Early 2000's Mets Pitcher: Jerrod Riggan (2000-2001)

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Jerrod Ashley Riggan was born May 16th 1974 in Brewster, Washington. The six three right hander attended San Diego State University eventually getting signed by the Anaheim Angels in 1996.

He was released in April 1998 & was signed by the New York Mets that summer. He was 4-1 at A ball Capitol City in 1998 moving on to St. Lucie in 1999. By 2000 he was pitching as the closer at AA Binghamton, where he saved 28 games going 2-0 with a 1.11 ERA.

That summer he got called up for one game when a pitcher from AAA Norfolk couldn't make it due to terrible weather in Virginia. Riggan got the break, debuting at Shea Stadium on August 29th pitching three innings of late relief against the Houston Astros. He even earned a share of the Mets 2000 NL Champion bonus money. Manager Bobby Valentine took a liking to Riggan & he was on the staff starting out the 2001 season. 

In his first outing at St. Louis he allowed the Cardinals four runs in just two innings of work. Riggan pitched mostly in middle relief and did not earn any decisions until late July. He had a rough week there, blowing a save against Philadelphia on July 28th, then taking two losses in Houston, including serving up a 9th inning walk off HR to Craig Biggio on July 31st.

He earned his first win on August 18th in Los Angeles beating the Dodgers pitching one inning. On August 25th he benifited from a Rey Ordonez game winning single to earn win number two. In the second game back after the break following 911, Riggan got the win in Pittsburgh pitching 1.1 innings of solid relief. He ended the year at 3-3 with four holds & a 3.40 ERA in 35 appearances.

That December he was traded to Cleveland (along with players to be named later Matt Lawton & Alex Escobar) for Roberto Alomar & Mike Bacsik. In Cleveland he went 2-1 with 29 appearances in 2002 for the Indians & then pitched in just two games the next season.

From there he went on to pitch two seasons with the Nippon Pro Baseball Players in Japan.

Retirement: In his MLB career he was 5-4 with a 5.19 ERA, eight HRs allowed, 66 strike outs 43 walks in 67 games pitched. After his playing days he became a pitching coach with the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks.

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Anonymous said…
He's also our Baseball Head Coach at Brewster High School
August 9, 2012 at 9:00 PM
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