Jason Michael Grilli

The son of Steve Grilli, a former Major League pitcher, Jason Michael Grilli also followed his father’s footsteps as he became a pitcher himself. The American began his playing career at the Baker High School and at the end of his high school career, he was picked by the New York Yankees in the 1994 MLB Amateur Draft (24th round).

However, Grilli decided to attend college instead and went to the Seton Hall University for three years. Grilli had a wonderful college career that included a wonderful game where he struck out 18 batters to break the Big East record. In the 1997 MLB Draft, Grilli was picked 4th overall by the San Francisco Giants and went on to play in the minors for the Giants. He was part of a historic deal for the Giants that saw Livan Hernandez come to San Francisco while Grilli and Nate Bump (both Pitchers) went across to the Florida Marlins.

Grilli made just one appearance in the Majors, for the Marlins, in 2000 before beginning the 2001 season in the Rookie League. He rapidly climbed up the ranks, through each division, getting back to the Majors before the end of the year. He started 5 out of the six games that he played for the Marlins that year and had a 2-2 record with an ERA of 6.08.

The following year, Grilli was sent down to the AAA-League where he managed just one game before spending the rest of the season on the disabled list. He began 2003 in the minors again, in the Advanced A-League where, after just 7 games, he was promoted directly to the AAA-League.

In 2004, Grilli was selected by the Chicago White Sox in a Rule 5 Draft and played mostly in the AAA-League, making just 7 appearances in the Majors for the White Sox. In 2005, Grilli signed with the Detroit Tigers on a minor league contract playing for the Toledo Mud Hens in the AAA-League. After helping the Mud Hens win the League Championship with a 12-9 record and a 4.09 ERA in 28 appearances, he was called up to the Majors where he spent the best part of the next three years.

Although Grilli played just 3 games for the Tigers in 2005, he had 51 appearances under his belt in 2006, ending with 2-3 record. His second season in the Majors (2007) saw him have a winning season with a 5-3 record and a 4.75 ERA in 57 appearances. Grilli began 2008 with the Tigers although, after just 9 games, he was traded out to the Colorado Rockies where he would end the year with another 51 appearances. Grilli pitched 61.1 innings at an ERA of 2.93 and had a 3-2 record at the end of the season.

In 2009, Grilli continues to be a part of the Rockies organization and has played 9 games so far, with one loss to his name.
At the International level, Grilli has been a part of Team Italy for the 2006 World Baseball Classic, a feat he repeated in the 2009 version of the event.

Outside of baseball, Jason has a telecommunications equipment selling company called Perfect Pitch Marketing that sells videophones and other equipment.