Richard Bleier
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Richard Sidney Bleier (born April 16, 1987) 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 ...
for 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 ...
of
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). He has previously played in MLB for the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
,
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
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 ...
. In high school, he was a State of Florida All Star in 2005. In his junior year of college at
Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a public university in Lee County, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is its second youngest member. The university was established on May 3, 1991, and is accredited by the ...
, Bleier was selected unanimously as the
Atlantic Sun Conference The ASUN Conference, formerly the Atlantic Sun Conference, is a collegiate athletic conference operating mostly in the Southeastern United States. The league participates at the NCAA Division I level, and began sponsoring football at the Divisi ...
Pitcher of the Year and First Team All Sun Conference. The Texas Rangers selected Bleier in the sixth round of the
2008 MLB 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 ...
. In 2009, his 125 strikeouts were the second-most in the Rangers' minor league system, and he gave up the fewest walks-per-9 innings in the
California League The California League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in California. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major Leag ...
. Bleier signed with 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 ...
organization before the 2015 season, pitched for the
Harrisburg Senators The Harrisburg Senators are a Minor League Baseball team of the Eastern League, and the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who play their home games at FNB Field on City Island, which opened in 1987 a ...
that year, and had the most wins (14) and the lowest
earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA; 2.57) of all minor league pitchers in the Nationals minor league system. He was a 2015 post-season Double-A Eastern League all-star, and was voted a Washington organization all-star by MiLB.com. Bleier debuted in the majors in 2016 for the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
, following nine minor league seasons in which he pitched 956 innings, and he was one of 12 Yankees pitchers since 1919 to make his debut after turning 29 years old. In 23 relief appearances in 2016 he had a 1.96 ERA. In February 2017 the Yankees traded Bleier to 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 ...
. In 57 relief appearances in 2017, he had a 1.99 ERA. In 31 relief appearances in 2018, he had a 1.93 ERA. His 1.97 ERA for the seasons 2016–2018 was the second-lowest in major league baseball, of all pitchers with 100 or more innings pitched. During 2020–2022, he pitched for 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 ...
. Used as a relief pitcher, the left-hander throws a
fastball The fastball is the most common type of pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. "Power pitchers," such as former American major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, rely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit, and have thro ...
that hits the low 90s, a
changeup A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball. The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced speed ...
, a
curveball In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curve ...
, and a
slider Slider or Sliders may refer to: Arts * K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise * '' The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex * ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy television series * ...
. His approach is to "pitch to contact," and use excellent control. Bleier committed to pitch for Team Israel in the
2023 World Baseball Classic The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), an international professional baseball tournament, is set to be the fifth iteration of the World Baseball Classic. It was originally set for 2021 (as per tradition to hold the event every four years), but wa ...
in Miami in March 2023.


Early and personal life

Bleier was born in
Davie, Florida Davie is a town in Broward County, Florida, United States, approximately north of Miami. The town's population was 110,320 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Davie is a principal town of the Miami metropolitan area, which was home to ...
. Bleier's father, Lawrence, is from
Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, in New York City, and grew up playing
stickball Stickball is a street game similar to baseball, usually formed as a pick-up game played in large cities in the Northeastern United States, especially New York City and Philadelphia. The equipment consists of a broom handle and a rubber ball, ...
in
Brownsville, Brooklyn Brownsville is a residential neighborhood in eastern Brooklyn in New York City. The neighborhood is generally bordered by Crown Heights to the northwest; Bedford–Stuyvesant and Cypress Hills to the north; East New York to the east; Canarsie ...
; his mother is Kathleen Bleier. Bleier has a brother and a sister, and is Jewish. His wife is Brett Bleier. Bleier grew up in
Plantation, Florida Plantation is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 91,750. It is a principal city of the Miami metropolitan area. The city's name comes from the previous part-owner of the land, the Eve ...
, and played baseball at
South Plantation High School South Plantation High School is a four-year public high school located in the city of Plantation, Florida in the United States. SPHS is part of the Broward County Public Schools school district, which is the sixth-largest district in the nation w ...
, from which he graduated in 2005. As a freshman, he was tall, and weighed . He was chosen for the county and state All Star games in 2005. He lives in
Fort Lauderdale A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
, Florida.


College

Bleier 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 pl ...
at
Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a public university in Lee County, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is its second youngest member. The university was established on May 3, 1991, and is accredited by the ...
(FGCU) for the
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (also FGCU) refer to the fifteen intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Florida Gulf Coast University, located in Fort Myers, Florida in intercollegiate athletics, including men and women's basketball, cross ...
in
Fort Myers, Florida Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers) is a city in southwestern Florida and the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 92,245 in 20 ...
on a partial scholarship. He majored in criminal justice. By 2008, Bleier had grown to and , and was throwing . In his junior year of college he was selected unanimously as the
Atlantic Sun Conference The ASUN Conference, formerly the Atlantic Sun Conference, is a collegiate athletic conference operating mostly in the Southeastern United States. The league participates at the NCAA Division I level, and began sponsoring football at the Divisi ...
Pitcher of the Year and First Team All Sun Conference after he had a 7–1
win–loss record In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the total number of match ...
and a 2.09
earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA), leading the conference in wins, ERA,
complete game In baseball, a complete game (CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played—pitche ...
s, and
inning In baseball, softball, and similar games, an inning is the basic unit of play, consisting of two halves or frames, the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). In each half, one team bats until three outs are made, with the other team ...
s pitched (90.1)."Frisco Roughriders Game Notes, May 16, 2013"
, milb.com.
In his three years at the university, he had a 2.70 ERA (2nd-best all-time in school history), 17 wins (7th) against 4 losses, and 181
strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is deno ...
s (7th) in 209.2 innings. In 2021, Bleier was inducted into the ASUN Hall of Fame. In November 2022, he was named to the FGCU Athletics Hall of Fame.


Professional career


Texas Rangers (2008–2013)

The Texas Rangers selected Bleier in the sixth round of 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 ...
, after his junior year in college. His signing made him the highest draft pick in the history of Florida Gulf Coast University. Bleier played in the Rangers system. Playing for the
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 facin ...
in 2009, he was 7–11 and gave up the fewest walks-per-9-innings in the
California League The California League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in California. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major Leag ...
(1.25), and had the best strikeout/walk ratio in the league (5.40). In 2009 between Bakersfield and Hickory, he was 9–12 and his 125 strikeouts were the second-most in the Rangers' minor league system. In 2010, he was 7–11 for Frisco, led 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 ...
with 28 starts and two
shutout In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball. Shutouts are usuall ...
s, and gave up the third-fewest walks per 9 innings in the league, at 1.54. Bleier was voted Pitcher of the Week in the Class AA
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 ...
with the Rangers'
Frisco RoughRiders The Frisco RoughRiders (often shortened to 'Riders) are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers. They are located in Frisco, Texas, and are nam ...
on both May 10, 2010, and June 6, 2011. He spent 2010 through 2012 in Frisco, pitching to 5.04 ERA in 2010, a 7–8 record and 5.60 ERA and 1.4 walks per 9 innings in 2011, and a 0–2 record and one save and a 3.94 ERA in 2012. He split the 2013 season between 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 ...
and Frisco, registering an overall 6–6 record with four saves and a 3.32 ERA with 49 strikeouts.


Toronto Blue Jays (2014)

After the 2013 season, the
Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
selected Bleier from the Rangers in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft. He split the 2014 season between the Double-A
New Hampshire Fisher Cats The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a Minor League Baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major league club. During the team's first seas ...
and the Triple-A
Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen Fiel ...
, registering a cumulative 6–5 record with a save and a 3.95 ERA with 11 walks (1.1 walks per 9 innings; he had the lowest walk ratio in the Eastern League) and 45 strikeouts in 86.2 innings pitched.


Washington Nationals (2015)

On December 13, 2014, Bleier signed a minor league contract with 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 ...
organization, and he pitched first for the
Harrisburg Senators The Harrisburg Senators are a Minor League Baseball team of the Eastern League, and the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who play their home games at FNB Field on City Island, which opened in 1987 a ...
in 2015, for whom in 16 games (15 starts) he was 8–3 with a 2.45 ERA, as in 103 innings he walked only 9 batters (one intentionally), and led the Eastern League with a rate of 0.8 walks per 9 innings. He was voted Eastern League Pitcher of the Week with the Senators on May 25, 2015. He was a post-season Class AA Eastern League All Star with Harrisburg. He was promoted to the
Syracuse Chiefs Syracuse may refer to: Places Italy *Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa'' *Province of Syracuse United States *Syracuse, New York **East Syracuse, New York **North Syracuse, New York *Syracuse, Indiana * Syracuse, Kansas *Syracuse, Miss ...
of the
Class AAA Triple-A (officially Class AAA) has been the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946. Currently, two leagues operate at the Triple-A level, the International League (IL) and the Pacific Coast League (PCL ...
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 ...
, for whom he was 6–2 with a 2.75 ERA, led the league by not allowing a home run in 68.2 innings, and was second in the league with 0.9 walks per 9 innings. In 2015, Bleier had the most wins (14) and the lowest ERA (2.57) of all minor league pitchers in the Washington Nationals minor league system. He was voted a Washington organization All Star by MiLB.com. On November 6, 2015, Bleier elected free agency.


