Win–loss record 5–4 Role Baseball player Children Kinsley Sarfate Name Dennis Sarfate Spouse Jada Sarfate (m. 2007) | Strikeouts 131 Salary 67 million JPY (2013) Earned run average 4.53 Height 1.93 m | |
Parents Linda Williams, Dennis Sarfate Similar People Jason Standridge, Rick VandenHurk, Ryota Igarashi, Tony Barnette, Brian Falkenborg | ||
Interview with Baseball MVP Dennis Sarfate
Dennis Scott Sarfate (born April 9, 1981) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball. He has previously played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, and Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball. While an average reliever in the United States, Sarfate became one of the greatest closers in Japanese history after moving his career overseas. Sarfate holds several NPB records, including most single-season saves and most saves by a foreign pitcher.
Contents
- Interview with Baseball MVP Dennis Sarfate
- Oriole Pitchers Throwing Session
- High school career
- Professional career
- References
Oriole Pitchers Throwing Session
High school career
Sarfate graduated from Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Arizona. He was an All-American and First Team All-State. He was Scottsdale Tribune Pitcher of the Year in 1999.
Professional career
Sarfate was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 1999 in the 15th round. He made his MLB debut on September 3, 2006 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
He was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Houston Astros on September 11, 2007, for cash considerations. On December 12, 2007, Sarfate was traded by the Houston Astros along with Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers and Troy Patton, and third baseman Michael Costanzo to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for shortstop Miguel Tejada.
After beginning his professional career as a starter, Sarfate spent 2007 and began 2008 as a relief pitcher, but on July 28, 2008, he was moved to the Orioles starting rotation. He returned to the bullpen after just 4 starts, in which he went 0-2 while allowing 18 runs in just 15 2⁄3 innings.
Sarfate began 2009 in the Orioles' bullpen, but was sent to AAA Norfolk in May after posting a 6.49 ERA in 8 appearances. He was called up again in September, and pitched much better, posting a 3.48 ERA over 12 relief appearances.
In 2010, Sarfate began at AAA Norfolk, where he pitched 3 innings before getting injured.
In December 2011, Sarfate signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League. Sarfate quickly became one of the top closers in Japanese baseball. He spent one season with the Saitama Seibu Lions in 2013.
In 2014, Sarfate joined the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and got the final save of the 2014 Japan Series. In 2015, Sarfate closed out the 2015 Japan Series as well as the Hawks won their second championship in a row. During the 2016 season, Sarfate recorded 43 saves, a new record for most single-season saves in the Pacific League. On April 2, 2017, Sarfate recorded his 178th save in Japan, setting a new record for most saves by a foreign pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball history. The record was previously held by Marc Kroon of the Yomiuri Giants (177). On July 4, 2017, Sarfate recorded his 200th save, becoming the sixth pitcher in NPB history to reach that threshold and the first foreign pitcher. On September 5, 2017, Sarfate earned his 47th save of the season, breaking the record for most single-season saves in Japanese baseball history.