David Buchanan (baseball)

Early life

The son of Andrew Buchanan and Stacy Wood, Buchanan is one of seven children, (he has two sisters, three step-sisters and one step-brother). He was born in Atlanta, Georgia on May 11, 1989. He attended Fayette County High School, where he played baseball, and, during his senior season, won team most valuable player accolades. He also holds the Fayette County single-game strikeout record (19). Subsequently, he attended Chipola College, a junior college, for two seasons, and earned placement on Baseball America's list of the top 40 prospects in Florida. After the 2009 season, the New York Mets drafted him in the sixth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, however he did not sign, instead opting to attend Georgia State University. He played for Georgia State during the 2010 season, and was the team's top pitcher, earning several honors from the Colonial Athletic Association before a finger injury caused him to miss significant time. Nevertheless, the Philadelphia Phillies drafted him in the seventh round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. Scout Ellis Dungan signed him to a contract, and he thus began his professional career.

Professional career

He began his professional career in 2010 as a member of the Williamsport Crosscutters, with whom he started 13 games, losing only one of them, and recording a 4.21 earned run average (ERA). At the conclusion of the season, he played in the Florida Instructional League. He progressed to the Class A and Class A-Advanced level in 2011, pitching for both the Lakewood Blueclaws and the Clearwater Threshers, and combining to post a 3.49 ERA in 26 starts. He finished third in the South Atlantic League (with Lakewood) by posting 11 wins, and finished seventh with a 3.38 ERA. His steady advancement through the minor league system continued in 2012; the next year, he spent a full season with the Reading Fightin Phils of Class AA. Despite his fast ascent through the minor league system, he flew "under the radar" with Reading, despite a 3.86 ERA. However, his season ended in June when the Phillies placed him on the disabled list due to a ligament injury in his middle finger.

After splitting his time in the 2013 season between the Fightin Phils and the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Class AAA – International League), Buchanan attended a Prospect Education Program hosted by the Phillies organization in January 2014. At the time, he was the only one of the eight attendees who had not been invited to major league camp at spring training, however after taking a "leadership role" at the program, Joe Jordan (the Phillies' director of player development) and manager Ryne Sandberg tendered Buchanan an invitation to big league camp. He entered camp competing for a spot in the Phillies rotation, and impressed the Phillies' staff, ultimately becoming a finalist for the position with Jeff Manship. He did not make the opening day roster despite his strong performance, but would remain in consideration for promotion during the 2014 season, particularly as a spot starter or even the Phillies' fifth starter if needed due to injury. Buchanan commented, "I wanted to come in here and make an impression and open us some eyes and I feel like I did that. I feel like I proved myself that I am ready for the next level. I had a blast every day in camp."

With his college coach on hand to witness a "monumental time in Georgia State baseball history", Buchanan made his major league debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 24, 2014. Replacing Cliff Lee, who was injured, Buchanan pitched five innings, and struck out two batters, and allowed five hits, two runs, and no walks in only 66 pitches, en route to earning the win.

Buchanan was designated for assignment by the Phillies in November 2016, and released on November 23.

On December 19, 2016, Buchanan signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Pitcher profile

Almost as soon as he was drafted into the Phillies organization, Buchanan drew comparisons to Kyle Kendrick, a pitcher who possesses similar attributes, specifically that they are built similarly in terms of height and weight, and that they both are reliable groundball pitchers. Also similar to Kendrick, many fans and others have overlooked Buchanan during his minor league tenure; he did not receive any interview requests during the Reading Phillies' media day in 2012, despite being one of the team's top starting pitchers. An article in The Times Herald asserted, "Most of what gets Buchanan overlooked are the things that get his pitching compared to Kendrick’s: He isn’t overpowering, but he uses a sinker and control on the corners to coax ground balls and keep his team in games. That capability has earned Kendrick 153 starts and 64 wins over the last seven seasons with the Phillies, not to mention a $7.7 million deal in 2014 as he approaches free agency." Buchanan also possesses a strong work ethic – instead of talking to the media or celebrating with teammates after throwing seven scoreless innings and striking out nine, he completed a 45-minute medicine ball workout. In addition to the aforementioned sinker, he throws a slider and a changeup.

Personal life

Outside of baseball, Buchanan's hobbies include playing the drums and guitar, golfing, drawing, yoga, watching movies, playing spades, and other various "outdoor activities". During the offseason, he resides in Peachtree City, Georgia.