Mike Linskey

Michael Shawn Linskey

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 5", Weight 220 lb.
• School James Madison University
• High School Loyola Blakefield High School
• Born June 18, 1966 in Baltimore, MD USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Mike Linskey pitched in the minor leagues from 1988 to 1993. He spent part or all of three seasons at Triple-A, but never ascended to the majors. He is the father of Matthew Linskey.

He was drafted twice. Initially, he was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round of the 1984 amateur draft, one pick after future Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell and one pick ahead of outfielder Kevin Koslofski, but he opted not to sign. He did sign after being taken by the Baltimore Orioles in the 9th round of the 1988 amateur draft, one pick ahead of pitcher Jim Poole.

He had considerable success in the early going. In his first season, he was 3-3 with a 3.11 ERA in 10 games (8 starts) for the Erie Orioles. That was followed by a 12-8, 2.19 ERA, 10 complete game, 6 shutout season split between the Frederick Keys (2-2, 0.88 ERA) and Hagerstown Suns (10-6, 2.81 ERA) in 1989, which prompted Baseball America to rank him the #5 prospect in the Orioles system going into 1990 (between David Segui and Manny Alexander). In 1990, he went 14-10, 2.88 in 27 games (25 starts) split between Hagerstown (7-1, 1.47 ERA) and the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings (7-9, 3.58 ERA). That was his first taste of Triple-A. Baseball America ranked him the Orioles' #6 prospect going into 1991 (between Leo Gomez and Luis Mercedes).

The success tapered off after that. In 1991, he was 7-10 with a 5.23 mark while battling back injuries and in 1992 — now in the San Diego Padres system (they had picked him up off of waivers) — he was 10-6 with a 4.22 ERA; he tied Dan Carlson and Kevin Meier for the Texas League lead with 15 homers allowed the latter year. He finished his career by going 4-5 with a 4.68 ERA in 30 games (13 starts) for the Triple-A Las Vegas Stars in 1993, his only full year at Triple-A.

Overall, Linskey went 50-42 with 17 complete games, 11 shutouts and a 3.64 ERA in 146 games (122 starts) over 6 seasons. In 802 innings, he allowed 803 hits and 264 walks (1.330 WHIP), while striking out 581 batters. At Triple-A, he was 12-19 with a 4.62 ERA in 59 games (40 starts).