Brandon Claussen | |
Position: | Pitcher |
Birth Date: | 1 May 1979 |
Birth Place: | Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S. |
Bats: | Right |
Throws: | Left |
Debutleague: | MLB |
Debutdate: | June 28 |
Debutyear: | 2003 |
Debutteam: | New York Yankees |
Finalleague: | MLB |
Finaldate: | June 16 |
Finalyear: | 2006 |
Finalteam: | Cincinnati Reds |
Statleague: | MLB |
Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
Stat1value: | 16–27 |
Stat2label: | Earned run average |
Stat2value: | 5.04 |
Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
Stat3value: | 228 |
Teams: |
Brandon Allen Falker Claussen (born May 1, 1979) is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher.
Claussen graduated from Goddard High School in Roswell, New Mexico.[1] He then attended Howard College in Big Spring, Texas.[2] He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 34th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft while in college.[3] In 2001, he led all minor league pitchers in strikeouts, with 220.[4] In June 2002, Claussen had Tommy John surgery.
Claussen was called up to the major leagues on June 28, 2003.[5] He made his debut against the New York Mets that day.[6] On July 31, 2003, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds with Charlie Manning and cash for Aaron Boone.[7] Claussen was invited to spring training in 2004,[8] and sent to the minors on March 28.[9] He was recalled on July 20 to make his first start for the Reds.[10] Claussen finished the 2005 season with a 10–11 record and 4.21 ERA. He made his final major league appearance on June 16, 2006, and took the loss against the Chicago White Sox.[11] Two days later, he was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis and placed on the disabled list.[12] On August 14, Claussen underwent an operation to repair the rotator cuff and debridement in his throwing shoulder. On January 12, 2007, he signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals.[13] He became a free agent at the end of the season.[14]