Jeremy Guthrie

American baseball player (born 1979)

Jeremy Shane Guthrie (born April 8, 1979) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, and Washington Nationals. Prior to playing professionally, he attended Stanford University. Guthrie was selected by the Indians in the first round of the 2002 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2004, but continued to stay in the Indians' minor league system. In 2007, he was claimed off waivers by the Orioles, where he had a 3.70 ERA and went 7–5 across 32 starts. In 2009, he pitched for Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. In 2012, he was traded twice, landing on the Royals in July. He proved to be the best pitcher for the Royals in the second half of the season, posting a 3.16 ERA and a 5–3 record. In 2014, he made his only appearance in the postseason, including two starts in the 2014 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, going 1–1. After becoming a free agent at the end of the 2015 season, he signed multiple minor league contracts before being released each time. In 2017, he signed with the Nationals and appeared in one game before being released.

Guthrie was born in Roseburg, Oregon and grew up in Ashland, Oregon. As a youth, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Guthrie attended Ashland High School, where he excelled in basketball, football, baseball, as well as the classroom, where he was class valedictorian. After high school, he attended Brigham Young University before transferring to Stanford University, where he was a starting pitcher on their baseball team. At Stanford, Guthrie studied sociology; he continues to pursue his degree in the offseason.

Guthrie was the ace of the Stanford University staff and formed a battery with Ryan Garko. He pitched in the regionals that season against MAAC champion Marist College in the first game and won 5–3. Stanford reached the 2001 College World Series final in Omaha, but lost 12–1 in the Championship to the Miami Hurricanes.

Guthrie was the first round selection (22nd overall) of the Cleveland Indians in the 2002 MLB draft. He signed with the Indians on October 3, 2002. His four year, $4 million contract included a $3 million signing bonus. Guthrie made his MLB debut in 2004, pitching in six games for the Indians. In 2005, Guthrie spent the majority of the season in the minors. He appeared in one game for the Indians, pitching six innings while allowing four runs. Guthrie spent most of the 2006 season with the Triple A Buffalo Bisons, but was twice called up to the MLB to join the Cleveland Indians as a relief pitcher. He wore jersey number 57 for both the Bisons and the Indians. After being removed from the 40 man roster following the signing of Trot Nixon and with no remaining Minor League options, he was designated for assignment on January 19, 2007. After starting the year in the Baltimore Orioles' bullpen and then moving into the starting rotation, Guthrie enjoyed a breakout year in 2007, becoming one of the best and most consistent pitchers in the American League. Through June 21 that year, he ranked second in ERA and allowed more than two earned runs in just one out of 10 starts. He was also first in the AL in WHIP. Through the end of July 2007, Guthrie had a 7–3 record in 17 starts to go with a sparkling 2.89 ERA and a 1.027 WHIP (second only to two time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana) albeit only in 124.7 innings of work. Guthrie's rise to unexpected success in the first half of the season led to consideration for the American League's Rookie of the Year Award. He finished the year 7–5 with a 3.70 ERA in 32 games (26 starts). Throughout the 2008 season, Guthrie emerged as the staff ace of the Baltimore Orioles. Guthrie finished the season with a 3.63 ERA, going 10–12 in 30 starts for the Orioles. Guthrie pitched six innings and gave up three runs in that game. Guthrie battled through inconsistency and a mental lapse while pitching in Coors Field, registering an ERA over 8 at home for the Rockies. In 19 games (15 starts), Guthrie had an ERA of 6.35. His record was 3–9 in his short stay with Colorado. On November 20, Guthrie inked a three year, $25 million deal with the Royals through 2015. Guthrie earned $5 million in 2013, $11 million in 2014, and $9 million in the contract's final year. He made two starts in the 2014 World Series against the San Francisco Giants, going 1–1. On May 25, 2015, Guthrie had the worst start of his career, and one of the worst starts in MLB history, against the New York Yankees. Guthrie gave up nine hits, 11 earned runs, and three walks. Thirteen of the 16 batters he faced reached base, and he recorded just three outs before being pulled. Guthrie was the first pitcher since Jae Kuk Ryu in 2006 to give up four home runs while pitching fewer than two innings. On August 22, the Royals demoted Guthrie to the bullpen to make room in the rotation for Kris Medlen. Guthrie finished 8–8 with an ERA of 5.95 in 30 games (24 starts). He walked 44 batters and struck out just 84 in 148 1/3 innings pitched. He was released on March 28.

On April 1, 2016, Guthrie signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. He was released on June 3, 2016.

Guthrie and the Marlins agreed to a minor league contract on June 27, 2016. After he struggled at the AAA level and the Marlins acquired starting pitching depth, the Marlins released Guthrie from his minor league deal on July 31, 2016.

On December 5, 2016, Guthrie signed with the Melbourne Aces of the Australian Baseball League.

On February 3, 2017, Guthrie signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals and received an invitation to spring training. Although he began the 2017 season in the minor leagues despite an impressive showing in spring camp, he was called up on April 8, 2017, to start against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Making his first start with the Nationals on his 38th birthday, Guthrie struggled immensely as he was removed from the game after getting only two outs in the first inning. He allowed 10 runs, and the Nationals lost 17–3. As in 2015, he had one of the worst starts in MLB history. After his outing, his ERA for the year was 135.00. The next day, the Nationals designated Guthrie for assignment and called up Matt Albers.

On May 18, 2017, Guthrie signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican Baseball League. He was released on June 2, 2017. He announced his retirement from MLB on July 31, 2017.

In July 2020, Guthrie came out of retirement to pitch for the Eastern Reyes del Tigre of the Constellation Energy League (a makeshift 4 team independent league created as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic).

Guthrie is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (LDS Church) and he served for two years as a missionary for the church in Spain. As announced by the LDS Church on February 1, 2018, Guthrie began a three year assignment as president of its Texas Houston South Mission in July 2018. Guthrie was born to a Japanese American mother from Hawaii. He is a yonsei or fourth generation Japanese American, but does not speak Japanese.