James Bourque (baseball)

James Buchanan Bourque (born July 9, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals.

James Bourque
Bourque with the Washington Nationals in 2020
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1993-07-09) July 9, 1993
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 26, 2019, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record1–0
Earned run average13.50
Strikeouts1
Teams

Career

Washington Nationals

Bourque attended Huron High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan and played college baseball at the University of Michigan. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 14th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[1][2] He spent his first professional season with the Gulf Coast Nationals and Low-A Auburn Doubledays.[3]

Bourque missed the 2015 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Prior to the 2018 season, the Nationals converted him from a starter into a relief pitcher. Bourque turned in a 1.70 ERA between the High-A Potomac Nationals and Double-A Harrisburg Senators, working exclusively in relief, and rocketed up the prospect charts to be ranked as the Nationals' 17th-best prospect by MLB.com midway through the 2018 season. On November 19, 2018, the Nationals added Bourque to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[4][5]

After Bourque pitched to a 1.33 ERA through 14 games with Double-A Harrisburg, the Nationals called him up on May 25, 2019, to replace Joe Ross in the bullpen.[6] He made his major league debut the following game, pitching in the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins. On May 29,, Bourque was optioned to the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies and spent the rest of the season there,[7] going 4–1 with a 5.56 ERA over 43.2 innings.[8]

Bourque was outrighted off of the 40-man roster on October 13, 2020.[9] He became a free agent on November 2.

Chicago Cubs

On December 18, 2020, Bourque signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization.[10] He missed the entire 2021 season due to injury, and made only 7 appearances for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in 2022, logging a 3.24 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 8+1⁄3 innings pitched.[11] Bourque elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.[12]

San Diego Padres

On May 17, 2023, Bourque signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres organization.[13] In 11 games for the Double–A San Antonio Missions, he recorded a 3.46 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 13.0 innings of work. On July 25, Bourque was released by San Diego.[14]

References
  1. Niziolek, Michael (7 June 2014). "Washington Nationals take U-M pitcher, Ann Arbor Huron alum James Bourque Saturday in 14th round of 2014 MLB Draft". MLive.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  2. Niziolek, Michael (9 June 2014). "Decision looming for Michigan pitcher James Bourque drafted by Washington Nationals in 2014 MLB Draft". MLive.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  3. jeremy.houghtaling@lee.net, Jeremy Houghtaling. "After winning titles in the water, Auburn Doubledays pitcher Bourque focused on baseball". Auburn Citizen. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  4. Garcia, Tony (November 19, 2018). "Former UM pitcher, Ann Arbor native added to Washington Nationals 40-man roster". MLive.com. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  5. "Nats add righty to 40-man roster before Rule 5". MLB.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  6. "Nationals recall pitcher James Bourque". NBC Sports Washington. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  7. RotoWire Staff (May 29, 2019). "Nationals' James Bourque: Sent back to minors". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  8. "Washington Nationals win 2019 World Series". MLB. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  9. "Nationals Outright James Bourque, Raudy Read".
  10. "Cubs Sign Former Nationals Reliever James Bourque".
  11. "Padres Sign James Bourque To Minor League Deal". yardbarker.com. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  12. "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  13. https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-05-17
  14. https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-07-25
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