Aaron Poreda

Aaron Andermon Poreda

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 6", Weight 240 lb.
• School University of San Francisco
• High School Campolindo High School
• Debut June 12, 2009
• Final Game July 10, 2014
• Born October 1, 1986 in Walnut Creek, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Aaron Poreda was taken 25th overall in the first round of the 2007 amateur draft by the Chicago White Sox. He debuted in the majors two years later.

Poreda grew up in San Francisco and was bar mitzvahed at Temple Isaiah in the Bay Area.

Poreda was a football and baseball star in high school. He went 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA as a college freshman at the University of San Francisco in 2005, setting a school record for ERA. In 2006, his record was 8-5 with a 2.49 ERA, the best mark in the West Coast Conference. He was named to the WCC All-Conference team. He was 49th in NCAA Division I in ERA.

Aaron was 7-6 with a 2.89 ERA as a junior. He finished third in school history in victories with 17, was sixth in ERA (2.61) and seventh in strikeouts (169). He was the first ever USF player selected in the first round of the draft when the Chicago White Sox chose him in 2007. He throws a fastball in the 94-96 mph range. He was signed by scouts Joe Butler and Adam Virchis for $1.2 million.

Poreda made his first professional start on June 23, 2007 for the Great Falls White Sox against the Helena Brewers, in the Pioneer League. He pitched four innings, gave up three hits, no runs, no walks, and struck out five. After another successful start, Poreda was found to have a tender arm and was sidelined for nearly a month. He returned to action on July 17, and briefly pitched out of the bullpen before returning to starting duties. The tall lefty finished the season with a 4-0 record and a 1.17 ERA. He yielded just one home run in 12 outings.

The White Sox sent Poreda to class-A Winston-Salem to begin the 2008 season. Poreda owned a 5-5 record, a 3.31 ERA, and 46 strikeouts through twelve starts with the Warthogs, enough to earn a promotion to double-A Birmingham. He went 3-4 but with a 2.98 ERA with Birmingham. He added a slider to his fastball in 2008. During the 2008 election, Poreda supported Barack Obama, a White Sox fan. He struggled in the Arizona Fall League, walking an uncharacteristic eight and allowing 8 runs in 9 1/3 IP for the Peoria Saguaros.

Poreda wears a gold chai necklace; chai is the Hebrew word for life. The symbol had belonged to his grandfather and he began wearing it after the death of his grandfather, who had strongly encouraged him in his career. Sportswriter Jonathan Mayo reported in 2008 that Poreda was the first athlete he had ever seen wearing a Chai - he had encountered some Star of Davids, but no Chais before.

Poreda began 2009 with the Barons and was 5-4 with a 2.38 ERA after 11 starts; he had fanned 69 in 64 1/3 IP and held opponents to a .206 average and only one home run. He was 4th in the Southern League in ERA and tied with Travis Wood for the most strikeouts. When Bartolo Colon was injured, Aaron was called up to the majors to take his spot on the staff.

The 22-year-old made his big league debut in relief, replacing D.J. Carrasco in the 7th inning with a 6-2 deficit against the Brewers. The young hurler fanned fellow prospect Mat Gamel, then allowed a run-scoring single to Casey McGehee. J.J. Hardy flew out to end the inning. In the 8th, Poreda went 1-2-3, getting Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder to strike out then retiring Mike Cameron on a grounder. He had struck out 3 of 6 opponents in his MLB debut.

On July 31, 2009 Poreda was traded by the White Sox with Dexter Carter, Clayton Richard and Adam Russell to the San Diego Padres for Jake Peavy.

After not playing at the major league level since 2009, Poreda returned to the big stage on April 19, 2014 as a member of the Texas Rangers.

Sources include Jewish Chronicle article on Poreda

Related Sites

• Aaron Poreda on mlb.com