Matthew David Buschmann (born February 13, 1984) 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 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 ...
. 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) in 2016 for the
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 ...
. He served as the bullpen coach for 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 ...
from 2019 to 2022.
Amateur career
Buschmann attended
Lafayette High School in
Wildwood, Missouri
Wildwood is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. It is located in the far western portion of the county. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,417. Wildwood is the home of the Al Foster Trail, and numerous other trails, p ...
, and then
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million ...
, 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
Vanderbilt Commodores
The Vanderbilt Commodores are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt fields 16 varsity teams (6 men's teams and 10 women's teams), 14 of which compete at the National ...
primarily as 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, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as inclement weat ...
his first three seasons. He was 5–2 with 5 saves and a 3.86 ERA as a freshman at Vanderbilt in 2003 and participated in a combined
perfect game
Perfect game may refer to:
Sports
* Perfect game (baseball), a complete-game win by a pitcher allowing no baserunners
* Perfect game (bowling), a 300 game, 12 consecutive strikes in the same game
* Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, New York ...
in May, then 8–1 with 2 saves and a 2.84 ERA as a sophomore in 2004. He helped lead the team to the
2004 Southeastern Conference baseball tournament finals, though the club was beaten by South Carolina. After the 2004 season, he played
collegiate summer baseball with the
Hyannis Mets
The Hyannis Harbor Hawks, formerly the Hyannis Mets, are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's West Division. The Harbor Hawks play ...
of the
Cape Cod Baseball League. In 2005, he was 4–3 with a 3.47 ERA and a save. In his senior year, 2006, Buschmann was 3–3 with a 4.27 ERA in 7 starts. Overall, he was 20–9 with a 3.50 ERA in 79 games (26 starts) in his four-year collegiate career. He helped lead Vanderbilt to the
2006 Southeastern Conference baseball tournament, with the team losing to
Ole Miss in the finals. He was also named to the SEC Baseball Good Works Team that year.
Professional career
Buschmann was drafted in the 15th round of the
2006 amateur draft by 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 penn ...
, was signed by scout Ash Lawson, and began his professional career that year. He split the summer between the
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds (nicknamed the Ems) are a Minor League Baseball team in the northwest United States, based in Eugene, Oregon. The Emeralds are members of the Northwest League and are affiliated with the San Francisco Giants. Eugene plays thei ...
and
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays their home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond (Pete Lehr Field), which opened in 1994; the park s ...
, going a combined 4–4 with a 3.19 ERA in 17 games (12 starts). With the Storm again in 2007, he was 12–6 with a 2.89 ERA in 28 games (25 starts). He was
California League Post-Season All-Star and earned two Pitcher of the Week honors that season. In 2008, he was 10–6 with a 2.98 ERA in 27 starts for the
San Antonio Missions and earned a spot on 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 ...
's Mid- and Post-Season All-Star squads. He was, according to ''The Baseball Cube'', the best pitcher in the league that season.
The pitcher dropped to 5–11 with a 5.66 ERA in 35 games (21 starts) in 2009, split between the Missions and Triple-A
Portland Beavers
The Portland Beavers was the name of separate minor league baseball teams, which represented Portland, Oregon, in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The team was established in 1903, the first year of the PCL.
Franchise history
Many baseball teams ...
. In his first trial at Triple-A, he was 3–10 with a 6.18 ERA. In 2010, Buschmann was 2–6 with a 5.01 ERA in 40 games (9 starts) between the Missions and Beavers. He had 94 strikeouts in 91.2 innings that year, the first time in his career he averaged more than a strikeout per inning. In 2011, he was 12–6 with a 6.16 ERA in 32 games (22 starts) between San Antonio and the
Tucson Padres
The Tucson Padres were a minor league baseball team representing Tucson, Arizona in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). They were the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team moved to Tucson from Portland, Oregon for the 2011 season. I ...
, San Diego's new Triple-A club.
