Grant Balfour

Grant Balfour
Balfour with the Tampa Bay Rays
Relief pitcher
Born: (1977-12-30) 30 December 1977 (age 39) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 22, 2001, for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
April 18, 2015, for the Tampa Bay Rays
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	30–23
Earned run average	3.49
Strikeouts	571
Saves	84
Teams
Minnesota Twins (2001, 2003–2004) Milwaukee Brewers (2007) Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays (2007–2010) Oakland Athletics (2011–2013) Tampa Bay Rays (2014–2015)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (2013)

Grant Robert Balfour (born 30 December 1977) is an Australian former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays, and Oakland Athletics. He is the all-time save leader and strikeout leader among Australian MLB pitchers, and holds the Oakland Athletics consecutive save record at 44.

Notable as one of only a handful of Australian-born Major League Baseball players, Balfour spent his first years at school attending Kings Langley Public School and high school years at William Clarke College in Kellyville, New South Wales.

Balfour made his major league debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2001 and played with them until 2004.

After missing 2005 with an injury, he played in the Cincinnati Reds organization in 2006.

After a three-year absence, Balfour made his return to the major leagues on 18 July, 2007, in the 8th inning with the Milwaukee Brewers. He relieved Chris Capuano in a 2–2 tie with the Arizona Diamondbacks, striking out Chris Young, the first hitter he faced. With two outs in the 8th, he hit a batter and walked another before giving up a three-run home run to Mark Reynolds, giving the Diamondbacks a 5–2 lead. Balfour would finish the 8th and 9th inning and take the loss in relief, having given up three earned runs in the 5–2 defeat.