Tim Harikkala is a former professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. He was born on May 25, 1971, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he played college baseball for the Minutemen.
Harikkala began his professional baseball career in 1993 when he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 11th round of the MLB draft. He spent several years in the minor leagues, playing for various teams, before making his MLB debut with the Giants in 1996. He played for the Giants for two seasons, appearing in 31 games and posting a 4.50 earned run average (ERA).
In 1998, Harikkala was traded to the Oakland Athletics, where he played for two seasons. He had his best season in 1999, appearing in 51 games and posting a 3.86 ERA. He also recorded his first career save that season. In 2000, he appeared in 44 games for the Athletics, posting a 4.50 ERA.
After his stint with the Athletics, Harikkala played for several other teams, including the Colorado Rockies, the Seattle Mariners, and the Minnesota Twins. He had brief stints with each of these teams, appearing in a total of 47 games over three seasons. He had his best season with the Mariners in 2003, appearing in 27 games and posting a 3.86 ERA.
Harikkala's last season in MLB was in 2005, when he played for the Twins. He appeared in 13 games that season, posting a 5.40 ERA. He spent the next two seasons playing in the minor leagues for various teams before retiring from professional baseball in 2007.
Throughout his career, Harikkala was known for his ability to pitch in relief and his consistency on the mound. He was not a flashy player, but he was reliable and dependable, which made him a valuable asset to any team he played for. He finished his MLB career with a 4.70 ERA and 1 save in 166 games.
In conclusion, Tim Harikkala was a professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher in MLB for several teams. He was known for his consistency on the mound and his ability to pitch in relief. He played for several teams throughout his career, including the Giants, the Athletics, the Rockies, the Mariners, and the Twins. He retired from professional baseball in 2007.
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