Bryan Bullington

2.1. High School Career

Bullington attended Madison Consolidated High School in Madison, Indiana. During his senior year in 1999, he posted an impressive 15-0 record on the mound. He notably pitched a one-hit game to secure the Indiana High School Athletic Association Baseball State Finals championship. His outstanding performance earned him the prestigious Mr. Baseball award for the state of Indiana in 1999, an annual recognition given to the best high school baseball player in the state. Despite being drafted in the 37th round (1,111th overall) of the 1999 Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Royals, Bullington opted to forgo signing a professional contract and instead pursued a college education. He was recruited by several prominent universities, including Ball State University, Purdue University, University of Evansville, and Indiana University.

2.2. College Career

Bullington chose to attend Ball State University, following in the footsteps of both his parents and older sister. His college career was marked by numerous record-breaking achievements and accolades.

In his freshman season (2000), an injury to the team's ace, Justin Wechsler, opened an opportunity for Bullington to become the Friday night starter. He finished the year with a 9-4 record and a 3.83 ERA, leading the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with 99 strikeouts. His performance earned him the MAC Freshman of the Year award and first-team all-conference honors.

During his sophomore season (2001), Bullington solidified his position at the top of the Ball State Cardinals' rotation, helping the team achieve a 21-5 record in the MAC and win the regular season title. He posted a 9-3 regular season record with a conference-best 3.01 ERA, and was unanimously selected as the MAC's Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first Cardinal to receive this honor. In the conference tournament, he was struck in the face by a line drive in the opening game against Miami University, forcing him to leave in the first inning. Despite the injury, he returned to pitch three days later in the semi-final against Kent State, but took the loss after allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs over six innings. He concluded the season with a 9-4 record and a 3.50 ERA. Most notably, his 119 strikeouts once again led the conference and set a new Ball State all-time single-season strikeout record. That summer, he further distinguished himself by pitching for the U.S. National Team at the 2001 Baseball World Cup.

His junior season (2002) saw Bullington touted as one of the nation's premier collegiate pitchers. In his third start, he delivered eight strong innings in a victory over the then 17th-ranked and defending National Champion Miami Hurricanes. On May 3, he achieved a career-high 15 strikeouts against Eastern Michigan University, surpassing Bob Owchinko to become the all-time career strikeout leader in MAC history. He allowed just five hits and one run over eight innings in that outing, securing his ninth win of the season. He finished the regular season with a 10-2 record and a conference-leading 2.11 ERA. In the conference tournament, the Golden Flashes again proved challenging, scoring six runs off him in the first inning of their opening game. However, in an effort to win the championship three days later, Coach Rich Maloney brought Bullington out of the bullpen, where he earned his career-high 11th win of the season with 16 runs of support despite allowing five earned runs over six innings. He concluded the year with an 11-3 record and a conference-best 2.86 ERA, breaking his own single-season strikeout record with 139 strikeouts. He led the MAC in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and innings pitched for the 2002 season, recording double-digit strikeouts in eight of his starts. He was named the MAC's Pitcher of the Year for a second consecutive season, becoming the first player to achieve this feat, and received first-team all-conference honors for the third consecutive season. Nationally, he was unanimously recognized as a First-Team All-American and named a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy.

After being selected as the first overall pick in the 2002 MLB draft, Bullington decided to forgo his senior season and signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He left Ball State as the winningest pitcher in school history, holding records for most career wins (29), most single-season strikeouts (139), most career strikeouts (357), and tied for most single-season wins (11). As of 2012, he held the Mid-American Conference record for career strikeouts and single-season strikeouts, and was one of only twelve players to be named first-team All-MAC for three consecutive seasons. In 2010, The Ball State Daily News ranked Bullington as the third best athlete to emerge from the university since 1990.

3.1. Pittsburgh Pirates

Bullington was the first overall selection in the 2002 Major League Baseball draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. This selection was widely considered a "signability pick," as the Pirates believed they had a better chance of signing him over other highly touted players in the draft. Then-general manager Dave Littlefield noted that it was not a year where one player clearly stood out, and the team considered various factors, feeling "comfortable and good about drafting Bullington." Littlefield anticipated Bullington would be "a couple of years away" from MLB, given his college background. Bullington was the first player from the Mid-American Conference to be chosen with the first pick in a major sport's draft. On October 30, 2002, he officially signed a minor league deal with the Pirates, which included a notable signing bonus of 4.00 M USD.

