Jake Whitney

Jacob Michael Whitney

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.

• School Iowa State University
• High School Minnetonka High School

• Born May 23, 1976 in Edina, MN USA

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Jake Whitney played in the minor leagues and for the USA national baseball team.

Whitney was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 25th round of the 1998 Amateur Draft, and he was 5-5 with a 2.98 ERA for the Auburn Doubledays in 1998. He went 9-8 with a 4.61 ERA in 1999 for the Michigan Battle Cats, walking only 29 in 136 2/3 IP. He tied for 7th in the Astros chain in wins. He was 9-7 with a 4.24 ERA for the Kissimmee Cobras in 2000.

He left the Astros' organization after that season, and he joined the St. Paul Saints in 2001. He was 7-6 with a 2.75 ERA in his first season with the Saints, finishing third in the Northern League in ERA, behind Clay Eason and Rafael Gross. He was named the NL's All-Star left-handed pitcher. He posted a 11-5 record with a 3.16 ERA in 2002. He tied Rich Hyde and Bobby Madritsch for third in the Northern League Central in wins, was 9th in ERA (between Alex Lontayo and Julio Villalon) and 4th with 111 strikeouts (between Hyde and Lontayo).

The Minnesota native went 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA in 2003 then represented the USA in the 2003 Baseball World Cup, going 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA and 13 K in 11 2/3 IP. Only Jon Cannon pitched more innings for the US and he led the team in strikeouts. He got the win over France's Rémi Lejeune. He struggled for the Saints in 2004 as he surrendered 24 runs in 18 innings. Whitley then went 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA for the Lincoln Saltdogs, and he pitched 10 games with a 5-4 record and a 4.48 ERA for the Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks. He tied for 7th in the NL in losses. He still had his control, walking just 15 in 101 1/3 IP. The 2004 season was his last season in his career.

Overall, Whitney was 54-45 with a 3.86 ERA, struck out 629 and pitched 774 innings in 7 seasons as a professional player. He had issued just 166 walks in 774 innings - and 15 of those were intentional.