Mike Drumright

Michael Robert Drumright

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 210 lb.

• School Wichita State University
• High School Valley Center High School

• Born April 19, 1974 in Salina, KS USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Amateur career and draft history

Former Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Mike Drumright was originally picked by the Baltimore Orioles in the 45th round of the 1992 amateur draft, but did not sign. He went on to Wichita State, a powerhouse at the time. On a staff led by Darren Dreifort, Drumright was the low man on the totem pole, going 2-1 with a 9.77 ERA in 8 games. The club made the finals in the 1993 College World Series.

With Dreifort gone, Drumright moved up the next year, going 10-4 with a 3.80 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 104 innings. He was 9th in the Missouri Valley Conference in ERA, third on the team. In 1995, Mike was 11-3 with a 3.61 ERA as a junior, fanning 117 and walking 38 in 120 innings. He was a third-team All-American pick by Baseball America. He made the MVC All-Conference team and won pitcher of the year honors, having led in strikeouts and tying teammate Brandon Baird for the win lead despite a 6th-place finish in the ERA race.

He was then selected by the Detroit Tigers in the first round (11th overall) of the 1995 amateur draft. The 4th pitcher taken, he signed for a $970,000 bonus.

1995-1996: A and AA

Mike was promoted to the AA Jacksonville Suns in his first professional season after only five starts in Single-A for the Lakeland Tigers. Combined, He went 1-2 with an era of 3.89 and was named the Tigers' top prospect and the #4 prospect in the Florida State League by Baseball America.

He was again the Tigers' top prospect and the Southern League's top pitching prospect after 1996 according to Baseball America. Mike had struck out 109 in 99 2/3 innings for Jacksonville, going 6-4 with a 3.97 ERA.

1997-2003: AAA

Drumright went 1-1 with a 1.57 ERA for Jacksonville in 1997, allowing 16 hits in 28 2/3 innings. He was promoted to AAA and began to struggle. He led the Tigers organization in walks and tied Derek Brandow for the International League lead (91 BB in 133 IP in AAA, 104 BB overall for the year) and had an ERA of 5.06, going 5-10.

1998 was a disaster for Drumright. He returned to Toledo and led the Tigers organization and the IL with 19 losses and 94 walks and was no longer considered a high level prospect. He also led the IL in runs allowed (130) and earned runs allowed (119).

Mike returned again to AAA Toledo in 1999. Oppenents batted .305 against him and he had an ERA of 5.97, going 6-10 before he was traded to the Florida Marlins for Brandon Villafuerte. He finished the season out of the bullpen with the Calgary Cannons. He had an ERA of 13.87 in 12 games with the Cannons, losing both of his decisions. He allowed 39 hits and walked 13 in 21 innings.

Drumright spent the next four seasons between AA and AAA with the Marlins, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. The results were much the same as those with Toledo, many walks, many hits, and a high ERA. His individual years were 9-8, 6.24 for 2000 Calgary; 0-5, 3.73 for 2001 Calgary; 5-8, 4.06 that year for the Portland Sea Dogs; 6-8, 4.01 for the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings in 2002; 2-1, 2.23 for the 2003 Bowie Baysox and 4-5, 5.55 for the 2003 Ottawa Lynx.

Career stats

He retired after the 2003 season with a win-loss record of 55-83, 5.17 era, 912 K's, and 1,151 innings pitched. Despite being a high first round pick and twice being named his organization's top prospect, he never appeared in the Major Leagues.

Since his retirement from professional baseball Mike has become the owner and operator of INK-Drumright Builders LLC, a home builder in Wichita, KS.