John Bale (baseball)

1. Overview

John Robert Bale (born May 22, 1974) is a former American professional baseball pitcher, known for his extensive career across both Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Born in Maryland, Bale established himself as a left-handed pitcher with a distinctive style, combining various arm angles and a diverse pitch repertoire. His career spanned multiple MLB teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, and Kansas City Royals, before he transitioned to a prominent role in Japan with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He later concluded his playing career in independent baseball leagues. Throughout his career, Bale was recognized for his pitching prowess, humor, and engaging personality, achieving notable statistical milestones and awards in both American and Japanese professional baseball.

2. Early Life and Background

John Robert Bale was born on May 22, 1974, in Maryland, United States. He later resided in Niceville, Florida, with his family. He is married to Genevieve, and together they have two daughters, Madison and Olivia, and a son, Zachary. Genevieve's brother is Vincent Lecavalier, a professional NHL player.

2.1. High School and Amateur Career

Bale attended Crestview High School in Crestview, Florida. During his senior season, he was an All-State selection in baseball, achieving an impressive 11-2 win-loss record with a 0.38 ERA. In recognition of his athletic achievements, he was inducted into the Crestview High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. Following high school, Bale continued his baseball career at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he posted a 9-8 record with a 4.01 ERA during his junior year.

2.2. Draft and Contracts

Bale's journey into professional baseball began with the Major League Baseball draft. In the 1994 Major League Baseball draft, he was initially selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 12th round, but he chose not to sign with the team. Two years later, in the 1996 Major League Baseball draft, the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the fifth round as the 129th overall pick. He subsequently signed his first professional contract with the Blue Jays.

3. Professional Career

John Robert Bale's professional baseball career encompassed various leagues and roles, from his early development in the minor leagues to his time in Major League Baseball and a significant period in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

3.1. Minor League Career

Bale began his professional journey in the minor league systems of several MLB organizations. In 1996, he made his professional debut with the Single-A St. Catharines Stompers, where he finished with a 3-2 record and a 4.86 ERA in eight starts. The following year, 1997, he compiled a 7-7 record and a 4.30 ERA across 25 starts for the Single-A Hagerstown Suns.

In 1998, Bale transitioned into a relief role with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, achieving a 4-4 record with four saves and a 4.64 ERA in 24 games, including nine starts. He also spent time with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies, recording a 6.75 ERA in three appearances. The 1999 season saw Bale spend the majority of his time in the minor leagues, posting a 2-5 record with one save and a 3.81 ERA in 39 games (eight starts) between Double-A Knoxville and the Triple-A Syracuse SkyChiefs. In 2000, he appeared in 21 games (12 starts) with Triple-A Syracuse, going 3-4 with a 3.19 ERA.

After being traded to the New York Mets organization in 2002, Bale was assigned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, where he finished with a 2-2 record and a 3.54 ERA in 12 games (two starts). He began the 2003 season with Norfolk, recording a 0-1 record and a 3.29 ERA in eight games before his release. Later in his career, after sustaining a hand injury in 2008 while with the Kansas City Royals, Bale underwent rehabilitation in the Royals' minor league system before returning to the major league roster.

3.2. Major League Baseball Career

Bale played for four different Major League Baseball teams during his career, serving in various pitching roles.

3.2.1. Toronto Blue Jays

John Bale was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth round of the 1996 MLB draft. After progressing through their minor league system, he made his Major League debut on September 30, 1999, against the Cleveland Indians. In his debut, he allowed three earned runs, two hits, and two walks over two innings pitched. In 2000, he made two appearances for Toronto, recording an ERA of 14.73. On December 11, 2000, Bale was traded from the Blue Jays to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for outfielder Jayson Werth.

3.2.2. Baltimore Orioles

Bale's tenure with the Baltimore Orioles was brief, lasting only the 2001 season. During this period, he compiled a 1-0 record with a 3.04 ERA over 14 relief appearances. On March 31, 2002, the Orioles designated him for assignment.

3.2.3. New York Mets Organization

Following his designation for assignment by the Orioles, Bale was traded to the New York Mets on April 3, 2002, in exchange for Gary Matthews, Jr.. Although he was part of the Mets organization, he did not make any appearances at the Major League level during his time with the team. He was assigned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. The Mets released him on May 3, 2003.

