Andy Ashby

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Andrew Jason (Andy) Ashby (born July 11, 1967 in Kansas City, Missouri) is a former starting pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies (1991-1992, 2000), Colorado Rockies (1993), San Diego Padres (1993-1999, 2004), Atlanta Braves (2000) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2001-2003) of Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed.

Ashby attended Crowder College and played baseball there. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 1986 by the Philadelphia Phillies and made his major league debut with them in 1991. On June 15, 1991, Ashby struck out three batters on nine pitches in the fourth inning of a 3-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds; Ashby became the 15th National League pitcher and the 24th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the nine-strike/three-strikeout half-inning. Then, he was acquired by the Colorado Rockies in the 1993 expansion draft, but after going 0-4 with an 8.50 ERA, he was dealt to the San Diego Padres at the end of the season.

Plagued by injuries to his shoulder, elbow and back, Ashby was a combined 36-37 with a 3.43 ERA during his first four years with San Diego. His most productive season in 1998, when he helped the Padres win the National League Division Series with a 17-9 record and a 3.34 ERA. He also made the National League All-Star team in 1998 and 1999. Although he was signed through the 2000 season, the Padres dealt him back to the Phillies prior to that season. However, he pitched poorly, going 4-7 with a 5.68 ERA, and was sent to the Atlanta Braves in the midseason.

Ashby spent the next three years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 14-23 while posting a 4.31 ERA. At the end of 2003 he underwent Tommy John surgery. He made a brief two game return stint as a reliever with San Diego in 2004 and was signed by the team before the 2006 season, but was released during the spring training. He is currently retired.

In a 14-season career, Ashby posted a 98-110 record with 1173 strikeouts and a 4.12 ERA in 1810-2/3 innings pitched.

[edit] External links

• Baseball Reference - career statistics and analysis
• Baseball Library - biography and chronology