Erik Bedard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on March 5, 1979, in Navan, Ontario, Canada. Bedard began his baseball career in high school, where he played for the Norwalk High School team in Connecticut. He was then drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth round of the 1999 MLB draft.
Bedard made his MLB debut with the Orioles in 2002 and quickly established himself as a promising young pitcher. He had a breakout season in 2006, when he posted a 15-11 record with a 3.76 ERA and 171 strikeouts. Bedard was named to the American League All-Star team that year and finished fifth in the AL Cy Young Award voting.
After spending several seasons with the Orioles, Bedard was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2008. He had a solid season with the Mariners, posting a 6-4 record with a 3.67 ERA in 15 starts. However, he was plagued by injuries during his time in Seattle and was limited to just 30 starts over two seasons.
Bedard then signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2011 but struggled with injuries and inconsistency. He was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012 and had a resurgent season, posting a 7-14 record with a 5.01 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 24 starts. Bedard became a free agent after the season and signed with the Houston Astros for the 2013 season.
Bedard struggled with the Astros, posting a 4-12 record with a 4.59 ERA in 26 starts. He became a free agent again after the season and signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays for the 2014 season. However, he was released by the Rays in May 2014 and did not pitch in the majors again.
Overall, Bedard had a solid career in the majors, posting a 71-82 record with a 3.99 ERA and 1,221 strikeouts in 230 games (214 starts). He was known for his excellent control and ability to strike out batters, but was also plagued by injuries throughout his career. Despite his ups and downs, Bedard was a respected pitcher who was known for his competitiveness and work ethic.
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