Dwayne Pollok

Dwayne Pollok

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 219 lb.

• School Texas A&M
• High School East Central High School

• Born November 12, 1980 in San Antonio, TX USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Dwayne Pollok pitched four years in AAA (through 2012).

White Sox system

Pollok was taken by the Chicago White Sox in the 27th round of the 2003 amateur draft; he had been scouted by Paul Provas and Keith Staab. He made his pro debut that summer, appearing for the Bristol White Sox (3 Sv, 3.12 in 11 G) and Winston-Salem Warthogs (0-1, 3.92 in 14 G). He was a mainstay for Winston-Salem in 2004, going 2-4 with 38 saves and a 3.28 ERA in 58 outings, walking only 8 in 60 1/3 IP. He was 4th in the Carolina League in appearances and easily led in saves, 14 more than Ryan Braun. He was named the league's All-Star relief pitcher, joining starter Zach Duke as the two pitchers picked.

Moving up to the Birmingham Barons in 2005, the Texan was 4-5 with 11 saves and a 3.08 ERA in 56 games. He tied Dale Thayer for 7th in the Southern League in appearances. Back with the Barons in '06, he turned in very similar numbers (4-5, 3 Sv, 3.16 in 54 G). He was third in the SL in games pitched, behind Ehren Wassermann and Thayer. He began 2007 with the Charlotte Knights and went 1-1 with a save and a 3.33 ERA in his first 18 AAA games. He was then dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Tomás Pérez.

Dodgers system

Pollok was 1-2 with a save and a 5.71 ERA in 28 games for the Las Vegas 51s the remainder of 2007, allowing a .350 average. He was better with Las Vegas in 2008 at 10-5, 4 Sv, 4.61. He walked only 20 in 105 1/3 IP. He tied for fifth in the 2008 PCL in wins, trailing only Eulogio De La Cruz, Shane Loux, Jason Johnson and Wade LeBlanc. He struggled with the 2009 Albuquerque Isotopes (3-4, 6.01).

Independent leagues and Venezuela

With the 2009-2010 Águilas del Zulia, he was 3-3 with a 4.84 ERA. He moved on to the independent leagues in 2010, going 10-5 with a 4.00 ERA for the Fort Worth Cats and tying for fifth in the American Association in wins. In 2010-2011, he had a 3-3, 3.83 record for Zulia. He split 2011 between Fort Worth (3-5, 4.95) and another feline-nicknamed team, the Leones de Yucatan (0-4, 6.56). In his third winter with Zulia, he was sharper at 6-4, 3.05 with only 18 walks in 79 2/3 IP. He was 8th in the Venezuelan League in ERA and tied Richard Castillo and Renyel Pinto for second in wins.

Dwayne was superb for the 2012 Lancaster Barnstormers (14-4, 2.30, 29 BB in 145 IP). He tied J.D. Durbin, Alan Johnson and Corey Thurman for the Atlantic League lead in wins and led in ERA (.22 ahead of Paul Oseguera). He won Pitcher of the Year honors, beating out former major leaguers like Johnson, Durbin, Thurman, John Halama and Ryan Feierabend. His year wasn't over yet, though, as he was back with Zulia for winter ball and remained dominant (7-2, 2.36, 10 BB in 72 1/3 IP). He was among Venezuela's leaders in wins (2nd to Sergio Perez) and ERA (3rd), taking home Pitcher of the Year honors there as well.

Notable Achievements

• 2012 Pitcher of the Year Atlantic League Lancaster Barnstormers

Sources

• MILB.com
• 2009 Dodgers Media Guide
• Purapelota
• Atlantic League