Tanyon Sturtze
| Tanyon Sturtze | |
|---|---|
| File:Sturtze-mugshot.jpg | |
| New York Yankees – No. 56 | |
| Pitcher | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| debut | |
| May 3, 1995, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Career statistics (through July 16, 2006) | |
| Record | 40-44 |
| ERA | 5.21 |
| Strikeouts | 479 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Former teams | |
Tanyon James Sturtze (born October 12, 1970 in Worcester, Massachusetts), commonly known as Tanyon Sturtze or by the nickname The Grand Tanyon, is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the New York Yankees.
He attended Quinsigamond Community College and was drafted by the Oakland A's in the 1990 amateur baseball draft. In 1994, he became a Chicago Cubs minor leaguer after rising through the Oakland farm system. He pitched two innings, allowing two runs, with the major league team that year. He spent the next two seasons alternating between the Class AAA Iowa Cubs and the Chicago Cubs, and in 1997, he signed with the Texas Rangers, again alternating between the major and minor league squads. In 1998, he did not play major league ball, and in 1999, he became a member of the Chicago White Sox, becoming a permanent major league reliever. He was dealt to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in exchange for Tony Graffanino in the 2000 season, and became a key starter for the perennially last-place Devil Rays. However, the 2002 season was a dismal one for Sturtze; he had a 4-18 record and led the majors in losses (18), earned runs allowed (129), hits allowed (271), walks allowed (89) and batters faced (1008). He was also seventh in innings pitched (224) and games started (33), and third in home runs allowed (33).
In 2003, he joined the Toronto Blue Jays, and in 2004, he joined the New York Yankees, where he became a consistent reliever, helping the Yankees to win the AL East in 2004. He is currently on the DL and needs season-ending surgery.