New York Yankees (2016)

On December 18, 2015, Bleier signed a minor league contract with the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
organization. He began the 2016 season with the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (often abbreviated to SWB RailRiders) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Moosic, Pen ...
of the International League. Bleier was called up to the majors for the first time on May 26, 2016, by the Yankees. He debuted in the majors on May 30, becoming the 27th Yankee to wear uniform number 50. His debut followed nine minor league seasons in which he pitched 956 innings. Bleier was one of 12 Yankees pitchers since 1919 to make his debut after turning 29 years old, and the first since
Amauri Sanit Amauri Sanit Sabouren (born July 4, 1979) is a Cuban former professional baseball pitcher. Sanit played for the Industriales of the Cuban National Series before defecting from Cuba in 2006. He pitched in Major League Baseball for the New York Y ...
in 2011. He became the third former FGCU player to play in the majors, joining pitchers
Chris Sale Christopher Allen Sale (born March 30, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox, with whom he made his major league debut ...
and
Casey Coleman Kenneth R. "Casey" Coleman Jr. (March 24, 1951 – November 27, 2006) was a sportscaster and radio personality in the Cleveland area for nearly 30 years. Early life Coleman was born in Cleveland in 1951 to legendary play-by-play announcer K ...
. Yankee manager
Joe Girardi Joseph Elliott Girardi (born October 14, 1964) is an American former professional baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Girardi played the catcher position for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and St. ...
said: "I can use him either way – for distance or I could use him if I wanted (to pitch to) a couple lefties. He's a ground ball guy. He gets a ton of ground balls.... He was a starter down there, so he's built up." In 23 relief appearances in 2016, Bleier had two
hold Hold may refer to: Physical spaces * Hold (ship), interior cargo space * Baggage hold, cargo space on an airplane * Stronghold, a castle or other fortified place Arts, entertainment, and media * Hold (musical term), a pause, also called a Fermat ...
s and a 1.96 ERA in 23 innings, a 1.043
WHIP A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...
, and left-handed batters hit .150 against him.


Baltimore Orioles (2017–2020)


2017

On February 21, 2017, the Yankees traded Bleier to 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 ...
for a
player to be named later In Major League Baseball, a player to be named later (PTBNL) is an unnamed player involved in exchange or "trade" of players between teams. The terms of a trade are not finalized until a later date, most often following the conclusion of the seaso ...
or cash considerations. Bleier began the 2017 season pitching for the
Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's location on the Chesapea ...
of the AAA
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 ...
. The Orioles promoted Bleier to the major leagues after he posted an ERA of 0.61 in 14.2 innings over eight games, in which he did not give up a walk. One appearance after being handed his first career loss, Bleier tossed 1 scoreless innings in extra innings for his first career victory, 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 ...
. Bleier had a solid first half for the Orioles, with a 1.45 ERA in 30 innings, over 25 relief appearances. Through August 4, Bleier had the lowest ERA (1.56) in the American League of all pitchers with 40 innings pitched. At the same time—pitching to contact—he had averaged 4.02 strikeouts-per-9-innings, the lowest average of all such AL pitchers.Ethel Hilsenroth (August 4, 2017)
"For ERA leader Richard Bleier, strikeouts don't matter,"
''Jewish Baseball News''.
In 57 relief appearances in 2017, he was 2–1 with three holds and had a 1.99 ERA."2017 MLB Baseball Pitching Statistics and League Leaders,"
ESPN.
Bleier averaged 3.69 strikeouts-per-9-innings, the lowest average of all AL pitchers who had pitched 60 innings or more, and batters he faced averaged 3.45 pitches-per-plate-appearance, the second-lowest average among all such AL pitchers. He induced
ground ball In the sports of baseball and softball, a batted ball is a pitch that has been contacted by the batter's bat. Batted balls are either fair or foul, and can be characterized as a fly ball, pop-up, line drive, or ground ball. In baseball, a fou ...
s 68.8% of the time, the second-highest rate among all relievers in baseball. Batters only hit barrels against him 2.7% of the time (in the lowest 3% of major league pitchers), and he walked only 4.9% of batters (in the lowest 5% of major league pitchers).


