Jay Witasick is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on August 28, 1972, in Maryland and attended the University of Maryland, where he played college baseball.
Witasick was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the second round of the 1993 MLB draft. He made his major league debut with the Giants in 1996 and played for them until 1997. He then played for the Kansas City Royals from 1998 to 2000, the Oakland Athletics from 2001 to 2003, the Colorado Rockies in 2004, the San Diego Padres in 2005, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2006 and 2007.
Throughout his career, Witasick was primarily used as a relief pitcher, although he did make some starts early in his career. He was known for his fastball, which could reach speeds of up to 95 miles per hour, as well as his slider and changeup.
Witasick's best season came in 2001 when he was pitching for the Oakland Athletics. He appeared in 71 games that season, posting a 3.42 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He also struck out 87 batters in 79 innings pitched.
Witasick's career statistics are solid but not spectacular. He finished his career with a 32-42 record, a 4.64 ERA, and 546 strikeouts in 663 innings pitched. He also recorded 10 saves during his career.
After retiring from baseball, Witasick became a coach and instructor. He has worked with several youth baseball organizations and has also served as a pitching coach for the University of San Francisco.
Overall, Jay Witasick had a respectable career as a major league pitcher. While he was never a star player, he was a reliable reliever who could be counted on to get outs when needed. His best season came in 2001, when he was a key part of the Oakland Athletics' bullpen. Today, he continues to share his knowledge and love of the game with young players as a coach and instructor.
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