Jim Sak

James Kenneth Sak

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 195 lb.
• School Illinois Benedictine College
• High School St. Patrick High School (Chicago)

• Born August 18, 1973 in Chicago, IL USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Jim Sak played in the minor leagues from 1995 to 2001, including parts of three seasons in AAA.

He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 10th round of the 1995 amateur draft out of Illinois Benedictine College, located near his hometown of Chicago, IL and began his pro career that same year with the Idaho Falls Braves of the Pioneer League. Before the end of that season, he was promoted to the Clinton LumberKings of the Midwest League and finished the year with a combined mark of 9-2, 1.85 in 20 games, including 7 starts. After that promising beginning, he returned to Clinton to start 1996 (teaming with Todd Bussa to no-hit the Burlington Bees), and while he received another mid-year promotion, this one to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League, the results weren't as good, as he was 3-7, 4.09 in 25 games, once again being used as a swingman.

In 1997, he spent a full season at Rancho Cucamonga, making only 3 starts in 57 appearances and going 6-3, 2.93 with 27 saves - the highest total in the league. He also dominated opposing hitters by racking up 113 strikeouts in just 70 2/3 innings. In 1998, he moved up to the AA Mobile Bay Bears and while he picked up another 16 saves, his overall stats were not so great, as his ERA shot up to 5.14 in 45 games, and his record was 2-5. His strikeout numbers also dropped, to 56 in 49 innings. In 1999, he got off to a strong start with Mobile, with an ERA of 1.69 in 18 games, getting him his first shot at AAA with the Las Vegas Stars of the Pacific Coast League. Overall that season, he appeared in 41 games, all as a reliever, going 6-3, 2.65 with 8 saves.

On February 23, 2000, he was one of three players sent to the Pittsburgh Pirates in return for OF Al Martin, the other two being OF/1B John VanderWal and fellow minor league pitcher Geraldo Padua. However, things went completely sideways with the Bucs, as he was clearly injured, putting up ERAs of 51.30 and 16.20 in AAA and AA respectively, in a total of just 8 1/3 innings. He did better on a rehab assignment with the GCL Pirates, with no runs or hits allowed in 3 innings, but the Pirates let him go. He went to the Mexican League in 2001, with the Piratas de Campeche, but only made two appearances, giving up 2 runs in 1 2/3 innings to end his professional career.

After baseball, he put his psychology degree and his professional sports experience to use, becoming a recruiting specialist for collegial athletics.