Player Profile: John Grabow #39

Bio and Career Highlights

John's Career Highlights
Pirates' 3rd round selection in the 1997 draft out of San Gabriel (CA) HS... Member of the Pirates' 40-man roster each of the last two seasons... Pitching his third consecutive season with the Curve... Joined Altoona for the 2002 season and went 8-7 with a 4.33 ERA in 24 starts for the Curve that season... Underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery following the 2000 season... In 1999, finished third in the South Atlantic League and led the Pirates' minor league system in strikeouts while pitching for Low-A Hickory during the 1999 season (164 K in 156.1 IP)... 1997 graduate of San Gabriel (CA) HS

2003 Highlights:

Split minor league season between Altoona (AA) and Nashville (AAA)... Posted a combined 6-3 record and a 3.68 ERA (107.2ip/44er) in 41 appearances (nine starts) between the two clubs ... Went 3-1 with a 4.21 ERA (47.0ip/22er) in nine starts and 3-0 with one save and a 2.25 ERA (36.0ip/9er) in 15 relief appearances with Altoona ... Began the season in the Double-A starting rotation and won his first outing on 4/5 @ Reading (5.0ip/1er) ... Tossed just 3.0 innings, his shortest start of the year, while allowing five runs in a no-decision on 4/12 vs. Reading ... Won his second straight decision on 4/23 @ Erie (game one) ... Suffered his only loss with Altoona on 5/4 @ Reading (6.0ip/3er) ... Allowed just one run in 6.0 innings of work while earning the win in ninth and final start on 5/21 @ New Haven ... Did not allow a run in first two relief outings (5.1ip) ... Retired all six batters he faced in 2.0 innings of work and earned the win on 6/6 vs. Harrisburg ... Allowed one run in 10.1 innings of work in five appearances from 6/6-17 ... Won his last four decisions from 5/21 thru 6/26 ... Twirled 4.0 innings of shutout relief and picked up first professional save on 7/3 @ Norwich ... Joined Nashville on 7/21, where he worked exclusively out of the bullpen ... Tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief in debut with the Sounds on 7/21 @ Oklahoma ... Took the loss on 7/23 @ Oklahoma ... Did not allow a run in five straight outings from 8/10-20 (6.2ip) ... Was tagged for five runs (4er) in 0.1 inning and suffered second loss on 8/21 vs. Oklahoma ... Posted a 15.43 (4.2ip/8er) in his final five outings during the regular season ... Made three appearances in the P.C.L. playoffs and went 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA (3.2ip/2er) ... Had his contract purchased by Pittsburgh on 9/13 ... Made major league debut on 9/14 vs. Philadelphia and allowed three runs (two earned) in 1.1 innings of work ... Whiffed five of the six batters he faced on 9/21 vs. Chicago ... Made four scoreless appearances to close out the season (3.2ip/0hits/8K's) ... Was invited to the Olympic Qualifying Team Trials in Phoenix, Arizona at conclusion of regular season and posted a 1.42 ERA (6.1ip/1er) in six appearances

2002 Highlights:

• Named EL Pitcher-of-the-Week for week of 8/5-11.
• Tied for the league lead in losses.
• Tied for 2^nd in the league in shutouts and was 2^nd in hits allowed.
• Tied for 3^rd among EL hurlers in starts.
• Was 4^th in earned runs.

Went 3-9 with a 4.53 ERA (99.1ip/50er) in 23 minor league starts...Began season with Altoona (AA) and lost first two decisions...Picked up first win on 4/22 vs. Akron, but then lost three straight decisions from 4/27 thru 5/13...Suffered left elbow strain on 5/18 and was placed on the disabled list...Was assigned to Bradenton (Rookie) on 6/25, where he made six rehab appearances...Lost lone game on 7/16 against the Rangers...Was transferred to Lynchburg on 7/26 and surrendered just one run in his first start (4.1ip) on 7/27 vs. Potomac (game one)...Lost three straight decisions from 8/1-11...Hurled season-high 7.0 innings on 8/16 at Myrtle Beach...Won lone game with Lynchburg in final appearance on 8/26 vs. Winston-Salem (game one). ...Returned to Altoona on 8/29...Tossed 6.0 scoreless frames and struck out a season-high eight batters for a victory in his final outing on 9/1 vs. Portland (game two).