Will Startup

William Copeland Startup

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.

• School University of Georgia
• High School Cartersville High School

• Born August 4, 1984 in Nashville, TN USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Will Startup pitched in AAA in four seasons (through 2013).

Startup was 3-4 with a save and a 4.36 ERA as a college freshman. He improved 7-2 with 12 saves, a 2.22 ERA and a .96 WHIP in 33 games as a sophomore. He and Chad Blackwell were named the All-Southeastern Conference relievers. He tied for 8th in NCAA Division I in saves. He went 6-4 with 6 saves and a 3.21 ERA as a junior. The Atlanta Braves, behind scout Al Goetz, took him in the 5th round of the 2005 amateur draft, one pick after Jon Meloan. He made his pro debut with the Rome Braves and was 3-2 with 5 saves and a 2.37 ERA in 25 games. In 2006, he was excellent for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (1-0, 0 R in 2 IP), Mississippi Braves (3-0, 4 Sv, 0.72 in 16 G) and Richmond Braves (5-2, 3.43 in 30 G), making it to AAA in his second season. He was third in the Braves chain in games pitched (behind Manny Acosta and Glenn Tucker and was 4th in wins (after Jo-Jo Reyes, Matt Harrison and Matt Wright.

He began 2007 well with Richmond (3-2, Sv, 2.19 in 43 G) then was traded to the San Diego Padres for Royce Ring. He had a 4.66 ERA in 14 games for the Portland Beavers to complete a 57-game season. He was 1-0 with a 0.71 ERA for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League. He missed 2008 with a left elbow injury, but still won something - the Moniker Madness contest for the best name in the minors, beating out Dusty Napoleon. Returning to the diamond in 2009, he tried to battle back with the AZL Padres (13 H, 6 R in 7 2/3 IP) and Portland (1 R in 3 2/3 IP). He moved to the Baltimore Orioles as a minor league free agent. He pitched for the Aberdeen Ironbirds (1-0, 2.13 in 14 G), Delmarva Shorebirds (1-0, Sv, 1.98 in 7 G) and Frederick Keys (1-0, 0 R in 6 2/3 IP).

The lefty reliever split 2011 between Delmarva (2-0, 1 R in 7 IP), Frederick (3-0, Sv, 3.14 in 25 G) and the Norfolk Tides (3 R in 2 2/3 IP). Let go by Baltimore in spring training in 2012, he moved to the independent Sugar Land Skeeters and was 3-3 with a 3.09 in 31 games. He signed with the Detroit Tigers for 2013 and did well for the Erie SeaWolves (7-1, 4 Sv, 3.41 in 33 G) to bring his career record to 33-10, 2.82 with 16 saves in 259 games.

Sources

• 2011 Orioles Media Guide
• 2013 Tigers Media Guide
• The Baseball Cube
• 2005 Baseball Almanac