Grant Balfour is a former Australian professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 12 seasons. He was born on December 30, 1977, in Sydney, Australia, and began his baseball career in the Australian Baseball League (ABL) before being signed by the Minnesota Twins in 1997.
Balfour made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2001 and played for them until 2004. He then played for the Milwaukee Brewers, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and the Oakland Athletics before returning to the Rays in 2011. Balfour was known for his aggressive pitching style and his ability to strike out batters.
In 2013, Balfour had a career-best season with the Athletics, recording 38 saves and a 2.59 earned run average (ERA). He was named to the American League All-Star team that year and helped lead the Athletics to the playoffs. However, Balfour struggled in the postseason, giving up four runs in two innings pitched.
After the 2013 season, Balfour became a free agent and signed a two-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles. However, he struggled with injuries and inconsistency in his two seasons with the Orioles, and was released in 2015.
Balfour retired from baseball in 2015 with a career record of 30-23, 84 saves, and a 3.49 ERA. He was known for his fiery personality on the mound and his signature "Balfour Rage" celebration after recording a save.
Off the field, Balfour was involved in several charitable organizations, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also founded the Grant Balfour Foundation, which supports children's charities in Australia and the United States.
Overall, Grant Balfour had a successful career as a relief pitcher in MLB, earning a reputation as a fierce competitor and a fan favorite. His contributions to the game and to charitable causes have made him a respected figure in the baseball community.
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