John Bale (baseball)

John Bale

Bale with the Kansas City Royals in 2009

Pitcher

Born: May 22, 1974 (age 43)
Cheverly, Maryland

Batted: Left

Threw: Left

Professional debut

MLB: September 30, 1999, for the Toronto Blue Jays

NPB: 2004, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp

Last appearance

MLB: October 2, 2009, for the Kansas City Royals

NPB: September 18, 2010, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp

MLB statistics

3–7

4.66

148

NPB statistics

Win–loss record

14–16

Earned run average

4.09

Strikeouts

312

Teams

John Robert Bale (born May 22, 1974) is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. Bale and his wife, Genevieve, reside in Niceville, Florida, with their daughters, Madison and Olivia, and their son, Zachary. Genevieve's brother is NHL player Vincent LeCavalier.

Bale, a graduate of Crestview High School, Crestview, Florida, was an All-State selection in baseball his senior season after going 11-2 with a 0.38 ERA. He is an alumnus of The University of Southern Mississippi, where he went 9-8 with a 4.01 ERA his junior year. He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 12th round of the 1994 MLB Draft, but did not sign.

After being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 5th round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft, Bale made his Major League debut with the Blue Jays on September 30, 1999. On December 11, 2000, Bale was traded from the Blue Jays to the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Jayson Werth.

In 2001, his only season with the Orioles, he had a 1–0 record and a 3.04 earned run average (ERA) in fourteen relief appearances. He was dealt to the New York Mets for Gary Matthews, Jr. on April 3, 2002. He never appeared in a game for the Mets.