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 ...
selected him in the Double-A portion of the
Rule 5 Draft, though the team traded him to the
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...
for cash considerations in April 2012. He pitched for the
Montgomery Biscuits
The Montgomery Biscuits are a Minor League Baseball team based in Montgomery, Alabama. They are the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and play in the Southern League. The team was founded in Orlando, Florida, in 1973 as the Orlando Twins ...
and Triple-A
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are located in Durham, North Carolina, and play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened ...
in 2012 and went 7–8 with a 3.98 ERA in 26 games (24 starts). In May, he earned a
Southern League Pitcher of the Week honor. With Montgomery and Durham again in 2013, he went 14–5 with a 2.86 ERA in 29 games (28 starts), striking out 167 batters in 160.2 innings. He became a free-agent following the 2013 campaign and signed with the
Oakland Athletics. He went 10–7 with a 4.40 ERA in 25 games (24 starts) for the
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Prior to 2015, the River Cats were the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics for 15 ...
; he also had 134 strikeouts in 143.1 innings. He re-signed with Oakland for 2015, but was traded to the
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...
for cash before the season began. After posting a 6–5 record with a 3.89 ERA for the
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are located in Durham, North Carolina, and play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened ...
, he was released in June and signed by the
Cincinnati Reds. He started nine games for the
Louisville Bats and went 2–5 with a 4.25 ERA. On August 11, he was traded 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) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
for cash and made one start 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 ...
, their Triple-A club. He was 8–10 with a 4.08 ERA in 23 starts that year. In August of that year, he was a guest columnist for
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN. It is owned by ESPN Internet Ventures, a division of ESPN Inc.
History
Since launching in April 1995 as ESPNET.SportsZone.com (ESPNET SportsZone), the website has developed numerous sections including ...
, penning an article called "What baseball might look like in the year 2045." Adam Sobsey of
Grantland.com wrote a feature piece on Buschmann in August, as well, asking "will the minor league strikeout king ever reach the majors?" He became a free agent following the season and signed with the
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 ...
for 2016. He earned an invitation to major league
spring training.
On April 7, 2016, Buschmann was promoted to the major leagues for the first time after pitcher
Kyle Drabek was
designated for assignment
Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must within seven days, return the pla ...
. He made his major league debut on April 10, 2016, facing the
Chicago Cubs. He pitched a scoreless top of the ninth inning, allowing only a base hit to
Munenori Kawasaki. Buschmann was designated for assignment on April 29, and outrighted to Triple-A Reno on May 3.
In March 2017, Buschmann signed a minor league contract with 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 ...
, and was assigned to 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 ...
. He did not appear in any games for the Bisons in 2017.
Post-playing career
San Francisco Giants
On December 17, 2017, Buschmann was hired by the
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Y ...
organization as an assistant director of player development.
Toronto Blue Jays
On November 26, 2018, Buschmann was hired by 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 ...
as their bullpen coach.
Buschmann caught
Aaron Judge's AL record-tying 61st home run while working the bullpen for 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 ...
.
After four years in the role, on January 15, 2023, Buschmann left the Blue Jays organization to pursue other opportunities. He had also served as director of pitching development since 2020.
Personal life
Buschmann is married to sportscaster
Sara Walsh
Sara Elizabeth Walsh (born April 12, 1978) is an American sportscaster who currently works for NFL Network. She worked for ESPN from 2010 to 2017. Walsh came to ESPN from WUSA in Washington, D.C., where she served as the station's weekend spor ...
.
David Price, a former teammate of Buschmann's, was the "matchmaker."
On February 3, 2017, Buschmann announced the birth of twins, Hutton and Brees.
See also
*
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
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buschmann, Matt
1984 births
Living people
American expatriate baseball people in Canada
Arizona Diamondbacks players
Baseball coaches from Missouri
Baseball players from St. Louis
Durham Bulls players
Eugene Emeralds players
Hyannis Harbor Hawks players
Lake Elsinore Storm players
Louisville Bats players
Major League Baseball bullpen coaches
Major League Baseball pitchers
Minor league baseball coaches
Montgomery Biscuits players
Norfolk Tides players
Portland Beavers players
Reno Aces players
Sacramento River Cats players
San Antonio Missions players
Stockton Ports players
Tomateros de Culiacán players
American expatriate baseball players in Mexico
Toronto Blue Jays coaches
Tucson Padres players
Vanderbilt Commodores baseball players
Venados de Mazatlán players