(June 1, 2018) — York Revolution left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler’s contract has been purchased by the Seattle Mariners organization. Detwiler will report to Triple-A Tacoma.
He is the first Rev to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization this season.
Detwiler, 32, signed with York in mid-March and made six starts for the Revs, going 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA over 30.0 innings of work. He struck out 32 batters and walked just eight, and opponents batted .254 against him. He is currently tied for second in the Atlantic League in wins, tied for second in strikeouts, and ninth in ERA.
Detwiler’s last start was his best. He struck out a career-high 11 batters with no walks in 7.1 innings and got the win on May 26 against the Road Warriors. He joined teammate Jay Gause (July 1, 2017, vs. Sugar Land), Chris Cody (2013 vs. Long Island), and Ryan Baerlocher (twice in 2007 vs. the Road Warriors) as the only starters in Revs history to post 11 or more strikeouts in a game with no walks. It marked the ninth time in Revs history that a starter has tallied at least 11 strikeouts and first since Gause last season. Detwiler joins Cody, who had a pair of 11-plus strikeout games in his Revs career (both in 2013), as the only lefties to do it.
Detwiler, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2007 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals, became the highest MLB draft pick to play for the Revs. The previous mark was held by RHP John Van Benschoten (eighth overall, Pittsburgh, 2001).
The Mariners are Detwiler’s seventh Major League organization.
Detwiler previously spent nine seasons in Major League Baseball (2007 through 2016) with five different teams, including seven with the Nationals after playing his college ball at Missouri State University. Detwiler’s best season came in 2012, when he went 10-8 with a 3.40 ERA and 105 strikeouts, logging 164.1 innings over 33 appearances (27 starts) for the NL East-champion Nationals. He started NLDS Game 4 for the Nationals against the Cardinals that season, throwing six innings and allowing just one unearned run in a no decision.
Detwiler has appeared in 189 Major League games in his career, starting 89 of them, and made at least 30 appearances in a season three times. Detwiler spent the 2017 season at Triple-A with the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics organizations and appeared in 19 games.