3.2.4. Cincinnati Reds

On May 8, 2003, Bale signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds. He made his first appearance with the team on August 3, allowing one earned run in two innings, with one walk and three strikeouts, in a 7-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Following this game, he moved into the Reds' starting rotation for the remainder of the season. His first Major League start occurred on August 8, where he pitched 4⅔ scoreless innings, allowing five hits and two walks in a no-decision. On August 13, he delivered the best start of his career, tossing six shutout innings while allowing just three hits and striking out a career-high nine batters, though he again received a no-decision in the 3-1 loss. In 10 games (nine starts) with Cincinnati, Bale went 1-2 with a 4.47 ERA, striking out 37 batters in 46⅓ innings. On December 10, 2003, the Reds sold his contract to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League.

3.2.5. Kansas City Royals

On December 8, 2006, John Bale returned to Major League Baseball, signing a two-year contract with the Kansas City Royals. In 2007, he appeared in 26 games for Kansas City, all in relief, finishing with a 1-1 record and a 4.05 ERA, surrendering 45 hits in 40 innings.

Bale began the 2008 season in the Royals' starting rotation, a decision made after a strong spring training. Manager Trey Hillman praised Bale, stating he had been "outstanding all through spring training" and had "commanded three pitches" from day one. However, after an initial record of 0-3 with a 7.63 ERA in his first three starts, Bale was placed on the disabled list on April 17 due to left shoulder fatigue. In one of the more unusual incidents in recent Royals history, while still on the disabled list in May 2008, Bale broke his left (pitching) hand by punching a hotel door. He later apologized for his actions, attributing it to "a moment of frustration" stemming from his shoulder recovery. After rehabilitating in the Royals' minor league system, Bale was activated when rosters expanded on September 1. Upon his return, he was assigned to a bullpen role and did not allow a run in his final 10 appearances of the season. Overall in 2008, Bale was 0-3 with a 4.39 ERA in 13 games (three starts) with Kansas City. On December 16, 2008, he signed a one-year deal with the Royals for the 2009 season.

Bale recorded his first, and only, career MLB save on June 24, 2009, pitching a perfect 11th inning against the Houston Astros. In 43 relief appearances with the Royals that year, he was 0-1 with one save and a 5.72 ERA. The Royals released Bale on December 10, 2009.

3.3. Japanese Professional Baseball Career

John Bale had two separate stints with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), playing a significant role in their pitching staff.

3.3.1. Hiroshima Toyo Carp

Bale first joined the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 2004, where he was exclusively used as a starting pitcher. He finished the season with an 11-10 record and a 4.21 ERA in 25 starts, supporting the team's starting rotation. In May 2004, he received the JA Zen-Noh Go-Go Award for most strikeouts. For the 2005 season, the Carp transitioned Bale into the role of closer, a decision influenced by his high strikeout rate. He excelled in this capacity, recording 24 saves with a 2-1 record and a 3.19 ERA in 51 relief appearances. He became known for his "theatrical" closing style, often creating dramatic situations on the mound but ultimately securing the save.

In 2006, Bale served in a versatile role, pitching as a starter, middle reliever, and closer, finishing with a 1-2 record, six saves, and a 2.93 ERA in 30 games (five starts). However, on May 13, during a game against the Chiba Lotte Marines, he injured his left adductor muscle after slipping on rain while delivering a pitch. This injury led to a long absence, and Katsuhiro Nagakawa took over the closer role. Upon his return, Bale pitched as a starter and achieved generally good results. Despite his performance, due to his long injury absence and a high annual salary of 1.00 M USD, the Carp issued him a release notification on October 18, ending his first stint with the team.

On February 19, 2010, Bale signed a contract to return to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. This return was initiated by his wife, who contacted his former team. The Carp re-signed him, valuing his high strikeout rate against left-handed batters. During his second stint, he primarily served as a middle reliever and briefly as a closer. However, he struggled with consistency, and spent the latter half of the season in the minor leagues. He departed from the team after the 2010 season, becoming a free agent.

3.4. Detroit Tigers Organization

On December 1, 2010, Bale signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers. His time with the organization was short, as he was released on March 25, 2011.

3.5. Independent League Career

After his careers in MLB and NPB, Bale continued to play professional baseball in independent leagues.

3.5.1. Camden Riversharks

On April 14, 2011, John Bale signed with the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 52 games (one start) with the Riversharks, he recorded a 1-2 record with four saves and a 2.35 ERA, striking out 50 batters in 61⅓ innings.

4. Player Characteristics

John Robert Bale possessed distinct attributes as a pitcher, marked by a unique pitching style, a diverse repertoire of pitches, and a notable personal demeanor that endeared him to fans.

