Joshua Joseph Ravin (born January 21, 1988) 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 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 ...
who is currently a free agent. He previously 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
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
and
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 ...
and for the
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by Lotte Holdings Co., Ltd.
History
The Marines franchise began in 1950 as the Mainichi Orions, an inaugural ...
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).
Early life
Josh Ravin was born in
West Hills, California
West Hills is a suburban / residential community in the western San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California. The percentage of residents aged 35 and older is among the highest in Los Angeles County.
The neighborhood was f ...
on January 21, 1988, to parents Virgil and Lana Ravin. He has an older brother, Joel and a younger sister, Amanda.
Career
Cincinnati Reds
The
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
selected Ravin in the fifth round, 144th overall, of the
2006 MLB Draft out of
Chatsworth High School
Chatsworth Charter High School is a charter secondary school located in Chatsworth in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, U.S.
History
The campus was built with one-story buildings around a central quad as land was inexpens ...
in
Chatsworth, Los Angeles
Chatsworth is a suburban neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles, California, in the San Fernando Valley.
The area was home to Native Americans, some of whom left caves containing rock art. Chatsworth was explored and colonized by the Spanish be ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
.
[ He made his professional debut with the ]Gulf Coast Reds
The Arizona Complex League Reds are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, competing in the Arizona Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays its home games at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. The team is composed m ...
in 2006, and also appeared for the rookie-level Billings Mustangs
The Billings Mustangs are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Billings, Montana, and have played their home games at Dehler ...
]. In 2007, Ravin pitched returned to Billings, where he recorded a 1-5 record and 8.55 ERA in 13 games. The following year, Ravin split the season between Billings and the Single-A Dayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Dayton, Ohio, and play their home games at Day Air Ballpark, formerly known as Fifth Third Field. In 2 ...
, posting a cumulative 2-9 record and 7.77 ERA in 18 appearances. In 2009, Ravin returned to Dayton, where he pitched to a 3-8 record and 3.67 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 81.0 innings of work.
Ravin split the 2010 season between the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a Minor League Baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia that plays in the Carolina League and is the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They were a farm team of the Atlanta Braves from 2011 to 2014, the Cincinna ...
, Dayton, and the AZL Reds, accumulating a 5-7 record and 3.89 ERA in 19 games between the three teams. Ravin was named the Carolina League
The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 unti ...
pitcher of the week for August 9–15, 2010 while playing for Lynchburg. In 2011, Ravin split the season between the High-A Bakersfield Blaze
The Bakersfield Blaze were a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California. They played in the Class A – Advanced California League. They played their home games at Sam Lynn Ballpark. Opened in 1941, the stadium is well known for facing ...
and the Double-A Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Zebulon, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina, Raleigh, and play their home games a ...
, logging a cumulative 2-10 record and 5.17 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 123.2 innings pitched. In 2012, Ravin split the year between Bakersfield and the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are based in Pensacola, Florida, and play their home games at Admiral Fetterman Field. In 2012, the team rel ...
, posting a 1-3 record and 5.33 ERA in 23 games.
The Reds added Ravin to their 40-man roster after the 2012 season and invited him to spring training in 2013. He was designated for assignment by the Reds on September 16, 2013 after posting a 4.82 ERA in 48 combined games for Double-A Pensacola in the Southern League and the Triple-A Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Louisville, Kentucky, and are named in dual reference to the bat, win ...
in the International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...
.[
]
Milwaukee Brewers
On September 19, 2013, Ravin was claimed off waivers by 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 ...
. On October 23, Ravin was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the ci ...
. On November 4, 2013, he elected free agency.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On December 13, 2013, Ravin signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
organization. He split the 2014 season between the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team plays its home g ...
and Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They play home games at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at an el ...
. With the two teams, he was 2–1 with a 3.55 ERA in 23 games.[ The Dodgers invited him to attend major league spring training in 2015 but he did not make the team and was assigned to the Triple-A ]Oklahoma City Dodgers
The Oklahoma City Dodgers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and play their home games at Chickasaw Bricktown Bal ...
to begin the year.
Ravin was called up to the majors for the first time on June 2, 2015. He made his MLB debut that night against 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 ...