Before even throwing a professional pitch, Baseball America ranked Bullington as the 52nd-best prospect in baseball for the 2003 season. He began his professional career with the Class-A affiliate, the Hickory Crawdads, where he made eight appearances (seven starts), compiling a 5-1 record with a 1.39 ERA over 45 and one-third innings. He was then promoted to the Advanced-A Lynchburg Hillcats, making 17 starts, going 8-4 with a 3.05 ERA. Overall, in 2003, Bullington combined for a 13-5 record and a 2.52 ERA across 142 and two-thirds innings.

Entering the 2004 season, Baseball America ranked him as the 97th-best prospect. He was assigned to the Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve. In his first 17 starts, he went 6-5 with a 3.89 ERA, earning him a spot in the Eastern League All-Star Game. Bullington was also selected for the Futures Game as part of the United States squad, where he pitched a scoreless sixth inning. He finished the remainder of the season with a 6-2 record before being shut down, concluding 2004 with a 12-7 record and a 4.10 ERA in 26 starts.

In 2005, Bullington was promoted to the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians, but began the season on the disabled list due to right shoulder tendinitis. He made 18 starts for Indianapolis, accumulating a 9-5 record with a 3.38 ERA. On September 16, the Pirates called him up to the major leagues. His MLB debut came on September 18 against the Cincinnati Reds, where he relieved starting pitcher Óliver Pérez in the third inning. He pitched 1 and one-third innings, allowing a hit, a walk, a hit by pitch, and two earned runs. This was his only MLB appearance for the season. Soon after, it was announced he would undergo surgery on his throwing shoulder. On October 17, Bullington had surgery to repair damage to his labrum in his right shoulder, with then-GM Dave Littlefield noting "a little more damage than they [initially] thought." As a consequence of the surgery, he missed the entire 2006 season.

Bullington returned to Triple-A Indianapolis for the 2007 season, starting strongly with a 4-0 record and a 1.17 ERA over his first five starts, earning him Indianapolis's Player of the Month for April. Over his next seven starts, he was 5-2 with a 3.83 ERA. However, on June 10, he left a game after just one inning due to shoulder discomfort and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He returned on June 25, but struggled, allowing six earned runs in only 2 and one-third innings. Despite this, he led the International League with 10 wins at the All-Star break, holding a 4.04 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 37 walks over 89 innings. He was named the starting pitcher for the International League in the Triple-A All-Star Game, earning the win after his team scored four runs in the first inning. He made ten more starts, finishing with a 1-5 record and a 3.94 ERA over that stretch. Despite a rough finish, he was named the Indians' Comeback Player of the Year, ending the season 11-9 with a 4.00 ERA, leading the team in wins (11), starts (26), and innings pitched (150 and two-thirds). On September 3, the Pirates called him up as part of their September call-ups. He made five appearances (three starts) for Pittsburgh, going 0-3 with a 5.29 ERA.

For the 2008 season, Bullington was on the Pirates' 40-man roster and attended Spring Training, but was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on March 17. He started poorly, going 1-6 with a 6.95 ERA over his first nine starts. However, he rebounded in his next two outings, going 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA, which earned him the International League Pitcher of the Week award. On May 29, the Pirates recalled him to the majors, but he did not make an appearance and was optioned back to Indianapolis on June 13. On July 3, the Pirates designated Bullington for assignment to create roster space for Chris Duffy. Bullington expressed a desire for a "fresh start with another organization." He concluded the first half of the season with Indianapolis with a 4-6 record and a 5.52 ERA in 15 starts.

3.2. Cleveland Indians

On July 10, 2008, the Cleveland Indians claimed Bryan Bullington off waivers and assigned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons. While with Buffalo, he made 10 appearances (eight starts), recording a 1-3 record with a 4.75 ERA and his first professional save. On September 8, Bullington was called up to the Indians' major league roster due to injuries in their starting rotation. He made three appearances (two starts) for Cleveland, finishing with an 0-2 record and a 4.91 ERA. Shortly after the end of the season, he was again designated for assignment.

