Chris Tillman is a former American professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on April 15, 1988, in Anaheim, California, and attended Fountain Valley High School in Fountain Valley, California. Tillman was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the second round of the 2006 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the team in 2009.
Tillman played for the Mariners from 2009 to 2010 before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2011. He spent the majority of his career with the Orioles, playing for them from 2011 to 2018. Tillman was known for his fastball, curveball, and changeup pitches, which he used to strike out batters and keep opposing teams from scoring.
During his career, Tillman had a record of 74 wins and 60 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.68. He pitched a total of 1,145 innings and struck out 975 batters. Tillman was also a two-time American League All-Star, earning the honor in 2013 and 2016.
Tillman's best season came in 2013 when he had a record of 16 wins and 7 losses with an ERA of 3.71. He also struck out 179 batters that season, which was a career-high for him. Tillman helped lead the Orioles to the playoffs that year, where they advanced to the American League Championship Series before losing to the Kansas City Royals.
Injuries began to plague Tillman in the later years of his career, and he struggled to regain his form. He had surgery on his right shoulder in 2017 and missed most of the season. Tillman attempted to make a comeback in 2018 but was released by the Orioles in July after posting a record of 1 win and 5 losses with an ERA of 10.46.
After being released by the Orioles, Tillman signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers but never played for the team. He announced his retirement from baseball in November 2018, ending his 10-year career in the MLB.
In conclusion, Chris Tillman was a talented pitcher who had a successful career in the MLB. He was known for his fastball, curveball, and changeup pitches, which he used to strike out batters and keep opposing teams from scoring. Tillman was a two-time All-Star and helped lead the Orioles to the playoffs in 2013. Injuries ultimately derailed his career, and he retired from baseball in 2018.
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