Former BayBear Peavy Wins Cy Young Award
MOBILE, AL - Former Mobile BayBears pitcher and Mobile native Jake Peavy has won the 2007 National League Cy Young Award. Peavy pitched for the BayBears during parts of the 2001 and 2002 seasons, and went 19-6 for the San Diego Padres in 2007. His 19 wins, 2.54 ERA and 240 strikeouts all led the National League this season.
Peavy first joined the BayBears in 2001, after a mid-season promotion from Single-A. His BayBears debut came just two years after he played at Hank Aaron Stadium as a high school player for St. Paul's High School in the annual Hank Aaron Classic baseball tournament. Peavy finished the 2001 Southern League season in Mobile, and made 14 starts in 2002 with the BayBears before being called up directly to the San Diego Padres from Double-A.
Peavy has pitched with the Padres since his 2002 Major League debut. In 2004 he returned to a BayBears uniform, making a Minor League rehab start at Hank Aaron Stadium while on the disabled list. Peavy has pitched in two Major League All-Star Games, including a start in the mid-summer classic this past July in San Francisco.
The last former BayBear to win a Major League Baseball post-season award was Jason Bay, who was named the National League Rookie of the Year after his 2004 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 2008 BayBears season opens on Thursday, April 3rd against the Carolina Mudcats. For BayBears tickets, call 251-479-2327, or visit mobilebaybears.com.