3.3. Toronto Blue Jays

Following his designation by the Indians, Bryan Bullington was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays on October 24, 2008.

In 2009, Bullington reported to Spring Training with the Blue Jays. On March 3, he was outrighted to their Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s. He reflected on his time in Buffalo, noting that pitching coach Scott Radinsky had helped him drop his arm slot, making him feel "more comfortable and getting some more action on the ball," which he carried into the new spring. The Blue Jays transitioned him to the bullpen as a long reliever and spot-starter for the 51s. In April, he made four relief appearances for Las Vegas, posting a 1-1 record with a 1.86 ERA. On April 23, his contract was purchased by Toronto after B. J. Ryan was placed on the disabled list. He made four appearances for the Blue Jays, including three scoreless outings. On April 30, Bullington was demoted back to Las Vegas and was outrighted on May 6. He made twenty-four more relief appearances for the 51s in May and June before being placed on the disabled list for undisclosed reasons. He remained on the disabled list for the remainder of the season, finishing his time with Las Vegas with a 3-1 record, seven holds, three saves, and a 3.52 ERA in 28 relief appearances. After the season, the Blue Jays did not re-sign him, and he became a free agent.

3.4. Kansas City Royals

On November 24, 2009, the Kansas City Royals signed Bryan Bullington to a minor league contract for the upcoming 2010 season.

Bullington reported to camp with the Royals for Spring Training in 2010, where the team moved him back into his original role as a starter. He made five starts during Spring Training, pitching nine innings and allowing five runs. On March 28, Bullington was reassigned to minor league camp and began the season with their Triple-A affiliate, the Omaha Royals. He started in Omaha's rotation but was moved to the bullpen after one start to accommodate Anthony Lerew. He made two relief appearances before returning to the starting rotation in late April after Bruce Chen was promoted to the majors. He made seven appearances (five starts) in total for Omaha, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.71 ERA, before being called up to Kansas City.

On May 16, the Royals purchased Bullington's contract and called him up to work out of the bullpen. His first stint with Kansas City was brief, as he made only three appearances before being sent back down to Omaha on May 25. Bullington threw two scoreless relief outings for Omaha before rejoining their rotation in early June. He made 13 appearances (10 starts) for Omaha after his demotion, going 6-2 with a 3.60 ERA. In total, Bullington finished his Triple-A season with an 8-2 record and a 2.82 ERA in 20 games (15 starts). He delivered 11 quality starts, including his last four starts in a row. His 2.82 ERA and 1.12 WHIP would have led the Pacific Coast League had he pitched enough innings to qualify. He was recognized as Omaha's Pitcher of the Year.

On July 28, the Royals recalled Bullington to work out of the bullpen once more. He pitched in that afternoon's game against the Minnesota Twins, coming in during the seventh inning and throwing two scoreless innings. He made another scoreless relief appearance on August 2 against the Oakland Athletics. On August 6, the Royals announced that Bullington would replace the struggling Brian Bannister in the starting rotation, with his first start of the year scheduled for August 10 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Bullington pitched six innings, giving up three runs, walking one, and striking out four in a losing effort. Manager Ned Yost expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "He really got after them and gave us a shot to win the ballgame, and I'll give him another chance."

Bullington made his next start on August 15 against the New York Yankees, where he delivered a dominant performance, throwing eight innings of shutout baseball and allowing only two hits. This outing earned him his first and only Major League victory. Reflecting on this significant achievement, Bullington stated, "This is a good day, that's for sure. It was a lot of fun, a long time in coming, and I really enjoyed it. At times there were days in Triple-A where it felt like I was never going to get another shot. I'm 29 years old and I'm to the point where I don't want to kick around in Triple-A for another four or five years. If I'm going to do this, I want to do it now." He added, "I've had a few brief (major league) stints, but this is the first time I myself believe I belong here and can pitch at this level."

