Minor League Teams
Parnell Working On Comeback, Closes Out Mud Hens Combined No-Hitter
Closer trying to resurrect career with Tigers
Photo Credit: AP / Chris O’Meara
Parnell Working On Comeback, Closes Out Mud Hens Combined No-HitterParnell Working On Comeback, Closes Out Mud Hens Combined No-Hitter
Bobby Parnell started his professional career with the New York Mets when he was drafted in the 9th round of the 2005 amateur draft.
In 2008, the North Carolina native made with major league debut with New York appearing in six games in relief.
The next season he played in 68 games (8 starts) and posted a 5.30 ERA, with 74 strikeouts in 88.1 innings. Mostly a middle reliever, Parnell became the Mets closer in 2013 and in 49 games first half games, he had 22 saves. But in the beginning of August, the hard throwing pitcher landed on the disabled list with a herniated disk in his neck.
That injury would end Parnell’s season and after one Spring Training appearance on March 31, 2014, the Mets shut down 6’3″ right hander again as he tore the MCL ligament in his throwing arm. The new injury would lead to the closer having successful Tommy John surgery on April 8th and once again ending another season.
Parnell returned to the Mets on June 13, 2015, and fell into the role of setting up new closer Jeurys Familia. He struggled a bit in his new job, appearing in 30 games from June through September, posting a 6.38 ERA, with 17 strike outs in 24 innings.
The Mets did not carry Parnell on their playoff roster and on November 2, 2015 he filed for free agency and then signed with the Detroit Tigers for the 2016 season.
During spring training, he appeared in 11 games, posting a 9.90 ERA, while also striking out 10 batters in 10 innings of work. Detroit then sent Parnell to start the season with their Triple-A affiliate the Toledo Mud Hens, and in four relief appearances, he has three saves and a 2.25 ERA.
But on Saturday night, Parnell became part of the Mud Hens history as he closed out a combined no-hitter.
Starter Warrick Saupold, who earned his first win on the season, tossed five shutout innings, not allowing a hit or a walk, while striking out three. Preston Guilmet then entered the game and threw two innings, keeping the no-hitter in tacked.
Logan Kensing then threw one inning, walking one batter to end the chance of a combined perfect game, but didn’t allow a hit in his one inning in relief.
Then entered Bobby Parnell, a once promising closer looking for a second chance in the bigs, recorded an out on a pop out off the bat of Jacob May, struck out the next batter, and was able to induce a soft ground ball to first baseman Jordany Valdespin to get the final out and finish off the combined no-hitter.
David Conde
David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.
You must be logged in to post a comment.