Adam Reifer

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Adam James Reifer

BR Minors page

Biographical Information[edit]

Minor league relief pitcher Adam Reifer began his professional carer in 2008. He reached Triple-A for the first time in 2010.

In his first year with University of California-Riverside, 2005, Reifer made 19 relief appearances and went 2-0 with a 4.77 ERA. He made 20 relief appearances with them in 2006, going 2-1 with a 3.37 ERA. In 2007, he battled bone spurs and elbow tendinitis and went 0-0 with a 2.46 ERA in six games. Reifer was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 11th round of the 2007 amateur draft. He was signed by scout Jeff Ishii for $100,000 and began his professional career the following season.

With the Batavia Muckdogs in 2008, Reifer went 2-1 with 22 saves and a 2.97 ERA in 32 relief appearances, striking out 41 batters in 30 1/3 innings of work. Opponents hit only .162 against him. Adam was second in the New York-Penn League in saves, one behind ambidextrous Pat Venditte. He saved the championship finale to give Batavia the title. Timed at 99 mph, Reifer was rated the #3 prospect in the circuit by Baseball America, following Jason Castro and David Cooper. He was named a minor league short-season All-Star in 2008.

In 2009, he pitched for the Palm Beach Cardinals, going 4-7 with a 4.47 ERA in 54 relief appearances. He had 21 saves and 50 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings of work that season. He led the Florida State League in games pitched and was one save behind the lead once again, this time trailing Jonathan Hovis. He split 2010 between the Springfield Cardinals (51 games) and Memphis Redbirds (one game), going a combined 4-1 with 17 saves and a 2.95 ERA.

With Memphis again in 2011, Reifer was 0-1 with a 1.42 ERA in an injury-shortened, five game campaign. He returned to Memphis for 2012 and went 1-4 with a 4.90 ERA in 58 relief appearances. He was released by the St. Louis Cardinals on March 16, 2013. He signed with the Miami Marlins for 2013 and began the season with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs. He signed with the San Francisco Giants system for 2014, going 5-3 with a 6.11 ERA - despite striking out 70 batters and allowing only 62 hits in 63 1/3 innings - in 43 games. He allowed 11 home runs and 39 walks. In 2015, he had a 1.99 ERA and 21 saves in 41 games for the Mexican League's Leones de Yucatan.

Overall, he was 18-18 with a 3.99 ERA in 272 games over seven minor league seasons.