After this career highlight, Bullington made three more starts, but struggled, posting an 0-2 record with a 10.67 ERA. He was moved back to the bullpen as a long reliever for September when two regular starters returned from the disabled list. He made three relief appearances in September, allowing five runs over 7 and one-third innings. He finished the year with a 1-4 record and a 6.12 ERA in 13 games (five starts) for Kansas City. On November 24, the Royals placed Bullington on unconditional release waivers, allowing him to sign with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League. Years later, he reminisced about his sole MLB win, recalling, "I remember they told me I was done after eight, and just going into the tunnel for a second before I came back out to watch the ninth. It just kind of sits with you, if I never get this opportunity again or this is it, it's certainly worth it."

4.1. Hiroshima Toyo Carp

On December 7, 2010, Bullington signed a one-year contract with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp for 650.00 K USD, with a team option for a second year. He reported to spring camp with the Carp. When asked about his decision to play in Japan, Bullington cited the desire for stability for his family, noting that constantly moving between the major and minor leagues in the U.S. was difficult. He stated, "In Japan I can stay in one place and focus on baseball. And I also get to experience a new culture. Actually, there were a number of NPB clubs that contacted me during the season last year. That helped my family prepare for this year. And when I got an offer from Hiroshima, I jumped on it. My wife supports this decision."

Bullington began his Japanese career with a strong start in 2011, going 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA and one complete game in three starts during April. This earned him the Nihon Seimei Most Valuable Pitcher award in the Central League for April. His impressive performance continued into the first half of the season, where he posted a 9-4 record with a 2.06 ERA, securing him a spot in the 2011 NPB All-Star Series. In Game 3 of the series, he pitched two innings, allowing two hits, including a solo home run, and recorded one strikeout. In his first season with the Carp, making 30 starts, Bullington finished with a 13-11 record and a 2.42 ERA over 204 and one-third innings. His 2.42 ERA was the sixth lowest in the Central League among eligible pitchers. He set numerous career bests, including throwing over 200 innings for the first time, marking it as the best season of his career. Regarding his first season in Japan, Bullington expressed his desire to stay with the Carp, stating, "If the team needs me, then I need the Carp. I like it here in Japan; my family does as well." Hiroshima re-signed him in the offseason to a one-year contract worth 1.74 M USD. He also recorded his first professional hit and RBI during the 2011 season, a 2-run single against the Chunichi Dragons on April 29.

In 2012, Bullington opened the season as the number two starter for the Carp. His first half was inconsistent, with four double-digit strikeout games but a 5.55 ERA from mid-May to the All-Star Break, entering the break with a 5-9 record and a 4.04 ERA. However, he showed greater consistency in the second half, reeling off eight consecutive quality starts after the break, and 11 total quality starts for the season. He finished the second half with a 2-5 record and a 2.15 ERA. Overall, he concluded the 2012 season with a 7-14 record and a 3.23 ERA, along with 137 strikeouts over 175 and two-thirds innings. The 137 strikeouts were a career best, surpassing his previous season's total by one. Despite his respectable ERA and high strikeout count, his record was significantly impacted by a lack of run support; he received a no-decision or loss in 13 of his 19 quality starts and led the Central League with 14 losses. On December 11, the Carp announced they had re-signed Bullington to a two-year deal worth approximately 1.25 M USD plus incentives per year, which included a 500.00 K USD signing bonus.

For the 2013 season, Bullington once again entered camp as the number two pitcher in the rotation, behind Kenta Maeda. On March 22, the Carp announced that Bullington would be the opening day starter, allowing Maeda extra rest after pitching in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. On April 29, Bullington garnered attention in the United States when he threw a pitch behind Hanshin Tigers batter Ryota Arai. As Bullington began his wind-up, Arai requested time from the umpire, who granted it as the pitch was being released. Bullington finished the first half of the season with a 4-7 record, a 2.70 ERA, and a 0.97 WHIP over 17 starts.

He started the second half of 2013 with a struggle, giving up 11 runs in his first two starts. However, he managed to maintain a positive record in August, going 3-0 despite a 4.30 ERA. On August 31, he was removed from a start against the Hanshin Tigers in the second inning after being struck in the left knee by a batted ball. He was able to make his next start a week later, where he threw seven shutout innings against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. His strong pitching continued through September, as he defeated both the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers in his next two starts, aiding the Carp in their pursuit of a playoff spot. His victory against the Giants on September 14 marked his 30th win with the Carp, surpassing Nate Minchey for the most organizational wins by a foreign player.

