David Huff (baseball)

Since 2006, Huff has played minor league baseball with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Kinston Indians, Akron Aeros, Buffalo Bisons, and Columbus Clippers.

In 11 games with the Akron Aeros in 2008, Huff had a career-best ERA of 1.92. He then pitched 80 innings for the Bisons in 2008 and put up a 3.01 ERA. He was named the Indians' 2008 Minor League Player of the Year (receiving the "Lou Boudreau Award").[5]

Huff pitched for the AAA Columbus Clippers in 2009 until his call-up on May 16. He had a 5–1 record with a 4.35 ERA with the Clippers.[6]

Huff made his MLB debut with a start against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 17, 2009. He allowed seven runs in only 3.2 innings to pick up the loss. He recorded his first MLB win on June 7 when he allowed three runs in five innings against the Chicago White Sox. In 23 starts in 2009 he finished 11-8 with a 5.61 ERA.

On May 29, 2010, Huff was hit in the head by a comeback line drive off the bat of Alex Rodriguez. Huff was carried off the field by a medical cart several minutes later.[7] Huff did not sustain a concussion, and returned to his regular baseball activities within 48 hours of the incident.[8]

Huff split his time with the Indians and the minor league affiliates during his four-year tenure with the team. Huff was designated for assignment by the Indians organization on May 24, 2013. Overall, Huff went 18–26 with a 5.40 ERA during his career with the Cleveland Indians.

Huff was claimed off waivers by the Yankees on May 26, 2013[9] and made his Yankees debut the same day he was acquired, recording a strikeout, two walks, and allowing a run in one inning of relief pitched against the Tampa Bay Rays.[10][11] He was designated for assignment on May 28, 2013 after Joba Chamberlain was activated from the disabled list. Not wanting to join a third organization, and trusting Yankees' pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Huff accepted a minor league assignment to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Class AAA International League, after receiving instruction from Rothschild on how to improve his delivery. In Scranton, he continued his work with Gil Patterson.[12]

Huff was re-added to the Yankees' 25-man major league roster and recalled from the minors on August 15, 2013.[13] On August 22, Huff got his first win as a Yankee after pitching five innings of one-hit relief against the Toronto Blue Jays.[14] The Yankees primarily used Huff in the long relief role, but gave him a start in place of Phil Hughes on September 7. He was 3-1 with a 4.67 ERA in 11 appearances (2 starts).

On January 24, 2014, the Yankees traded Huff to the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations.[15][16] He was designated for assignment on June 6 after posting a disappointing 6.30 ERA with 11 strikeouts and six walks in 20 innings.[17]

On June 11, 2014, Huff was traded back to the Yankees for cash considerations.[17] He was 3-1 with a 1.85 ERA in 30 games and became a free agent on December 2, 2014 after he was non-tendered by the Yankees.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him to a minor league contract in January 2015 and invited him to spring training.[18] He was assigned to the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers.[19] After one three inning appearance in the minors, the Dodgers purchased his contract and called him up to the Majors to start the April 14 game against the Mariners.[20] He allowed four runs in four innings and was designated for assignment after the game.[21] After returning to Oklahoma City, he was again recalled by the Dodgers on June 1.[22] He was designated for assignment again on June 2 after appearing in relief in two games.[23] He returned to the minors and appeared in 23 games for Oklahoma City, only four of which were starts. He was 5–2 with a 2.20 ERA.[6]

Huff was selected to be a member of the United States national baseball team for the 2015 Pan-American Games.[24]

On January 9, 2016, Huff agreed to a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals. He would earn $1.1 million if he made the Major League roster. He opted out of his contract on May 15, making him a free agent.

On May 18, 2016, Huff signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels promoted Huff to the MLB to start on June 7.[25]

On July 8, 2016, Huff signed a deal with the LG Twins of the KBO League.[26]

On December 20, 2017, Huff signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[27]

On December 2, 2019, he become free agent.[28]

On January 20, 2020, Huff signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Huff was released by the Diamondbacks organization on May 28, 2020.

In July 2020, Huff signed on to play for the Sugar Land Lightning Sloths of the Constellation Energy League (a makeshift 4-team independent league created as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic) for the 2020 season.[29]

On May 13, 2021, Huff signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners organization.[30] Huff pitched to a 5.25 ERA in 14 appearances, 9 starts for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers before he was released on August 12, 2021.

On April 8, 2022, Huff signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.[31] Huff made 21 appearances (11 starts) for México in 2022, recording a 6-1 record and 4.86 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 74.0 innings pitched.

On December 29, 2022, Huff was loaned to the Guerreros de Oaxaca.[32] Huff was released by Oaxaca on January 18, 2023, after the team signed Eric Filia.[33] On May 14, 2023, Huff signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo.[34]

On October 23, 2023, Huff was selected in the second round by the Karachi Monarchs, with the 9th overall pick, of the 2023 Baseball United inaugural draft.[35]