, striking out the only batter he faced, DJ LeMahieu
David John LeMahieu (; born July 13, 1988) is an American professional baseball infielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies.
The Cubs selected LeMahieu in the ...
, and picking up the win. He appeared in a total of nine games for the Dodgers in 2015, allowing seven runs in innings. He also pitched in 22 games for Oklahoma City with a 3.86 ERA.[
Ravin broke the radius bone in his left forearm in a multi-vehicle car crash on February 29, 2016. The injury required surgery. Ravin began the 2016 season on the 15-day disabled list. On May 10, Ravin was suspended for 80 games by MLB for testing positive for ]pralmorelin
Pralmorelin (INN) (brand name GHRP Kaken 100; former developmental code names KP-102, GPA-748, WAY-GPA-748), also known as pralmorelin hydrochloride (JAN) and pralmorelin dihydrochloride (USAN), as well as, notably, growth hormone-releasing peptid ...
, a banned performance-enhancing drug. Ravin was reinstated on August 3, and optioned to Triple-A, but rejoined the Dodgers on August 8. He appeared in 10 games with Los Angeles, posting a 0.93 ERA in innings in 2016.
Ravin suffered a groin injury in spring training in 2017, causing him to begin the season on the disabled list. He was taken off the DL and optioned to Oklahoma City on May 10. He did manage to appear in 14 games for the Dodgers in 2017, with a 6.48 ERA as well as 30 games for Oklahoma City, where he had a 5.09 ERA.[ His groin issue recurred all season, leading to several stints on the disabled list and he was eventually shut down for good on September 22. On November 20, 2017, Ravin was designated for assignment by the Dodgers.
]
Atlanta Braves
On November 20, 2017, Ravin was traded to 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 ...
in exchange for cash considerations. On March 5, 2018, the Braves outrighted Ravin off the 40-man roster. On March 31, Ravin was called up by the Braves and had his contract purchased back to the 40-man roster by the team. He was designated for assignment on April 21, after he posted a 6.00 ERA in 2 big league games. He was outrighted to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers
The Gwinnett Stripers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at Coolray Field in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia (with a Lawrencevil ...
on April 25, 2018.
On June 14, 2018, while pitching for Gwinnett, Ravin was hit in the head by a line drive. After several minutes he was able to stand up but needed assistance exiting the field. He elected free agency on October 11, 2018.
Chiba Lotte Marines
On January 7, 2019, Ravin signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by Lotte Holdings Co., Ltd.
History
The Marines franchise began in 1950 as the Mainichi Orions, an inaugural ...
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). Ravin spent the majority of the year with Lotte's farm team, only making two appearances for the main club, where he struggled mightily, facing 12 batters and allowing 5 earned runs in innings of work. On November 30, the Marines announced that they would not re-sign Ravin for the 2020 season. On December 2, he became a free agent.
Lexington Legends
On May 4, 2021, Ravin signed with the Lexington Legends
The Lexington Legends are an American professional baseball team based in Lexington, Kentucky. They are a member of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball. The Legends have ...
of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's ...
. Ravin recorded a 2.57 ERA in 7 appearances before he was released on July 2.
Personal life
Ravin's brother, Joel, was shot five times after being kidnapped on October 4, 2015 and survived.
See also
*
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ravin, Josh
1988 births
Living people
Albuquerque Isotopes players
American expatriate baseball players in Japan
American sportspeople in doping cases
Arizona League Dodgers players
Arizona League Reds players
Atlanta Braves players
Baseball players from California
Bakersfield Blaze players
Billings Mustangs players
Carolina Mudcats players
Chattanooga Lookouts players
Chiba Lotte Marines players
Dayton Dragons players
Gulf Coast Reds players
Los Angeles Dodgers players
Louisville Bats players
Lynchburg Hillcats players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball players suspended for drug offenses
Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers
Oklahoma City Dodgers players
Pensacola Blue Wahoos players
People from West Hills, Los Angeles
Peoria Javelinas players
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players
Venados de Mazatlán players
American expatriate baseball players in Mexico
Chatsworth High School alumni