2018

In April 2018, Sam Miller wrote in
ESPN ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
: "Bleier has ... the best areer ERA+ in major league history, minimum 95 innings". A few days later Jon Meoli wrote in ''
The Baltimore Sun ''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries. Founded in 1837, it is currently owned by Tr ...
'': "By one measurement, Richard Bleier is the best statistical pitcher to ever toe the major league rubber. He knows that by the relatively arbitrary measurement of pitchers with 101 big league innings or more, his 242 ERA+ was the best... His raw ERA .78is the best in baseball history for that qualifier as well." On June 13, Bleier left a game with an injury later diagnosed as a grade 3
lat Lat or LAT may refer to: Places * Lat, Fuman, village in Gilan Province, Iran * Lat, Rasht, village in Gilan Province, Iran * Lat, Mazandaran, village in Iran * Lat-e Disar, village in Mazandaran Province, Iran * Lat, Qazvin, village in I ...
tear on his left side. The injury required surgical repair that ended Bleier's season; there was a chance he could be ready to pitch in
spring training Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...
in 2019. In 31 relief appearances in 2018, Bleier was 3–0 with 9 holds and a 1.93 ERA, and averaged 1.1 walks per 9 innings as he allowed four walks (one intentionally). Bleier averaged 4.13 strikeouts-per-9-innings, the fourth-lowest average of all AL pitchers who had pitched 30 innings or more."2018 MLB Baseball Pitching Statistics and League Leaders,"
ESPN.
Batters he faced averaged 3.40 pitches-per-plate-appearance, the second-lowest average among all such AL pitchers, and averaged 21.2% hard-hit balls, the third-lowest percentage among all such AL pitchers.. For his career through 2018, Bleier was 5–1 with a 1.97 ERA in 111 games. His 1.97 ERA for the seasons 2016–18 was the second-lowest in major league baseball (behind
Zach Britton Zackary Grant Britton (born December 22, 1987), known professionally as Zach Britton until February 2019, is a professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles an ...
; 1.86), of all pitchers with 100 or more innings pitched, as his strikeout percentage (11.0%) was the lowest of such pitchers in major league baseball. He had a salary of $556,000, and was to be eligible for arbitration in 2020, and to be a free agent in 2023.


2019–2020

Bleier returned from his lat muscle surgery in 2019, and was on the injured list from April 10 to May 16 with left shoulder
tendinitis Tendinopathy, a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder (rotator cuff tendinitis, biceps tendinitis), elbow (tennis elbo ...
. He struggled at first, but improved as the season progressed.Jon Meoli (December 2, 2019)
"Orioles agree to 2020 contract with Richard Bleier to avoid arbitration ahead of Monday's deadline,"
''The Baltimore Sun''.
He finished the 2019 season 3–0 with four saves (the first of his major league career), five holds, and a 5.37 ERA in 53 appearances (one start; the first in his career after 159 major league relief appearances), though Bleier had a much better 3.68 ERA after the All Star break, and in 12 September appearances he had a 2.92 ERA and an 0.717
WHIP A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...
as batters hit just .180 against him. He walked only 3.4% of batters (in the lowest 2% of major league pitchers), and batters only hit barrels against him 3.1% of the time (in the lowest 3% of major league pitchers). He also had some of the worst batted-ball luck on ground balls in the American League, and after a dugout shouting match about defensive positioning with
infield Infield is a sports term whose definition depends on the sport in whose context it is used. Baseball In baseball, the diamond, as well as the area immediately beyond it, has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-c ...
coach José Flores, he played in front of an infield that was not shifted for the final month of the season, and saw his results further improve. The Orioles agreed to a one-year contract with Bleier for $915,000 for the 2020 season. In two relief appearances for the Orioles in 2020, he was 0–0 with an 0.00 ERA.


Miami Marlins (2020–2022)


2020

Bleier was traded from Baltimore 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 ...
on July 31, 2020, in a transaction that was completed seven weeks later when the Orioles received minor-league shortstop Isaac De León on September 18. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, with Baltimore and Miami combined Bleier was 1–1 with 6 holds, a 2.16 ERA, and a 1.08 WHIP in 16.2 innings over 21 games.


