with the AA San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. They are located in San Antonio, Texas, and are named for the Spanish missions around which the city was founded. ...
. In his second full-fledged start with the Padres, he strained his right latissimus dorsi muscle
The latissimus dorsi () is a large, flat muscle on the back that stretches to the sides, behind the arm, and is partly covered by the trapezius on the back near the midline. The word latissimus dorsi (plural: ''latissimi dorsorum'') comes from L ...
while warming up for the third inning and was placed on the disabled list. Cashner returned to the starting lineup September 7, but was shut down again after two starts with an injured tendon. Cashner's fastball was down by 5-8 mph after his return from the disabled list. Cashner finished the season with a 3–4 record and 4.27 ERA with 52 strike-outs in 46 innings.
In the off-season, Cashner cut the thumb on his pitching hand in a hunting accident. The injury delayed Cashner's preparation for 2013, but by the end of April he was part of the Padres' starting rotation after beginning the season in the bullpen.
On July 27, 2013, Cashner hit his first career home run off of Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The f ...
pitcher Josh Collmenter
Joshua Michael Collmenter (born February 7, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves between 2011 and 2017, and currently plays in the Australian ...
. On September 16, Cashner pitched a one-hit complete-game shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
in which he faced the minimum 27 batters. The Pirates' lone hit was a single to right field by Jose Tabata leading off the seventh inning. Tabata was forced out when Andrew McCutchen
Andrew Stefan McCutchen (born October 10, 1986) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, Philadelphia P ...
hit into a double play to end the inning. Cashner threw 97 pitches, struck out 7 and did not walk a batter. The Padres won the game 2–0. Cashner got better as the season progressed, posting a 2.14 ERA in 11 starts in the second half while raising his strike-out rate.
Cashner finished the 2013 season with a 10–9 record and a 3.09 ERA with 128 strikeouts in 175 innings pitched; the Padres imposed an innings limit on him that season.[ He was the unanimous winner of the Clyde McCullough Pitcher of the Year Award, awarded to the Padres top pitcher by the San Diego chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.]
In 2014, Cashner struggled with injuries and a lack of run support. He missed about three months of the season with elbow, shoulder, and neck injuries and was winless for 11 straight starts despite a 2.86 ERA in that stretch. Cashner pitched his second career one-hit shutout on April 11 against the Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
. He threw 108 pitches and struck out a then career-high 11 batters as the Padres won 6–0. This game came only four regular season starts after Cashner's first one-hitter. On April 24, Cashner played left field for one at bat after Seth Smith
Garry Seth Smith (born September 30, 1982) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles. He w ...
suffered an injury in an extra inning game versus the Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
. The Padres would go on to win the game 4–3 in 12 innings. He finished the season with a record of 5–7 in 19 starts and an ERA of 2.55.
In 2015, he was 6–16 with a 4.34 ERA. He had the lowest left on base
L
lace
:To reach base by hitting a ball between infielders. "McCann laced it through the shift on the right side of the infield."
Lady Godiva
:A pitch delivered with nothing on it. A nod to the legend of Lady Godiva riding naked on horseback.
...
percentage of all major league pitchers, stranding only 65.6% of base runners.
In 2016, Cashner began in the rotation before being traded midseason. For the Padres, he was 4–7 in innings.
Miami Marlins
On July 29, 2016, the Padres traded Cashner, Colin Rea
Colin D. Rea (born July 1, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Miami Marlins, and Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brew ...
, and Tayron Guerrero to the Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.
The franc ...
for Jarred Cosart
Jarred Lynn Cosart (born May 25, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres.
Career
Cosart attended Clear Creek High School (Leagu ...
, Carter Capps
Carter Lewis Capps (born August 7, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, and current pitching coach for the Seattle Redhawks. Capps played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Miami ...
, Josh Naylor
Joshua-Douglas James Naylor (born June 22, 1997) is a Canadian professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the San Diego Padres. Naylor was the 12th overa ...
, and Luis Castillo. Cashner would struggle after being acquired by Miami, going 1–4 with a 5.98 ERA in innings.
Texas Rangers
Cashner signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Texas Rangers on November 21, 2016. He rebounded from the previous couple of seasons to post his strongest season of his career. He finished the season 11–11 with a 3.40 ERA in innings despite posting a K/BB ratio of 1.34 (86 Ks, 64 BBs). He led major league pitchers in highest contact percentage (86.4%) of batters against him.
Baltimore Orioles
On February 15, 2018, Cashner signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
that also contained a vesting option for a third year. On June 12, Cashner was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a lower back strain. In the first year of his two-year contract, Cashner dealt with a couple of DL stints, finishing the season with a 4–15 record in 28 starts; he struck out 99 in 153 innings. In 2019, Cashner made 19 appearances with Baltimore (all starts) through mid-July, compiling a 9–3 record with 3.83 ERA, and 66 strikeouts in innings.
Boston Red Sox
On July 13, 2019, Cashner, along with cash considerations, was traded to the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
in exchange for minor league position players Noelberth Romero and Elio Prado. In his six starts with Boston, Cashner had a 1–4 record with 8.01 ERA in innings pitched; he was then moved to a relief role, and on August 13 recorded his first MLB save. With the 2019 Red Sox, Cashner appeared in 25 games (six starts), compiling a 2–5 record with one save, along with 42 strikeouts in innings. He became a free agent on October 31.
Pitching style
Cashner relies mainly on a four-seam fastball that can surpass . The fastball averaged in the first half of 2012 when he was working as a reliever and in 2013 when he was primarily a starter. His secondary pitches are a change-up and slider, with an occasional sinker. According to Fangraphs, Cashner's fastball in 2013 was the fifth-fastest among major league starters. Padres catcher René Rivera
René Rivera (born July 31, 1983) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Met ...
said Cashner that season "learned how to be a pitcher" who can "get outs quick", as opposed to being a mere thrower.[
]
Philanthropy
Cashner, his brother, and sister established the Cashner Family Foundation, "Pitching for a Cause", which provides funding to hospitals and communities on behalf of children with medical issues. The foundation grew out of their experience watching their mother survive breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a re ...
in 2004 and then lose a leg after suffering septic shock
Septic shock is a potentially fatal medical condition that occurs when sepsis, which is organ injury or damage in response to infection, leads to dangerously low blood pressure and abnormalities in cellular metabolism. The Third International Con ...
in 2015.[
]
References
External links
TCU Horned Frogs bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cashner, Andrew
1986 births
Living people
People from Conroe, Texas
Baseball players from Texas
Conroe High School alumni
Major League Baseball pitchers
Chicago Cubs players
San Diego Padres players
Miami Marlins players
Texas Rangers players
Baltimore Orioles players
Boston Red Sox players
TCU Horned Frogs baseball players
Angelina Roadrunners baseball players
Arizona League Cubs players
Boise Hawks players
Daytona Cubs players
Tennessee Smokies players
Mesa Solar Sox players
Iowa Cubs players
San Antonio Missions players
Tucson Padres players
Lake Elsinore Storm players
El Paso Chihuahuas players