Michael Edward Grzanich (born August 24, 1972) is a former

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)

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 played for the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...

in 1998.

Early life

Grzanich was born in

Canton, Illinois Canton is the largest city in Fulton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 14,704 at the 2010 census, down from 15,288 as of the 2000 census. The Canton Micropolitan Statistical Area covers all of Fulton County; it is in turn, part ...

, on August 24, 1972. He attended Lewistown High School and

Parkland College Parkland College is a public community college in Champaign, Illinois. It is part of the Illinois Community College System serving Community College District 505 which includes parts of Coles, Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquoi ...

Professional career

Grzanich was a 19th-round draft pick of the

during the

1992 MLB draft The 1992 Major League Baseball draft took place on June 1, 1992, through a conference call involving all 28 MLB teams of the time. Phil Nevin of Cal State Fullerton was the first overall selection, chosen by the Houston Astros. Derek Jeter, selec ...

. He made his professional debut for the

GCL Astros The Florida Complex League Astros are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to the 2021 season, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Astros. The team plays i ...

last that year, posting a 2–5 record and an earned run average of 4.54 in 17 appearances. In 1993, Grzanich was promoted to the Single–A

Auburn Astros Auburn may refer to: Places Australia * Auburn, New South Wales * City of Auburn, the local government area *Electoral district of Auburn *Auburn, Queensland, a locality in the Western Downs Region *Auburn, South Australia *Auburn, Tasmania *Aub ...

of the

New York–Penn League The New York–Penn League (NYPL) was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the northeastern United States from 1939 to 2020. Classified as a Class A Short Season league, its season started in June, after major-league teams signed th ...

. He made 14 starts, with a 5–8 record and a 4.82 ERA. He also struck out 71 batters in 93.1 innings. Grzanich spent 1994 with the

Quad Cities River Bandits The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park (formerly John O'Donnell Stadium) in Davenport, Iowa, one ...

of the Single–A

Midwest League The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...

. In 22 starts with Quad Cities, he went 11–7 with a 3.09 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 142.2 innings. For the 1995 season, Grzanich was promoted to the Double–A

Jackson Generals The Jackson Generals were a professional baseball team located in Jackson, Tennessee. From 1998 to 2020, they were a part of Minor League Baseball's Southern League (1964–2020), Southern League (SL) as the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliat ...

of the

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

. He was converted from a

starting pitcher In baseball (hardball or softball), a starting pitcher or starter is the first pitcher in the game for each team. A pitcher is credited with a game started if they throw the first pitch to the opponent's first batter of a game. Starting pit ...

to a

relief pitcher In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue (medical), fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection (sports), ejection, or for other strategic ...

and made 50 appearances from the bullpen. He had a 5–3 record, an ERA of 2.74, and 8 saves. In 65.2 innings, Grzanich struck out 44 but also surrendered 38

bases on balls A base on balls (BB), also known as a walk, occurs in baseball when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls '' balls'', and is in turn awarded first base without the possibility of being called out. The base on balls is defined in Se ...

. Grzanish remained with Jackson in 1996. He made 57 relief appearances, posting a 5–4 record, 6 saves, and an ERA of 3.98. Over 72.1 innings, he struck out 80 batters and walked 43. In 1997, Grzanich spent a third consecutive season with the Jackson Generals. He made 38 appearances (13 starts) and tallied a 7–6 record and 12 saves. His ERA was 4.96 over 101.2 innings, and he totaled 73 strikeouts and 46 walks. Grzanich was promoted to the Triple–A

New Orleans Zephyrs New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

of the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

for the 1998 season. He made 34 appearances for New Orleans, recording a 1–1 record, a 2.27 ERA, and 5 saves. He also made his MLB debut on May 14 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 ...

and surrendered two earned runs in an inning of relief. On January 27, 1999, Grzanich was claimed off waivers by 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 ...

. 1999 was Grzanich's final season in affiliated baseball. He struggled with the Triple–A

Toledo Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A Mud Hens team has played in ...

, posting a 9.28 ERA in 14 appearances. He struck out 17 batters in 21.1 innings, but also recorded 25 walks. After spending 2000 out of professional baseball, in 2001 Grzanich joined the

Yuma Bullfrogs Yuma can refer to: Places * Yuma Desert, desert in southwest U.S. and northwest Mexico ;United States * Yuma County, Arizona ** Yuma, Arizona ** Fortuna Foothills, Arizona ** Marine Corps Air Station Yuma ** United States Army Yuma Proving Ground ...

of the independent Western League for what would be his final season. He saw action in 7 games (4 starts), posting an ERA of 10.43.

Personal life

Grzanich is married and has a daughter. After his playing career had ended, he paid $120 in an internet auction to buy the uniform he had worn during his lone MLB appearance.

References

External links

, o
RetrosheetPelota Binaria (Venezuelan Winter League)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grzanich, Mike 1972 births Living people Auburn Astros players Baseball players from Illinois Gulf Coast Astros players Houston Astros players Jackson Generals (Texas League) players Kissimmee Cobras players Major League Baseball pitchers Navegantes del Magallanes players American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela New Orleans Zephyrs players Parkland Cobras baseball players People from Canton, Illinois Quad Cities River Bandits players Toledo Mud Hens players Yuma Bullfrogs players