2021

In 2021, Bleier was 3–2 with 20 holds (10th in the NL), a 2.95 ERA, and an 0.98 WHIP. In a career-high 68 games he pitched 58 innings, and averaged 0.93 walks per 9 innings (the lowest rate in the NL); of the six walks that he gave up, three were intentional walks. He also had a ground ball percentage of 65.5% (tops in the NL), a fly ball percentage of 14.9% (lowest in the NL), a first-ball-strike percentage of 71.1% (highest in the NL), a strikeout/walk ratio of 7.33 (second-best in the league behind
Jacob DeGrom Jacob Anthony deGrom (born June 19, 1988), is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the New York Mets. Prior to playing professionally, deGrom attend ...
), and induced a swing percentage at pitches outside the
strike zone In baseball, the strike zone is the volume of space through which a pitch must pass in order to be called a strike even if the batter does not swing. The strike zone is defined as the volume of space above home plate and between the batter's kn ...
of 42.1% (second-highest in the NL, again behind DeGrom). Batters only hit barrels against him 4.1% of the time (in the lowest 5% of major league pitchers), and swung with a 36.7% chase rate (in the top 2% of major league pitchers). On July 20, 2021, he was ejected for the first time in his career, as a result of flipping off the umpires. Bleier had disagreed with a HBP call on
Alcides Escobar Alcides Escobar () (born December 16, 1986), is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent. He previously played in MLB with the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals and Washington Nationals, and the Tokyo Ya ...
, believing that Escobar had swung at the pitch. Of major league pitchers who had pitched 240 or more innings from 2016 to 2021, Bleier was 2nd in fewest walks per 9 innings (1.41), 3rd in fewest home runs per 9 innings (0.58), fewest strikeouts per 9 innings (5.02), and lowest fly ball percentage (18.7%), and 4th in ground ball percentage (63.5%).


2022

On March 21, 2022, the Marlins signed Bleier to a two-year, $6 million extension ($2.25 million in 2022, and $3.5 million in 2023), avoiding arbitration. The deal included a $3.75 million club option for 2024, and a $250,000 buyout. Bleier was called for a
balk In baseball, a pitcher can commit a number of illegal motions or actions that constitute a balk. Most of these violations involve pitchers pretending to pitch when they have no intention of doing so. In games played under the Official Baseball Ru ...
by first-base umpire
John Tumpane John Francis Tumpane (born May 4, 1983) is an American Major League Baseball umpire wearing number 74. Umpiring career He made his major league umpiring debut on August 2, 2010. He umpired in six major league games in 2010, and returned in 201 ...
three times—in a single plate appearance. It was as he faced
Pete Alonso Peter Morgan Alonso (born December 7, 1994), nicknamed "Polar Bear" and "Big Meat Pete"," is an American professional baseball first baseman for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut during the 2019 season and br ...
, allowing
Jeff McNeil Jeff McNeil (born April 8, 1992), nicknamed "Squirrel" or "Flying Squirrel", is an American professional baseball utility player for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). In 2022, he won the MLB Batting Title and the Silver Slugger A ...
to score from first base in the eighth inning of a 6–4 win over the
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...
at
Citi Field Citi Field is a baseball stadium located in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in New York City, United States. It opened in 2009 and is the home field of Major League Baseball's New York Mets. The stadium was built as a replacement for the adjacent ...
on September 27, 2022. He had never been called for a balk in his MLB career previously, over the course of 303 games in seven seasons. It was the first time since at least 1900 that one pitcher was called for a balk three times in a single plate appearance. Manager Don Mattingly was ejected from the game for arguing, and Bleier was also ejected from the game at the end of the inning for arguing with the umpires. CBS Sports opined: "Some balks are obvious. Those are not... You almost have to be looking for a reason to call a balk to ring Bleier up on that motion three – again, three! – times in a single inning." For the 2022 season, Bleier was 2–2 with one save, seven holds, and a 3.55 ERA in 50 games (one start) covering 50.2 innings in which he gave up 10 walks (3 intentional). He induced a 52.5% ground ball rate, and 0.53 home runs/9 innings. In 2022, he relied primarily on his heavy sinker (90 mph; 49% of the time) and cutter (87 mph), mixing in a
slider Slider or Sliders may refer to: Arts * K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise * '' The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex * ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy television series * ...
(78 mph) and
changeup A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball. The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced speed ...
(83 mph), with a rare heavy-sinking
four-seam fastball A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the hardest (i.e., fastest) ball thrown by a pitcher. It is ca ...
(91 mph). Since 1990, Bleier had the third-lowest career walk rate (4%) among relievers with at least 250 innings pitched. In his career through 2022, with two outs and runners in scoring position, he had held batters to a .231 batting average and .286
slugging percentage In baseball statistics, slugging percentage (SLG) is a measure of the batting productivity of a hitter. It is calculated as total bases divided by at bats, through the following formula, where ''AB'' is the number of at bats for a given player, ...
, not allowing any home runs when facing 168 batters.


