Brandon Kolb

Who is Brandon Kolb?

Brandon Charles Kolb is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in 2000 and 2001. He attended Monte Vista High School in Danville, California. He later went to Chabot College and then to Texas Tech.

Standing at 6'1", 190 pounds, Kolb was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics 1077th overall in the 1993 draft. Deciding not to sign, he would have to wait until 1995 to be drafted again, when he was selected by the Padres in the fourth round. This time, he chose to sign.

Originally a starter in the minors, his best record was 16–9, which he achieved in 1996 with the Clinton Lumber Kings. Although he showed promise as a starter in the minor leagues, he was being used mostly as a reliever by 1998. He spent 1998 and 1999 entirely as a reliever.

He made his major league debut on May 12, 2000 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at the age of 26. Although he struck out one batter in the single inning he pitched that game, he also gave up two hits and an earned run. He would improve down the stretch, lowering his season ERA to 4.50. Although he gave up 16 hits in 14 innings that year, not one of them was a home run. He walked 11 and struck out 12 that year.