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Bruce Billings (baseball)

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For the American physicist, see Bruce H. Billings. For the American cartoonist, see Bruce Billings (cartoonist).

Bruce Billings
Pitcher
Born: (1985-11-18) November 18, 1985 (age 38)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: May 27, 2011, for the Colorado Rockies
CPBL: March 27, 2016, for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions
Last appearance
MLB: April 25, 2014, for the New York Yankees
CPBL: August 24, 2018, for the Fubon Guardians
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average10.29
Strikeouts7
CPBL statistics
Win–loss record26–28
Earned run average5.00
Strikeouts410
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Bruce Billings (born November 18, 1985) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, and New York Yankees. He also pitched in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions and Fubon Guardians.

Early life and college

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Billings is the son of Bruce and Emily. Billings attended the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SDSCPA) and Samuel F. B. Morse High School and San Diego State University who played for the SDSU baseball team as a short reliever in 2004 and a starter in 2005 and 2006.[1] In 2005, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2][3] While at SDSU, Bruce Billings became the school's all-time strikeout leader (Stephen Strasberg went on the break Billings record before leaving for professional baseball). Billings was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft in the 31st round, but decided to stay one more year at San Diego State. Billings was again drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 30th round in the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft, 912th overall, and he accepted the deal.[4]

Playing career

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Minor leagues

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Billings started his minor league career with the Tri-City Dust Devils where he went 4–2 in 15 starts. In 2008 with the Asheville Tourists, Billings threw a no-hitter against the Lakewood BlueClaws. Billings started to convert to a reliever in 2010 with Tulsa with more than half of his appearances being in relief. Billings was also a mid-season All Star with Tulsa. Billings did not pitch one start in 2011 with Colorado Springs before being promoted.

While in AA Tulsa, he set the team record for most consecutive scoreless innings at 38. (https://www.milb.com/tulsa/news/print/sitting-down-with-bruce-billings/c-12810486)

Colorado Rockies

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On May 25, 2011, Billings was recalled to the majors when Jorge de la Rosa being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.[5]

On May 27, Billings made his major league debut in relief of Matt Daley. Billings pitched the 8th and the 9th innings in a 10–3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up 5 hits and 1 run, while recording no strikeouts.[6]

Oakland Athletics

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Billings and a player to be named later were traded to the Oakland Athletics for Mark Ellis on June 30, 2011.[7] He pitched five innings in three games for the Athletics, allowing seven runs (all of which scored in one outing against the New York Yankees in a rain delayed game). He spent the next two seasons with the Sacramento River Cats in AAA. While in AAA for the Oakland A's, Billings was voted Most Valuable Pitcher in 2012, and was runner up in 2013 before electing free agency in 2014.

New York Yankees

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Billings signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees in December 2013. He appeared for the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and one for the Yankees, where he allowed four runs in four innings, while also recording 7 strikeouts. After the game, he found a muscle hernia in his forearm (he was placed on the disabled list afterward). He was designated for assignment on July 22, 2014.[8] He was released on August 2. [9]

Los Angeles Dodgers

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On August 7, 2014, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and reported to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. He appeared in five games for the Isotopes, all as a relief pitcher and was 1–1 with a 6.75 ERA. He became a free agent at the end of the 2014 season.

Washington Nationals

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On November 21, 2014, the Washington Nationals signed Billings to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. In AAA Syracuse, he went 8-5 while posting a 3.63 ERA. He recorded 90 strikeouts in 121.1 innings with a WHIP of 1.26. He elected free agency on November 6, 2015.[10]

Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions

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In February 2016, he signed with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions, a professional baseball team based in Taiwan. He joined the spring training in mid-February with a former MLB players, Felix Pie, and Jair Jurrjens. He became the ACE of staff over the course of the season, leading the team in Wins(11), Strikeouts, innings, complete games, and Whip. Here is an article where Billings is interviewed about the league dynamics for pitchers (http://www.cpblenglish.com/2016/07/uni-lions-bruce-billings-is-in.html?m=1) ([11] He re-signed with the team for the 2017 season, again leading the team in WINs, strikeouts, innings and Whip. He became a free agent following the season because the team did not want to guarantee him a contract through the season.

Fubon Guardians

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On March 4, 2018, Billings signed with the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[12] Billings recorded a 2–9 record and 5.72 ERA in 20 appearances with Fubon.

Coaching career

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Philadelphia Phillies organization

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In late 2018, Billings announced his retirement in order to pursue a coaching opportunity in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.[13]

Fubon Guardians

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On December 14, 2020, Billings accepted a coaching job with the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).[14] On November 17, 2021, it was announced that Billings had reportedly resigned from his position due to an altercation he had had with Fubon manager Hong I-chung.[15]

Chicago Cubs organization

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In 2023, Billings was named pitching coach of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Single-A affiliate for the Chicago Cubs.

In 2024, Billings was named pitching coach of the South Bend Cubs the High-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.

References

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  1. ^ "Bruce Billings Bio - San Diego State Official Athletic Site". goaztecs.cstv.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  2. ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "2005 Wareham Gatemen". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Bruce Billings Minor League Statistics & History - Baseball-Reference.com". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  5. ^ Renck, Troy (May 25, 2011). "Rockies call up pitcher Bruce Billings, Juan Nicasio likely too". Denver Post. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  6. ^ Martin, Andrew (May 27, 2011). "Bruce Billings Not Awful in MLB Debut; Everyone Else Was". Purple Row. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  7. ^ Nicholson-Smith, Ben. "Rockies Acquire Mark Ellis". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  8. ^ Rosengrant, Dave (April 2, 2014). "Newcomer Billings to start opener in Syracuse". Times Leader. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  9. ^ Eric Stephen (August 7, 2014). "Dodgers sign Bruce Billings to minor league contract".
  10. ^ "International League Transactions". milb.com. p. November 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  11. ^ TVBS. "統一新外野手Pie 月薪73萬隊史最高薪洋打 | 體壇脈動 | TVBS新聞 | TVBS官網". TVBS. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  12. ^ "Fubon Guardians Sign Bryan Woodall, Bruce Billings". March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  13. ^ "Phillies Hire Bruce Billings as Minor League Coach". December 28, 2018.
  14. ^ @GOCPBL (December 15, 2020). "Former Uni-Lions / Fubon Guardians foreign pitcher Bruce Billings just announced he accepted a coaching job with th…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Fubon blame coach dispute on culture - Taipei Times". November 17, 2021.
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