Former Kentucky Wesleyan right-handed pitcher Cory Wade made his return to the majors last night pitching one inning of relief for the New York Yankees their 12-4 home win over the Texas Rangers. He pitched one inning and struck out one.
The 27-year old was promoted on Wednesday from their Triple-A club, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees where he was winning pitcher on Monday for in their 8-3 victory over Syracuse, pitching 1 2/3 shutout innings and giving up just two hits in a relief appearance.
Wade, who was released by the Tampa Bay Rays from their Durham Bulls minor league club last week, was 2-1 with a 1.23 ERA in 21 appearances.
The native of Indianapolis, Ind. (Broad Ripple High School) spent two seasons (2008-09) as a reliever with the Los Angeles Dodgers before sitting out the 2010 season following shoulder surgery.
His Dodger statistics include a 3.15 ERA, 69 strikeouts, 99 innings pitched, 82 relief appearances, 99 innings pitched and a 4-4 record.
Wade's best season at LA was his first in the majors in 2008 where posted a 2-1 record with a 2.27 ERA in 71.1 innings pitched.
He also recorded 55 strikeouts in helping the Dodgers to the National League West title and to the NL Championship Series with an 84-78 record
Wade was picked by the Dodgers in the 10th round of the 2004 Major League Draft.
At Kentucky Wesleyan, Wade led with 84 strikeouts in 71.2 innings pitched and held the opposition to a .206 batting average in 2004 as a junior.
He finished second with a 2.39 ERA with five wins (5-4) in 12 appearances and 10 starts. Wade recorded seven complete games, two shutouts and one save.
The three-year starter for the Panthers also started 34 games at shortstop where he batted .291 with 34 hits in 117 plate appearances and knocked in 21 runs with seven doubles and two triples this past season. He also posted a .939 fielding average.
