Player Profile: Mark Malaska #46

Bio and Career Highlights

Personal: DENNIS MARK (MARK) MALASKA...attended the University of Akron from 1998- 2000...played outfield exclusively as a freshman and sophomore before splitting his junior campaign between the outfield and the mound...batted .314 with 13 homers and 100 RBI for the Zips in his collegiate career, and posted a 3-1 record and a 1.13 ERA in 15 appearances on the hill in 2000...played for the Danbury (CT) Westerners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League in 1998 and 1999, and was recognized as the league's top prospect both summers...he led the league with a .356 average and slammed 11 homers in '98...in 1999, he batted .317 with 6 long balls and was named MVP of the NECBL All-Star Game...graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, OH in 1996.

Career Transactions:

07-Aug-04: Optioned to Pawtucket (AAA).
21-Jul-04: Recalled from Pawtucket (AAA).
22-Jun-04: Optioned to Pawtucket (AAA).
09-Jun-04: Recalled from Pawtucket (AAA).
15-May-04: Optioned to Pawtucket (AAA).
09-Apr-04: Recalled from Pawtucket (AAA).
30-Mar-04: Optioned to Pawtucket (AAA).
04-Mar-04: Re-signed by the Boston Red Sox to a one-year contract.
08-Dec-03: Claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
05-Jun-00: Drafted by the Tampa Devil Rays in the 8th round in 2000.
 

Mark's Career Highlights:

In 2003...

Having pitched primarily as a starter in his previous 3 pro seasons, moved to the pen and advanced from Double-A Orlando to Triple-A Durham to Tampa Bay, going 2- 1 with a 2.81 ERA in 22 relief appearances for the Rays in his first taste of the majors...was 2-2 with a save and a 3.18 ERA in 34 minor league appearances before he was promoted July 17...went 1-1 with a save and a 2.16 ERA in 19 Double-A outings and 1-1 with a 4.30 ERA in his first 15 career Triple-A outings...allowed just 3 homers in 64.0 major league and minor league innings, none in 81 at-bats by left-handed hitters....Debuted with the Devil Rays on July 17 vs. Texas, allowing a run on a hit and 2 walks in 1.0 inning...was touched for 3 earned runs in 3.0 innings in his first 5 outings through the end of July, but posted a 1.38 ERA (2 ER/13.0 IP) over his next 17 appearances...did not allow a run over his final 10 outings (5.0 IP) beginning August 23...his 22 appearances from July 17 through the end of the season were 3rd-most on the club in that span...earned his first major league win July 26 at Chicago, when he allowed a run in 0.2 innings in a 10-6 Rays victory...pitching near his hometown of Youngstown, OH, fanned 2 in 1.1 perfect innings for his other win August 16 at Cleveland...was brought up from the minors to pitch 2.0 scoreless innings in the June 16 Hall of Fame Game against the Phillies at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY...Limited the opposition to a .232 (13-for-56) batting average, including a .219 mark (7-for-32) and 12 strikeouts by lefties...righties hit .250 (6-for- 24) with 5 K's...fanned 17 and did not allow a home run in 16.0 big league innings although he walked 12...registered 7 holds...allowed just one extra-base hit, a double, to the 70 big league hitters he faced...opponents hit .216 (8-for-37) with runners on base...logged a 1.17 ERA (1 ER/7.2 IP) in 10 games at Tropicana Field, where opponents hit just .200 (5-for-25)...worked 1.0 inning or less in all but 3 of his outings...worked less than a full inning in 14 of his 22 games...his longest stint was his final appearance of 2003, when he worked 2.0 innings of one-hit shutout ball September 21 vs. the Yankees...walked one and fanned one.

2002...Recorded a career-high 11 wins with Bakersfield (7) and Orlando (4), 2nd in the Rays organization...Was Rays Co-Pitcher of the Month for May (4-1, 2.17 ERA, 44SO, 5BB)...Tossed 2 CG shutouts: May 13 vs. San Bernadino (3H) and May 30 vs. High Desert (4H)...Struck out a career-high 14 batters 5/8 at San Jose, a Rays organization season high and T-4th in minor league baseball...owns 5 double-digit strikeout games in his career....recorded his first career save 8/4 vs.Tennessee in a 2-1Orlando win...he threw 3.1 innings of hitless ball...it was his first relief appearance since 2000...had the 3rd best walk/9.0 IP ratio in the CL (1.18)...In 2001, led the organization along with teammate Seth McClung with 165 strikeouts...Tossed 18 quality starts in 25 attempts...Struck out 10 batters on three occasions (5/17, 7/3, 7/19)...Named Pitcher of the Month for Charleston in April.

2001...Pitching for Single-A Charleston (SC) and Bakersfield, won 9 games, registered a 3.14 ERA and tied Seth McClung for the organizational lead with a career-high 165 strikeouts...his 28 starts and 174.2 innings pitched both represented personal bests...was 7-12 with a 2.92 ERA with Charleston, where 18 of his 25 starts were quality starts...was the team's Pitcher of the Month in April, when he finished 1-4 with a 2.79 ERA and 32 strikeouts against only 4 walks in 29.0 innings...had 3 games with 10 strikeouts: May 17 at Columbus, July 3 at Charleston (WV) and July 19 vs. Wilmington...finished the season with 3 Cal League starts for Bakersfield, going 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA...limited foes to a .219 (14-for-64) average and one homer in the Cal League. 2000: Made his professional debut with 12 appearances (5 starts) for Single-A Charleston (SC) and short-season Single-A Hudson Valley...fanned 39 and walked 14 in 42.1 combined innings...allowed 2 runs in 2.0 innings in 2 appearances for Charleston before being assigned to Hudson Valley, where he went 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 10 games (5 starts).