Kason Gabbard

Kason Gabbard
Kason Gabbard
	Gabbard with the Boston Red Sox
	Pitcher
	Born: April 8, 1982 (age 42); Oxford, Ohio, U.S.
	Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
	July 22, 2006, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
	June 27, 2008, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	9–7
Earned run average	4.53
Strikeouts	103
Teams
	Boston Red Sox (2006–2007); Texas Rangers (2007–2008);

Kason Ronald Gabbard (born April 8, 1982) is a former American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers.

High school

Gabbard played high school baseball at Royal Palm Beach High School in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. His teammates included his former Rangers teammate, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.^[1]

Professional career

2006

A 29th-round draft pick by the

win was on September 5 against the Chicago White Sox. Gabbard pitched seven shutout innings, surrendering three hits and striking out

six in a 1-0 Red Sox win.

Gabbard became the ninth

Kyle Snyder and Lester. They replaced David Wells and Matt Clement

, who had gone on the disabled list. Likewise, Gabbard joined Pauley as one of two Boston starters to have begun the 2006 season in Double-A Portland.

2007

Gabbard was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to pitch on May 20,

disabled list. Gabbard had a sub-par performance, earning a no decision, and lasted only 31⁄3 innings

allowing 4 runs on 6 hits while walking six and striking out two. Gabbard performed well in his third start of the season on July 2, 2007, allowing three runs on three hits while walking four and striking out five, earning the win.

He tossed his first

Royals in a 4-0 victory, allowing only 3 hits, 1 walk,^[2]

and striking out 8.

Gabbard was traded to the Texas Rangers on July 31, 2007, for relief pitcher Éric Gagné, the same day Atlanta traded his high school teammate Saltalamacchia to Texas. The Red Sox would go on to win the World Series, and Gabbard was awarded a World Series ring by the team.^[3]

Gabbard made his Rangers debut on August 2, 2007, against

Orioles 30-3, the most runs scored in a game in the modern era.^[4]

On May 8, 2008, in a game against the Seattle Mariners, Gabbard threw a head high pitch across the middle of the plate causing Richie Sexson to threw his batting helmet at Gabbard and then Sexson came charging the mound at Gabbard. Sexson reacted as if the pitch had hit him. Sexson later stated he was frustrated and had a lot going on in his head, including his club's recent struggles. Sexson was suspended six games for the incident; a successful appeal lowered the suspension to five games.^[5]

2009

After the Rangers' 2009

Oklahoma City RedHawks.^[6]

On April 22, Darren O'Day made his Rangers debut, but was so new his jersey had yet to arrive, so was forced to borrow Gabbard's jersey.

On April 23, the Red Sox re-acquired Gabbard from the Rangers for cash considerations. They assigned him to the Pawtucket Red Sox.^[7]

As of July 27, Gabbard went on a rehab assignment in the Red Sox farm system, pitching for the single-A affiliate Lowell Spinners.^[8]

As of July 24, 2010, the Boston Red Sox released Gabbard, making him a free agent. He retired in 2012.

Pitching style

Gabbard had the standard repertoire of

slider. Gabbard's fastball hit the high-80s, his changeup worked the best low and away on right-handed hitters, and his slow curveball was especially effective against lefties. Not a power strikeout pitcher, Gabbard was compared to Mark Buehrle and Kenny Rogers

.