Curtis Partch

Curtis Justin Partch

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 5", Weight 240 lb.
• School Merced Junior College
• High School Merced High School
• Debut June 9, 2013
• Final Game August 7, 2016
• Born February 13, 1987 in Merced, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Curtis Partch made the majors in 2013.

Partch was taken by the San Francisco Giants in the 49th round of the 2005 amateur draft out of high school, but did not sign. He was picked right ahead of another future major leaguer, Anthony Vasquez. After two years of junior college, the Cincinnati Reds chose him in the 26th round of the 2007 amateur draft. The scout was Tom Wheeler.

Curtis split 2007 between the GCL Reds (2 H, 7 BB, 4 R, 1 ER in 7 IP, 2 Sv) and the Billings Mustangs (1-0, Sv, 3.29, 21 BB in 27 1/3 IP). In 2008, he was 5-11 with a save and a 5.00 ERA for the Dayton Dragons. He tied for third in the Reds chain in losses and was 4th in wild pitches (13). In the Midwest League, he tied for second in defeats (one shy of Luis Pérez), was 9th in hit batsmen (12), tied for third in balks (5) and tied Nathan Adcock for 4th in wild pitches.

In 2009, he split time between Dayton (8-7, 4.76), the Sarasota Reds (3-2, 4.35) and Carolina Mudcats (1-0, 1 R in 5 IP). He was third in the Cincinnati farm system in wins (one shy of Travis Wood and Justin Lehr), tied for 8th in losses (with Matt Maloney), second with 14 hit batsmen (two shy of J.C. Sulbaran) and second with four balks. Partch spent most of 2010 with the Lynchburg Hillcats (7-11, 4.98, .308 opponent average) and the Mudcats (0-1, 7 R in 3 IP). He was among the Carolina League in losses (tied for third with Matt Crim and Stolmy Pimentel), hits allowed (165, 4th) and wild pitches (14, 1st). He tied Justin Walker for the most losses in the Reds chain, was first in hits allowed (172), was first in runs allowed (100), was second in earned runs allowed (80) and tied Aroldis Chapman for 4th in wild pitches (14).

Curtis struggled even more in 2011, going 2-2 with a 6.92 ERA for Carolina and 6-11, 5.25 for Bakersfield. The lone positive was his control, as he walked 41 in 160 2/3 IP. He also gave up 216 hits, 124 runs, 101 earned runs and 15 hit batters. Opponents hit .322 against him. In the high-scoring California League, he tied for 5th in losses, tied for 7th with 12 HBP and was 8th with 161 hits allowed. Overall, he ranked first in the Reds chain in starts (28), losses, hits allowed (30 more than anyone else), runs allowed (32 more than runner-up Scott Carroll) and earned runs given up. He tied Kyle Lotzkar for second in hit batsmen and was 6th with 126 K (between Tim Crabbe and Daryl Thompson). Only one minor leaguer (Manuel Flores) allowed more hits that year.

Moving to the bullpen in 2012, the California native experienced a turn-around. He was 7-4 with 8 saves and a 4.26 ERA in 52 games, mostly with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He tied Carlos Fisher for 7th among Cincinnati minor leagues in pitching appearances. With the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League, he had a 3.55 ERA and a save, fanning 14 in 12 2/3 IP and being picked for the Rising Stars Game. The minor league veteran continued to progress in 2013, starting strong for the Blue Wahoos (4 Sv, 2.16, 14 K in 8 1/3 IP) and finally making it to AAA with the Louisville Bats (1-2, 2 Sv, 3.74, 27 K in 21 2/3 IP). He was then called up to the majors when Logan Ondrusek was sent down.

Partch had a rough introduction to the majors. Replacing J.J. Hoover with a 7-4 deficit, two outs and the bases loaded in the 10th, he gave up a grand slam to the first batter he faced, Matt Holliday, before retiring Allen Craig on a grounder.

Sources include 2013 Reds Media Guide, 2012 Baseball Almanac

Related Sites

• Curtis Partch on mlb.com