On September 25, Bullington started against the Chunichi Dragons in a crucial game where the Carp aimed to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in 23 years. He delivered seven shutout innings, allowing only four hits. Former farmhand teammate Brad Eldred provided a two-run shot in the top of the eighth, securing the win for Bullington and the Carp's historic playoff berth. Bullington made 11 starts in the second half, finishing with a 7-2 record and a 4.25 ERA. He went 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA in September, earning him the Nihon Seimei Most Valuable Pitcher award for the Central League for that month. He became the first foreign player in Carp history and only the fourth foreign player in Central League history to win the award multiple times (twice). He concluded the 2013 season with an 11-9 record, a 3.23 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and 117 strikeouts over 172 and two-thirds innings. On October 13, Bullington was selected to start Game 2 of the first stage of the Climax Series against the Hanshin Tigers. He pitched five innings, allowing only one hit-a leadoff home run to Tsuyoshi Nishioka in the first inning. Bullington earned the winning decision, and the Carp advanced to the second stage of the playoffs.

Despite some concerns from Manager Kenjiro Nomura over his preseason performance in 2014, Bullington started his fourth season with the Carp strongly. In his first 11 starts, he recorded nine quality starts, a 7-4 record, a 2.93 ERA, and a 54/12 strikeout-to-walk ratio. However, his performance declined significantly thereafter, with his ERA rising above 6 in both June and August. On August 20, Hiroshima announced that Bullington would be removed from the roster for 10 days of rest after giving up seven earned runs in three innings against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. He made his next start 11 days later on August 31 against the Chunichi Dragons but was pulled in the fifth inning due to arm stiffness. The following day, Bullington was diagnosed with neuritis in his ulnar nerve, also known as inflammation of the funny bone, and was subsequently shut down for the remainder of the season. He finished the 2014 season with a 9-8 record and a 4.58 ERA over 131 and two-thirds innings. Hiroshima chose not to re-sign him in the offseason.

4.2. Orix Buffaloes

After leaving the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Bryan Bullington received interest from both the Orix Buffaloes and the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. On December 6, 2014, Bullington signed a one-year deal with Orix for 150.00 M JPY (approximately 1.20 M USD) for the upcoming season. He joined the team and had his entrance press conference with Tony Blanco on January 29, 2015, before spring training.

In the 2015 season, Bullington was removed from the active roster on May 20 due to shoulder discomfort after lasting only 2 and one-third innings in a game. He finished the season with a 5-3 record and a 3.30 ERA in 14 starts. Notably, on April 19, he was ejected from a game against the Saitama Seibu Lions at Hotto Motto Field Kobe for hitting Tomoya Mori in the head with a pitch, a dangerous pitch rule violation. However, just three days later, on April 22, he started against the Chiba Lotte Marines at QVC Marine Field and earned his first win with Orix. On April 29, he threw a complete game shutout against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles at Kyocera Dome Osaka, his first complete game shutout in four years. Despite a strong start to the season as a key rotation pitcher, two injuries limited his performance, and he was released as a free agent on December 2, 2015.

5.1. Final Playing Season and Retirement

In 2016, Bryan Bullington returned to the American baseball circuit and played for the Omaha Storm Chasers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, an organization he had previously played for. After that season, he officially retired from professional baseball, concluding his playing career.

8.1. Milwaukee Brewers International Scout

In 2017, Bryan Bullington was appointed as an international scout for the Milwaukee Brewers. In this role, he is responsible for identifying and evaluating baseball talent from various countries, including Japan. He is frequently observed attending NPB games and international baseball events, blending in with general spectators, as he continues to contribute to the sport from a scouting perspective.

8.2. Hall of Fame Induction

In recognition of his outstanding collegiate achievements, Bryan Bullington was inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame in 2020. This honor celebrated his significant contributions and lasting legacy from his distinguished college baseball career at Ball State University, where he set multiple school and conference records.

8.3. Career Statistics