Toronto Blue Jays reliever David Purcey notched the first save of his major league career Monday night against Baltimore. It is a new role for the former Oklahoma Sooners starting pitcher, off to the best start of his three-year MLB career.
Purcey started 12 games for Toronto in 2008, ending up 3-6 with a 5.54 ERA. His second season was not much better, going 1-3 with a 6.19 ERA, spending much of the year in the minor leagues.
Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston made a decision in spring training this season and moved Purcey to the bullpen. After serving another minor league stint, the Blue Jays recalled Purcey back to the majors on May 24 and he settled into a spot as a reliever for the first time since his freshman year at Oklahoma.
"My ideal goal is to be in the big leagues and help the team in any aspect I can," Purcey told CBC Sports.
Since his recall, Purcey has pitched 20.2 innings with a stellar 1.74 ERA. What is even more impressive is his 18-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Before his demotion in 2009, Purcey walked 30 batters in 48 innings.
After his save on Monday night, Toronto presented him with the game ball.
"I didn't even know what was happening," said Purcey. "I thought once we had scored the [ninth] run [in the bottom of the eighth] it wasn't a save."
Purcey has a major league record of 4-10 with a 5.18 ERA over his career so the move to the pen might be a good move for the former college star.
Purcey pitched for the Sooners from 2002-2004. While at Oklahoma, he logged a 17-12 record with seven saves. His ERA remained in around a 3.89 but his 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings pushed him to the first round of the 2004 MLB Draft where Toronto grabbed him with the No. 16 pick.
"He's a big strong kid," said Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston after Purcey’s save. "We were tight on pitchers [tonight] and he's done a great job for us. I still get a little excited because I want to see him pitch."
* Welcome the new Oklahoma Sooners Basketball Examiner, Mike Aikins *
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