Charles Vincent "Vinnie" Chulk (born December 19, 1978) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, and Milwaukee Brewers, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He is of Cuban heritage.

Vinnie Chulk
Chulk with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 2010
Pitcher
Born: (1978-12-19) December 19, 1978 (age 45)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: September 8, 2003, for the Toronto Blue Jays
NPB: August 1, 2010, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Last appearance
MLB: May 18, 2012, for the Milwaukee Brewers
NPB: September 14, 2010, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
MLB statistics
Win–loss record8–15
Earned run average4.51
Strikeouts199
NPB statistics
Win–loss record2–0
Earned run average5.79
Strikeouts12
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Early life

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Chulk played baseball at the Perrine Khoury League throughout much of his childhood, and graduated in 1996 from Miami Palmetto Senior High School. That year, he was named MVP and received Best Pitcher Award. He defeated the Southridge Spartans during the playoffs in 1996, the team that had cut him the year prior. He attended St. Thomas University in Miami, where he graduated in 2000, majoring in Sports Management. Chulk played college baseball and received Best Pitcher Award of the Sun Conference in 1998, 1999, and 2000, and the Regional Pitcher of the Year Award in his senior year.

Professional career

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Chulk played for the Toronto Blue Jays of the American League from 2003 to 2006. On July 21, 2006, he was traded by Toronto to the San Francisco Giants of the National League with Shea Hillenbrand in exchange for reliever Jeremy Accardo.[1][2] He was designated for assignment by the Giants on June 24, 2008.[3] He became a free agent at the end of the season.[4]

Chulk signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on January 15, 2009.[5] The deal was finalized in February.[6] The Indians purchased his contract and added him to the roster on April 11.[7] On May 6, Chulk was designated for assignment.[8] He cleared waivers and accepted a minor league assignment to Triple-A affiliate Columbus Clippers.[9] In October 2009, Chulk was granted free agency.[10]

He was signed to a minor league contract by the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 7, 2009.[11]

In July 2010, Chulk's rights were sold to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball.[12][13]

He signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics in December 2010.[14]

For the 2012 season, Chulk played in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. On April 28, after going 0–0 with a 3.18 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 11.1 innings, the Brewers purchased his contract from Triple-A Nashville.[15] Chulk was designated for assignment by Milwaukee on May 19, 2012.[16] Following the season, he became a free agent.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Giants acquire Hillenbrand and Chulk from Toronto for Accardo". MLB.com. July 22, 2006. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  2. ^ "Giants acquire Hillenbrand from Jays". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 22, 2006. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  3. ^ Haft, Chris (June 24, 2008). "Chulk designated for assignment". MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  4. ^ Eddy, Matt (October 6, 2008). "Minor League Transactions". Baseball America. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  5. ^ Hoynes, Paul (January 15, 2009). "Report: Indians sign reliever Vinnie Chulk to minor-league deal". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  6. ^ Hoynes, Paul (February 3, 2009). "Cleveland Indians sign another veteran pitcher in Vinnie Chulk". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  7. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (April 11, 2009). "Chulk takes Lewis' place on roster". MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  8. ^ Hoynes, Paul (May 6, 2009). "Cleveland Indians drop Vinnie Chulk to make room for Jeremy Sowers". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  9. ^ Eddy, Matt (May 18, 2009). "Minor League Transactions". Baseball America. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  10. ^ Eddy, Matt (October 12, 2009). "Minor League Transactions". Baseball America. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  11. ^ Langosch, Jenifer (December 7, 2009). "Bucs ink Chulk to Minor League deal". MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  12. ^ "Perseverance pays as Chulk returns to bigs". MLB.com. April 29, 2012. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ Eddy, Matt (August 2, 2010). "Minor League Transactions: July 20–28". Baseball America. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  14. ^ Eddy, Matt (December 15, 2010). "Minor League Transactions: Dec. 9-14". Baseball America. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  15. ^ Latsch, Nate. "Tired bullpen forces Crew to make moves". MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  16. ^ "Brewers swap Chulk for Perez in bullpen". MLB.com. May 19, 2012. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  17. ^ Eddy, Matt (October 11, 2012). "Minor League Transactions: Oct. 2-8". Baseball America. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
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