4.1. Pitching Style and Repertoire

Bale employed a distinctive pitching style that combined both overhand and sidearm arm angles, making him a challenging pitcher for opposing batters. His repertoire included a large-breaking curveball, a changeup, and a slider, which he effectively utilized by throwing them both inside and outside the strike zone. During his first stint with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp from 2004 to 2006, his fastball velocity reached speeds exceeding 93 mph ^{(150 km/h)}. However, upon his return to the Carp in 2010, his fastball velocity had settled to around 87 mph ^{(140 km/h)}. He was also notable as the first foreign left-handed pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp to earn a win.

4.2. Personal Demeanor and Anecdotes

Beyond his pitching abilities, Bale was known for his engaging personality and handsome appearance. During his time with the Toronto Blue Jays, he was popular enough to have a local fan club. He was also recognized for his sense of humor and memorable anecdotes. For instance, he suggested the wording for a T-shirt created after manager Marty Brown's infamous base-throwing incident. Additionally, when his role as closer for the Carp was handed over to Katsuhiro Nagakawa, Bale humorously presented Nagakawa with a fire extinguisher, symbolizing the high-pressure nature of the closer's job.

4.3. Uniform Numbers

Throughout his professional playing career, John Robert Bale wore different uniform numbers across his various teams:

49 (Hiroshima Toyo Carp: 2004-2006)
94 (Hiroshima Toyo Carp: 2010)

Year		Games Pitched	Starts	Complete Games	Wins	Losses	Saves	Holds	Win-Loss %	Batters Faced	Innings Pitched	Hits Allowed	Home Runs Allowed	Walks	Intentional Walks	Hit Batters	Strikeouts	Wild Pitches	Runs Allowed	Earned Runs Allowed	ERA	WHIP
1999	TOR	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	----	10	2.0	2	1	2	0	0	4	0	3	3	13.50	2.00
2000	TOR	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	----	22	3.2	5	1	3	0	2	6	0	7	6	14.73	2.18
2001	BAL	14	0	0	1	0	0	0	1.000	113	26.2	18	2	17	0	1	21	1	14	9	3.04	1.31
2003	CIN	10	9	0	1	2	0	0	.333	195	46.1	50	7	12	2	2	37	1	24	23	4.47	1.34
2004	Hiroshima	25	25	1	11	10	0	--	.524	702	160.1	165	16	62	2	8	173	4	86	75	4.21	1.42
2005		51	0	0	2	1	24	0	.667	227	53.2	44	9	16	0	5	72	1	24	19	3.19	1.12
2006		30	5	0	1	2	6	7	.333	183	43.0	45	5	11	1	0	46	1	16	14	2.93	1.30
2007	KC	26	0	0	1	1	0	5	.500	179	40.0	45	1	17	2	1	42	2	18	18	4.05	1.55
2008		13	3	0	0	3	0	2	.000	110	26.2	29	1	6	0	0	14	1	13	13	4.39	1.31
2009		43	0	0	0	1	1	10	.000	136	28.1	34	3	18	2	1	24	2	19	18	5.72	1.84
2010	Hiroshima	30	0	0	0	3	1	4	.000	124	26.2	29	3	15	0	3	21	0	23	21	7.09	1.65
MLB Career (7 years)		109	12	0	3	7	1	17	.300	765	173.2	183	16	75	6	7	148	7	98	90	4.66	1.49
NPB Career (4 years)		136	30	1	14	16	31	11	.467	1236	283.2	283	33	104	3	16	312	6	149	129	4.09	1.36

6.2. Awards and Major Records

Bale achieved several notable awards and records during his career, particularly in Nippon Professional Baseball.

NPB Awards

JA Zen-Noh Go-Go Award (Most Strikeouts): May 2004

NPB Pitching Records

First Appearance and First Start: April 4, 2004, against the Chunichi Dragons at Nagoya Dome, pitching 5 innings and allowing 2 earned runs.
First Strikeout: April 4, 2004, against Kazuki Inoue (looking strikeout) in the 1st inning of his debut.
First Win and First Start Win: May 9, 2004, against the Yomiuri Giants at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, pitching 8 innings and allowing 1 earned run.
First Complete Game Win: September 22, 2004, against the Hanshin Tigers at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, pitching 9 innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 earned runs.
First Save: April 2, 2005, against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome, entering in the 9th inning as the third pitcher and completing 1 scoreless inning.
First Hold: April 6, 2006, against the Hanshin Tigers at Kurashiki Muscat Stadium, entering in the 10th inning as the second pitcher and completing 1 scoreless inning.

NPB Batting Records

First Hit: May 9, 2004, against the Yomiuri Giants at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, a left-field single off Yuya Kubo in the 7th inning.
First RBI: June 17, 2004, against the Chunichi Dragons at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, a center-field RBI single off Shigeru Yamakita in the 6th inning.