Boston Red Sox (2023–present)

The Marlins traded Bleier 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
Matt Barnes Matt Barnes (born March 9, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player who played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Barnes was drafted in the second round of the 2002 NBA draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. He ...
on January 30, 2023.


Team Israel; World Baseball Classic


2012

In 2012, Bleier, by virtue of his Jewish heritage, played for the
Israel national baseball team The Israel national baseball team ( he, נבחרת ישראל בבייסבול) represents Israel in international competitions. It is managed by Israeli-American former Major League Baseball World Series champion, World Baseball Classic champion, ...
in the qualifying rounds of the
2013 World Baseball Classic The 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international professional baseball competition, held from March 2 to March 19, 2013. This was the third iteration of the WBC, following the two previous tournaments, held in 2006 and 2009. Unlike ...
. He pitched one scoreless inning, over the course of two appearances. After not pitching in the first game, Bleier got the only batter he faced in the second game, and was credited with a hold. During the third and final game, Bleier recorded two outs while walking two, and was again credited with a hold. Bleier turned down Israel's offer to once again play for
Israel at the World Baseball Classic Team Israel has competed in the World Baseball Classic since the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualifier round. In 2017 Israel competed at a World Baseball Classic qualifier for the second time, and for the first time qualified for the main tourname ...
main tournament, because he was trying to win a job in spring training in the Orioles' bullpen. He said: "It was really appealing to me to do it again. I wanted to represent Israel in the Classic. But I feel like I have such a small window at this point in my career. I didn't get to the big leagues until I was 29. I felt I should do whatever I could to get as much big league time as I can with what little time I have left."Jim Brockman (March 16, 2017)
">"Bleier's promised land in Sarasota"
''Sarasota Herald-Tribune''.


2023

In July 2022, Bleier committed to play for Team Israel in the
2023 World Baseball Classic The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), an international professional baseball tournament, is set to be the fifth iteration of the World Baseball Classic. It was originally set for 2021 (as per tradition to hold the event every four years), but wa ...
in Miami starting March 11–15, 2023. He will be playing for Team Israel manager and former All-Star
Ian Kinsler Ian Michael Kinsler ( he, איאן קינסלר; born June 22, 1982) is an American-Israeli former professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for ...
, and alongside All-Star outfielder
Joc Pederson Joc Russell Pederson ( ; born April 21, 1992) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta Br ...
, Gold Glove outfielder
Harrison Bader Harrison Joseph Bader (born June 3, 1994), nicknamed "Tots," is an American professional baseball center fielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals. Born and rais ...
, and pitcher
Dean Kremer Dean Junior Kremer ( he, דין קרמר; born January 7, 1996) is an Israeli–American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). In 2015 he became the first Israeli drafted by an MLB team. He made ...
, among others.


See also

* List of Jewish baseball players *
Rule 5 draft results Below are lists of Rule 5 draft results since 1997. Players selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) phase of the Rule 5 draft must be kept on their new team's active roster for the entire following MLB season, or they are placed on waivers ...


References


External links


Richard Bleier on Instagram
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bleier, Richard 1987 births 2017 World Baseball Classic players Living people Bakersfield Blaze players Baltimore Orioles players Baseball players from Florida Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Estrellas Orientales players American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Florida Gulf Coast Eagles baseball players Frisco RoughRiders players Harrisburg Senators players Hickory Crawdads players Jewish American baseball players Jewish Major League Baseball players Major League Baseball pitchers Miami Marlins players New Hampshire Fisher Cats players New York Yankees players Norfolk Tides players People from Davie, Florida People from Plantation, Florida South Plantation High School alumni Round Rock Express players Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players Spokane Indians players Syracuse Chiefs players 21st-century American Jews Sportspeople from Broward County, Florida