Colin Poche

Colin Poche
Poche with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 38
Pitcher
Born: (1994-01-17) January 17, 1994 (age 30)
Flower Mound, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 8, 2019, for the Tampa Bay Rays
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record22–12
Earned run average3.63
Strikeouts230
Teams

Colin Michael Poche (/poʊˈʃeɪ/ poh-SHAY;[1] born January 17, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Amateur career

Poche with the 2013 Razorbacks

Poche attended Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas. As a senior in 2012, he went 7–3 with a 0.21 earned run average (ERA).[2] He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth round of the 2012 MLB draft out of high school, but did not sign and attended the University of Arkansas, where he played college baseball.[3][4]

In June 2014, Poche underwent Tommy John Surgery and then did not pitch during 2015.[5] After two years at Arkansas, he transferred to Dallas Baptist University. In 2016, as a redshirt junior, he pitched to a 9–1 record with a 2.38 ERA in 16 starts. After the season, he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 14th round of the 2016 MLB draft.[6]

Professional career

Arizona Diamondbacks

Poche signed with Arizona and made his professional debut during the 2016 season with the Hillsboro Hops, a Class A Short Season team, where he compiled a 1–2 record with a 3.19 ERA in 31 innings pitched. He spent 2017 with the Kane County Cougars and Visalia Rawhide where he posted a combined 3–1 record and 1.25 ERA in 50+1⁄3 innings pitched in relief.[7] After the season, he pitched in the Arizona Fall League.[8] Poche started 2018 with the Jackson Generals at the Double-A level.

Tampa Bay Rays

On May 1, 2018, Poche was acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays as a player to be named later to complete the Steven Souza trade from February 2018.[9] After three games with the Montogmery Biscuits, Poche was promoted to the Triple-A Durham Bulls of the International League.[10] Poche was named to the 2018 MLB Pipeline team of the year after pitching to a 0.82 ERA in 66 innings between both levels.[11] Poche was also named the Rays minor league reliever of the year.[12]

Poche returned to Durham to begin 2019[13] On June 8, his contract was selected and he was called up to the major leagues for the first time.[14] He made his MLB debut that night versus the Boston Red Sox.[15] He went on to make a total of 51 major-league appearances during 2019, all in relief, compiling a 5–5 record with a 4.70 ERA.[16]

On July 21, 2020, the Rays announced Poche would miss the entire abbreviated 2020 season with a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery.[17] On February 17, 2021, Poche was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from surgery.[18] He did not pitch professionally during the 2021 season.[19] In 2022, Poche made six relief appearances with Triple-A Durham, and 64 relief appearances with Tampa Bay during the regular season.[19]

References

  1. ^ University of Arkansas Razorbacks Baseball 2014 Media Guide – University of Arkansas Athletics. Retrieved June 8, 2019
  2. ^ "Marcus' Colin Poché named Baseball Pitcher of the Year; Wakeland's Willie Schwanke Hitter of the Year". Sports Day Dallas News. June 21, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  3. ^ "Poche, fifth-rounder, will attend Arkansas". Arkansasonline.com. July 6, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  4. ^ "UA coach eager to see how far Poche has come". WholeHogSports. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  5. ^ "Poche sidelined after Tommy John surgery". WholeHogSports. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  6. ^ "The Official Site of Dallas Baptist University Athletics". Dbupatriots.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  7. ^ "Colin Poche Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  8. ^ "Game Day: Diamondbacks hold on for win over Dodgers". Azcentral.com. August 29, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  9. ^ Beery, Kyle (May 24, 2018). "Rays acquire Colin Poche, Sam McWilliams". MLB.com. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  10. ^ "The Most Unhittable Arm in the Minors | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com. June 28, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "2018 Pipeline's Prospect Team of the Year". MLB.com. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  12. ^ "Marc Topkin on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  13. ^ "Rays' Colin Poche: Dispatched to minors". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  14. ^ RotoWire Staff (June 8, 2019). "Rays' Colin Poche: Set for big-league debut". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  15. ^ Mark Townsend (June 8, 2019). "Rays pitcher loses MLB debut after being forced to walk final mile to Fenway Park". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  16. ^ "Colin Poche Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  17. ^ "Rays' Colin Poche: Will miss 2020 season". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  18. ^ "Rays secure contracts with RHP Drake, LHP Hill". February 18, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Colin Poche Amateur, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2022.