Brandon Bielak
Brandon Michael Bielak (born April 2, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Brandon Bielak | |||
---|---|---|---|
Houston Astros – No. 64 | |||
Pitcher | |||
Born: Edison, New Jersey | April 2, 1996|||
| |||
MLB debut | |||
July 27, 2020, for the Houston Astros | |||
MLB statistics (through August 6, 2020) | |||
Win–loss record | 2-0 | ||
Earned run average | 0.87 | ||
Strikeouts | 7 | ||
Teams | |||
|
Career
Bielak attended and played baseball at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey. In 2014, as a senior, he pitched to an 8–1 record with a 0.58 ERA, striking out 87 batters in 60.2 innings pitched.[1] Undrafted out of high school in the 2014 MLB draft, he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame where he played college baseball for the Fighting Irish. In 2015, as a freshman, he was 6–3 with a 3.55 ERA in 17 games (14 starts),[2] in 2016, as a sophomore, he compiled a 3–2 record and a 2.10 ERA in 15 games (four starts),[3] and in 2017, as a junior, he was 2–6 with a 5.55 ERA in 15 games (14 starts).[4] In 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was named a league all-star.[5] After his junior year, he was selected by the Houston Astros in the 11th round of the 2017 MLB draft.[6]
Bielak signed with Houston and made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Astros. After two scoreless appearances, he was promoted to the Tri-City ValleyCats where he finished the season with a 1–1 record and a 0.92 ERA in eight games (four starts).[7]
In 2018, Bielak began the season with the Buies Creek Astros and was named a Carolina League All-Star;[8] he was promoted to the Corpus Christi Hooks in June.[9] In 25 games (17 starts) between the two clubs, he went 7–8 with a 2.23 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.[10]
In 2019, Bielak returned to Corpus Christi to begin the season and was promoted to the Round Rock Express in May. Over 23 games (twenty starts), Bielak went 11–4 with a 4.22 ERA, striking out 119 over 121 2⁄3 innings.[11]
On July 27, 2020, Bielak’s contract was selected to the 40-man roster. He made his MLB debut that day against the Seattle Mariners and was the winning pitcher in a 8-5 contest.[12][13]
References
- "Brandon Bielak of St. Joseph (Metuchen) is Home News Tribune Baseball Player of the Year". MY CENTRAL JERSEY. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "Irish Trio Of Bielak, Ruibal & Lidge Drafted". UND Athletics. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "Irish Trio Of Bielak, Ruibal & Lidge Drafted // News // The Daily Domer // University of Notre Dame". dailydomer.nd.edu. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "Meet the Astros 2017 Draft Class · Astros Future". astrosfuture.com. December 29, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "#16 Brandon Bielak – Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- "Houston selects former St. Joseph ace Bielak in MLB Draft". MY CENTRAL JERSEY. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "Brandon Bielak Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- "Four Mudcats to play in Carolina League All-Star Game – Rocky Mount Telegram". www.rockymounttelegram.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- Batten, Sammy. "Winning, promotions highlight Astros' 1st half". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- "Brandon Bielak Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
- Rome, Chandler (2020-03-11). "Pitcher Brandon Bielak included in Astros' latest cuts to spring roster". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
- Rome, Chandler (2020-07-28). "Astros insider: Brandon Bielak has a debut to remember". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
- Brian McTaggart (July 28, 2020). "Astros' bats pick up beleaguered staff". MLB.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.