Keyvius Nathaniel Sampson (born January 6, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, in the KBO League for the Hanwha Eagles, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Uni-President Lions and Fubon Guardians.

Keyvius Sampson
Sampson with the Uni-President Lions
Charleston Dirty Birds – No. 23
Pitcher
Born: (1991-01-06) January 6, 1991 (age 33)
Ocala, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: July 30, 2015, for the Cincinnati Reds
KBO: March 24, 2018, for the Hanwha Eagles
CPBL: August 11, 2022, for the Uni-President Lions
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Win–loss record2–7
Earned run average5.60
Strikeouts84
KBO statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record13–8
Earned run average4.68
Strikeouts195
CPBL statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record11–13
Earned run average3.61
Strikeouts203
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
KBO
  • KBO strikeout leader (2018)

Career

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San Diego Padres

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Sampson was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the fourth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.[1] In 2010, he went 12–3 with a 2.90 earned run average and 143 strikeouts in 118 innings pitched. He started the 2013 with the Triple-A Tucson Padres but was demoted to Double-A San Antonio Missions after posting an 8.03 ERA.[2] He was promoted back to Triple-A on August 7, 2013, after going 10–4 with a 2.26 ERA in Double-A.[3][4] He was added to the Padres 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.[5] Sampson was designated for assignment on December 29, 2014.[6]

Cincinnati Reds

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On January 8, 2015, he was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds.[7] The Reds promoted Sampson to the major leagues on July 30.[8] He was designated for assignment on April 20, 2016, when they called up Drew Hayes. Sampson's contract was purchased by the Reds when the Reds placed Homer Bailey on the 60-day DL on May 18, 2016. On November 28, 2016, Sampson was designated for assignment.[9] He was non-tendered on December 2.

Arizona Diamondbacks

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On December 17, 2016, Sampson signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks that included an invitation to spring training.[10] In 12 games (9 starts) for the Triple–A Reno Aces, he logged a 6.75 ERA with 46 strikeouts across 42+23 innings pitched. Sampson was released by the Diamondbacks organization on June 15, 2017.[11]

Texas Rangers

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On June 16, 2017, Sampson signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. He was released the next day.

Miami Marlins

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On June 26, 2017, Sampson signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins organization. In 14 games (6 starts) for the Triple–A New Orleans Baby Cakes, he logged a 4.95 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 36+13 innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[12]

Hanwha Eagles

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On November 13, 2017, Sampson signed with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League.[13] He became a free agent following the 2018 season.

San Francisco Giants

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On January 5, 2019, Sampson signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants organization.[14] In 6 games (5 starts) split between the rookie–level Arizona League Giants and Double–A Richmond Flying Squirrels, he posted a 1–3 record and 5.09 ERA with 18 strikeouts across 17+23 innings pitched. Sampson elected free agency following the season on November 4.[15]

Chicago White Sox

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On April 2, 2021, Sampson signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox organization.[16] Sampson posted a 6.43 ERA in 8 appearances between the Low-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and the Triple-A Charlotte Knights before he was released on July 20.[17]

Kansas City Monarchs

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On July 28, 2021, Sampson signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[18]

Lexington Legends

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On April 21, 2022, Sampson was traded to the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[19]

Uni-President Lions

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On July 7, 2022, Sampson signed with the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[20] In 11 games (10 starts) for the Lions, he recorded a 3.54 ERA with 59 strikeouts across 61.0 innings of work. In 2023, Sampson made 21 appearances (19 starts) for the team and posted an 8–5 record and 3.11 ERA with 115 strikeouts across 110.0 innings pitched.

Fubon Guardians

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On February 8, 2024, Sampson signed with the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[21] In 5 starts for Fubon, he struggled to an 0–3 record and 6.17 ERA with 29 strikeouts across 23+13 innings pitched. On May 13, Sampson was removed from the active roster; under CPBL rules, a player is ineligible to return to the active roster once removed, but can remain active in the minor leagues.[22]

Charleston Dirty Birds

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On July 24, 2024, Sampson signed with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[23] In 8 starts for Charleston, he posted a 4–0 record and 3.86 ERA with 35 strikeouts across 37+13 innings pitched.

References

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  1. ^ "High-school pitcher excites Padres". Sandiego.padres.mlb.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  2. ^ "Demotion triggered gains for Sampson". Utsandiego.com. July 22, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  3. ^ Beck, Ted. "Forest alum Sampson promoted to Triple-A". Ocala.com. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  4. ^ "Padres promote prospect Sampson to Triple-A". Sandiego.padres.mlb.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  5. ^ "Padres make several roster moves to set winter 40-man roster". Sandiego.padres.mlb.com. November 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  6. ^ "Padres get Kelley from Yankees for Barbato". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 29, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  7. ^ "Reds Claim Keyvius Sampson From Padres". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  8. ^ Cincinnati Reds [@Reds] (July 30, 2015). "Recall LHP David Holmberg, option to Pensacola C Kyle Skipworth, disable RHP Nate Adcock (right elbow), recall RHP Keyvius Sampson" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Adams, Steve (November 28, 2016). "Reds Claim Juan Graterol, Gabriel Guerrero Off Waivers". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  10. ^ Wilmoth, Charlie (December 17, 2016). "Diamondbacks Sign Keyvius Sampson To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  11. ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 6/26/17". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  12. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  13. ^ Adams, Steve (November 13, 2017). "Keyvius Sampson Signs With KBO's Hanwha Eagles". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  14. ^ Eddy, Matt (January 12, 2019). "Minor League Transactions: Dec 19 - Jan 10". Baseball America. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  15. ^ Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  16. ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 4/7/21". MLB Trade Rumors.
  17. ^ @tombaseball29 (July 21, 2021). "#WhiteSox have released RHP Keyvius Sampson" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Johnson, Jack (July 28, 2021). "MONARCHS INK FORMER BIG LEAGUE ARM". monarchsbaseball.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  19. ^ "American Association of Professional Baseball - 2022 Transactions". aabaseball.com. April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  20. ^ "Uni-Lions Sign Keyvius Sampson". CPBLStats.com. July 7, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  21. ^ "Fubon Guardians Sign Keyvius Sampson for 2024 CPBL Season". cpblstats.com. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  22. ^ "Fubon Guardians Release Keyvius Sampson". cpblstats.com. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  23. ^ "Transactions". baseball.pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
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