Philip Humber
Kansas City Royals — No. --
Pitcher
Born: December 21, 1982 (1982-12-21) (age 26) Nacogdoches, Texas
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 24, 2006 for the New York Mets
Career statistics (through August 24, 2009)
Win-Loss	0-0
Earned run average	6.18
Strikeouts	16
Teams
New York Mets (2006-2007) Minnesota Twins (2008-2009)

Philip Gregory Humber (born December 21, 1982 in Nacogdoches, Texas) is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently playing in the Kansas City Royals organization.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Professional career 2.1 New York Mets 2.2 Minnesota Twins 2.3 Kansas City Royals 3 External links

[edit] Early life

Humber attended Carthage High School in Carthage, Texas. Humber was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 29th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft, but he did not sign, choosing instead to attend Rice University.

Humber was a dominant pitcher during his three college seasons for the Rice Owls baseball team, stepping into the nationally-ranked Owls' starting rotation as a freshman. Humber finished his freshman season in 2002 with an 11-1 record, a 2.78 earned run average and a Western Athletic Conference leading 130 strikeouts, earning National Freshman Player of the Year honors from Collegiate Baseball and All-America honors from several publications.

His sophomore season in 2003 saw the development of Rice's "Big Three" rotation, featuring Humber and classmates Wade Townsend and Jeff Niemann. Humber put together another strong showing in 2003, posting an 11-3 record with a 3.30 ERA as Rice won its first national championship. He pitched a complete game in the decisive third game of the 2003 College World Series, a 14-2 win over Stanford University. He was honored with 'Philip Humber Day' in his hometown of Carthage, Texas.

In his junior season of 2004, Humber compiled a 13-4 record and 2.27 ERA. He also set the Rice single-game record for strikeouts when he fanned 17 Hawaii hitters March 20, 2004. After being upset in the Houston Regional by Texas A&M, Humber looked forward to the Major League Baseball Draft. Humber, Niemann, and Townsend were all selected in the first eight picks of the 2004 draft - the first time three teammates had ever gone so early in the same draft.

[edit] Professional career

[edit] New York Mets

He was the New York Mets' first-round draft pick out of Rice University in 2004. The third overall pick in that draft, he received a $3.7 million signing bonus in January 2005 after a long holdout.

He entered spring training 2005 with the Mets, and after a brief stint there, he was sent to Single-A St. Lucie, where, in fourteen starts, he posted a 2-6 record and a 4.99 ERA. Humber was then promoted to Double-A Binghamton, where Humber, in one start gave up three earned runs in four innings. Humber left the game early due to elbow pain, which required Tommy John Surgery. He resumed pitching with the St. Lucie Mets, posting a 2.37 ERA in 7 starts.

On July 31, 2006, 377 days after his surgery, Humber was once again promoted to Double-A Binghamton, where he was 2-2 with a 2.88 ERA. He made his major league debut on September 24, 2006. He made his first Major League start on September 26, 2007, against the Washington Nationals. He allowed five runs in four plus innings, receiving a no decision.=

[edit] Minnesota Twins

On February 2, 2008, Humber was included in a trade to the Minnesota Twins along with Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra, and Carlos Gomez for Johan Santana. Though he spent most of the 2008 season assigned to the Twins' triple A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings, he did appear in five games for the Twins, pitching 11.2 innings, and posting a 4.63 ERA and six strikeouts.

On April 17, 2009, Humber was designated for assignment to make room for Juan Morillo.

[edit] Kansas City Royals

On December 15, 2009, Humber signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals with an invite to spring training.

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube