Nathan Eovaldi

Nathan Eovaldi's Biography

Nathan Edward Eovaldi was born on February 13, 1990, in the small town of Alvin, Texas. Growing up in a town known for preserving Texas history and its support for local sports was instrumental to shaping Eovaldi’s career. He became a sports enthusiast at a tender age, playing baseball in his spare time. As he honed his skills, he realized his aptitude for baseball and focused on becoming a pitcher, a decision that would set the stage for a successful career in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Eovaldi attended Alvin High School, where he played eagerly for the school’s baseball team. He was a key player, maintaining a positive attitude and exceptional work ethic. During the course of his high school career, he was sidelined by a unique challenge: a surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Despite the odds, Eovaldi remained resilient and dedicated to his sport. Adapting to this setback was challenging, but he pushed through his recovery and continued to improve his game.

Highlights of his high school career include being named an honorable mention on Texas’ All-State team in his senior year, implying that he demonstrated exceptional skill and showed promising talent. He also committed to attend Texas A&M University on a sports scholarship, indicating his ambition to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level.

Instead, his journey took an unexpected turn when the Los Angeles Dodgers selected Eovaldi in the 11th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Although his draft stock was hindered by his elbow surgery, he proved to be an asset for the Dodgers. He journeyed through their farm system, starting at the Gulf Coast Dodgers, located in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. His performance during the season earned him promotion through the ranks, and by 2009 he found himself playing for the Great Lakes Loons of the Class A Midwest League.

His impressive run with the Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino of the Class A-Advanced California League in 2010 saw him chosen for the mid-season California League all-star team. His performance promoted him to the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League the following year, once again gaining selection for the mid-season all-star game.

His major league debut was a sight to behold as Eovaldi was called up on August 6, 2011, as the starting pitcher against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His performance was marked by seven strikeouts and a single hit in his first major league at-bat. This run resulted in him becoming the first Dodger starter since the 1957 season to start his career with four games of five innings or more, allowing two runs or fewer. His overall stats for 2011 showcased a promising potential – a 1-2 record and a 3.63 Earned Run Average (ERA). Coming into the 2012 season, he played 10 games for the Dodgers, in which he maintained a 1-6 record, a 4.15 ERA before trading to the Miami Marlins.

Life with the Marlins was short but meaningful. Through 2012 and 2014, Eovaldi built resilience and work ethic, culminating in a strong 6-14 record with a 4.37 ERA in 2014 despite surrendering the most hits in the National League. His brief yet impactful stint concluded when he was traded alongside Garrett Jones and Domingo Germán to the New York Yankees for Martín Prado and David Phelps.

Eovaldi’s time with the Yankees was marked by both success and challenges. After swiftly making a name for himself with an 8-0 record and 2.93 ERA over a short span, his career took a hit when he experienced elbow inflammation. Despite it ending his regular season, his overall 2015 performance was commendable. However, the following season proved challenging. A tear in his elbow sidelined him for the rest of the season and led to his second Tommy John surgery, terminating his stint with the Yankees.

After recovery, Eovaldi signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017; the contract also included a club option for 2018. Despite missing the entire 2017 season due to recovery, he was a key player for the club in 2018. He had a stats line of a 3-4 record and a 4.26 ERA. In 2018, the Rays saw the potential in Eovaldi and traded him to the Boston Red Sox.

Eovaldi quickly proved himself a strong acquisition for the Red Sox. Throughout the season and the playoffs, he made significant contributions to the team’s success. In the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Eovaldi’s performance was remarkable and instrumental in the Sox’s triumph. Despite a record-tying 18-inning marathon in Game 3, where Eovaldi gave up a walk-off home run to Max Muncy, he proved his worth by pitching innings 12-17 without conceding any runs. His commitment to the game set records and earned him respect from his peers and fans alike, setting the stage for the Red Sox’s victory in the World Series.

Post World Series, Eovaldi filed for free agency but on December 6, 2018, he signed a four-year, $68 million deal to return to the Red Sox. Eovaldi’s career has, to date, been one of resilience and persistence. With the Red Sox, he continued to demonstrate his tenacity and love for the game, overcoming numerous injuries and performing at the highest level, earning his place as Boston’s opening day starter for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons.

In the 2021 season, he demonstrated his pitching prowess and command of the mound, finishing the season with an 11-9 record, a 3.75 ERA, and making the fewest walks per nine innings of any major league pitcher. Eovaldi’s impressive performance continued to earn him accolades and respect within the league.

Today, Nathan Eovaldi’s career spans numerous MLB teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and now the Texas Rangers, where he is currently a professional baseball pitcher. Despite the adversities he has faced, Eovaldi has showcased the power of resilience and dedication to one’s craft. He stands as a symbol of grit and determination for aspiring athletes, embodying the spirit of perseverance innate in the sport of baseball. His career serves as a remarkable example of the tremendous bounds a player can achieve when they combine talent, hard work, and commitment to their game.