James Michael Marvel (born September 17, 1993) is an American
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 leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern professional ...
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 ...
for the
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional Baseball in Japan, baseball team based in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at ES CON Field Hokkaido. The Figh ...
of
Nippon Professional Baseball
or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''.
Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ...
(NPB). He has 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
Pittsburgh Pirates.
Amateur career
Marvel attended
Campolindo High School
Campolindo High School is a public high school located in Moraga, California, United States, and is in the Acalanes Union High School District.
In 2019, Campolindo was ranked 30th in California (and 239th nationally) by '' U.S. News & World Re ...
in
Moraga, California
Moraga is a town in Contra Costa County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The town is named in honor of Joaquín Moraga, member of the famed Californio family. As of 2020, Moraga had a total population of 16,870 people. Moraga is ...
, where he played baseball. In 2012, his senior year, he went 5–2 with a 1.33 ERA along with batting .456 with three home runs, earning All-State honors. He was selected by the
Minnesota Twins in the 37th round of the
2012 Major League Baseball draft
The 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held from June 4 through June 6, 2012, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Houston Astros, with the List of first overall Major League Baseball draft picks, first ...
, but did not sign and instead enrolled at
Duke University where he played
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional p ...
for the
Blue Devils.
In 2013, Marvel's freshman year at Duke, he appeared in ten games (eight starts) in which he went 4–2 with a 3.64 ERA in 42 innings. In 2014, he appeared in only four games due to an elbow injury, and in 2015, he did not play at all. Despite this, he was still drafted by the
Pittsburgh Pirates in the 36th round of the
2015 Major League Baseball draft
The 2015 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft was held from June 8 through June 10, 2015, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order is the reverse order of the 2014 MLB season standings. As the Diamondbacks f ...
.
Professional career
Pittsburgh Pirates
Marvel signed with the Pirates and made his professional debut with the
West Virginia Black Bears
The West Virginia Black Bears are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Granville, West Virginia, and play their home games at Monongalia County Ballpark, which is across the Monongahela River from Morgan ...
, going 4–6 with a 4.43 ERA in 13 starts. In 2017, he began the season with the
West Virginia Power
The Charleston Dirty Birds are an American professional baseball team based in Charleston, West Virginia. They are a member of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a partner league of Major League Baseball. The ...
before being promoted to the
Bradenton Marauders
The Bradenton Marauders are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Bradenton, Florida, and play their home games at LECOM Park, which also serves as the ...
in August; in 24 starts between the two clubs, Marvel went 7–8 with a 3.49 ERA, striking out 91 batters in innings.
In 2018, he pitched for both Bradenton and the
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a Minor League Baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve (but also alluding to the curveball, a type of pitch). The team plays in the Eastern League and is the Double-A affiliate of th ...
, compiling a 12–7 record and 3.55 ERA in 27 games (26 starts), and in 2019, he began the year with Altoona (with whom he was named an
Eastern League All-Star) before being promoted to the
Indianapolis Indians in July. Over 28 starts between the two clubs during the 2019 season, Marvel went 16–5 with a 2.94 ERA, striking out 136 over innings. His 16 wins and two shutouts both led the minor leagues in 2019.
On September 8, 2019, the Pirates selected Marvel's contract and promoted him to the major leagues. He made his major league debut that day versus the
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
, allowing two runs over five innings pitched. Marvel did not appear in a game in 2020, and spent all of the 2021 season with the Indians, going 7-7 with a 5.26 ERA and 98 strikeouts over innings. He elected free agency on November 7, 2021.
Philadelphia Phillies
On March 8, 2022, Marvel signed a minor league contract with the
Philadelphia Phillies. Marvel made 35 appearances (9 starts) for the Triple-A
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and are named in reference to pig iron, used in the ...
, registering a 6-7 record and 6.05 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 93.2 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.
High Point Rockers
On April 28, 2023, Marvel signed with the
High Point Rockers
The High Point Rockers are an American professional baseball team based at Truist Point ballpark in High Point, North Carolina, which is part of the Piedmont Triad region. They are members of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Profession ...
of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He made 1 start for the team, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk with 3 strikeouts in 5.0 innings pitched.
Texas Rangers
On May 7, 2023, Marvel signed a minor league contract with the
Texas Rangers organization. In 6 starts for the Triple–A
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. They are located in Round Rock, Texas, and play their home games at the Dell Diamond. The team is named ...
, he struggled to a 7.88 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 24.0 innings pitched. Marvel was released by the Rangers on June 11.
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
On June 19, 2023, Marvel signed with the
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional Baseball in Japan, baseball team based in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at ES CON Field Hokkaido. The Figh ...
of
Nippon Professional Baseball
or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''.
Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ...
(NPB).
References
External links
Duke Blue Devils bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marvel, James
1993 births
Living people
Baseball players from San Francisco
Major League Baseball pitchers
Pittsburgh Pirates players
Duke Blue Devils baseball players
West Virginia Black Bears players
West Virginia Power players
Bradenton Marauders players
Altoona Curve players
Indianapolis Indians players
Lehigh Valley IronPigs players
High Point Rockers players
Round Rock Express players