View source for Kevin Millwood

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1974)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Kevin Millwood
|image=Kevin Millwood on August 6, 2012.jpg
|image_size=
|caption=Millwood with the Seattle Mariners in 2012
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1974|12|24}}
|birth_place=[[Gastonia, North Carolina]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=July 14
|debutyear=1997
|debutteam=Atlanta Braves
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 12
|finalyear=2012
|finalteam=Seattle Mariners
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=169–152
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=4.11
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=2,083
|teams=
* [[Atlanta Braves]] ({{mlby|1997}}–{{mlby|2002}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|2003}}–{{mlby|2004}})
* [[Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|2005}})
* [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|2006}}–{{mlby|2009}})
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|2010}})
* [[Colorado Rockies]] ({{mlby|2011}})
* [[Seattle Mariners]] ({{mlby|2012}})
|awards=
* [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1999]])
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|AL ERA leader]] (2005)
* Pitched a [[no-hitter]] on April 27, 2003
* Pitched a combined no-hitter on June 8, 2012 
}}
'''Kevin Austin Millwood''' (born December 24, 1974) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]]. He played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Atlanta Braves]], [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[Cleveland Indians]], [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]], [[Baltimore Orioles]], [[Colorado Rockies]] and [[Seattle Mariners]].

While with the Braves, Millwood was part of a pitching rotation which featured [[Greg Maddux]], [[Tom Glavine]] and [[John Smoltz]]. In [[1999 Atlanta Braves season|1999]] he was selected to his only [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] and helped lead the Braves to the [[1999 World Series]] and two seasons later the [[2001 National League Championship Series]]. As a member of the Indians, his 2.86 [[Earned run average|ERA]] led all [[American League]] pitchers. In 2012, Millwood became the 67th pitcher to record 2,000 career [[strikeouts]].

==Early life==
Millwood was raised by Kathy Coplen and Bill Millwood in [[Bessemer City, North Carolina]].<ref name="marriage">{{cite news|title=Stevens - Millwood|url=http://www.goupstate.com/news/19990117/no-title|access-date=1 February 2018|work=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]]|date=January 17, 1999|language=en}}</ref> He attended [[Bessemer City High School (North Carolina)|Bessemer City High School]] where he played baseball, [[basketball]] and [[American football|football]]. As a basketball player, he scored 1,000 points for the Bessemer City Yellow Jackets.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Walker|first1=Richard|title=Millwood stepping away after 16 years in the majors|url=http://www.shelbystar.com/article/20130202/Sports/302029851|access-date=1 February 2018|work=[[Shelby Star]]|date=February 2, 2013|language=en|archive-date=July 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716042225/http://www.shelbystar.com/article/20130202/Sports/302029851|url-status=dead}}</ref> Milwood missed the beginning of every high school baseball season in order to finish the basketball season and did not expect to be drafted by a professional baseball team out of high school.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McCarron|first1=Anthony|title=No Knocks on Millwood|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/nydn-features/no-knocks-millwood-unheralded-brave-turns-atlanta-ace-hole-article-1.848215|access-date=1 February 2018|work=[[NY Daily News]]|date=October 12, 1999|language=en}}</ref>

==Baseball career==

===Atlanta Braves===
Millwood was drafted by the [[Atlanta Braves]] in the 11th round of the [[1993 MLB draft]]. After four years in the [[Minor league baseball|minors]], Millwood made his debut with the Atlanta Braves on July 14, 1997. A year later, he [[Win (baseball)|won]] 17 games. Millwood formed a part of the Braves' star pitching rotation, which also consisted of [[Greg Maddux]], [[John Smoltz]] and [[Tom Glavine]]. According to [[Nate Silver]], the 1997 Braves starting rotation was the best in the history of baseball as of the 2010 season.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Silver|first1=Nate|title=Nate Silver on How They Rank With the All-Time Greatest - NYTimes.com|url=https://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/04/03/magazine/03phillies-graphic.html|access-date=2 February 2018|work=[[New York Times]]|date=April 3, 2011}}</ref>

In 1999, Millwood posted career-highs in wins (18, also achieved in 2002), [[earned run average]] (2.68), [[strikeout]]s (205) and [[Walks plus hits per inning pitched|WHIP]] (0.996). He finished third in the National League [[Cy Young Award]] voting (losing to the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]]' [[Randy Johnson]]) and 26th on the National League [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|MVP]] ballot. He was selected as an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] in [[1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1999]], his only appearance in the Midsummer Classic.

===Philadelphia Phillies===
Before the 2003 season, Millwood was traded by the Braves to the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] for [[catcher]] [[Johnny Estrada]] in order to cut their payroll in the midst of economic difficulties. He went 14-12 with his new team, including throwing a [[no-hitter]] against the [[2003 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giants]] on April 27 coming in the Phillies' final season at [[Veterans Stadium]] (this was one of only two no-hitters ever thrown at the now-demolished stadium, both coming against the San Francisco Giants). He also led the majors in [[stolen base]]s allowed, with 41.

===Cleveland Indians===
In 2005, Millwood signed a one-year contract as a [[free agent]] with the [[Cleveland Indians]]. He came back from injury well, leading the [[American League]] in ERA (2.86). However, he managed a record of only 9—11, due to poor run support.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=David |date=August 8, 2018 |title=How deGrom compares to unlucky ERA champs |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/fewest-wins-by-era-leaders-c289408018 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2005, Millwood again led the majors in [[stolen base]]s allowed, with 33. He finished tied for sixth in balloting for the AL Cy Young Award.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2005 AL Cy Young Award Voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2005.shtml#AL_CYA_voting|access-date=|website=[[Baseball-reference.com]]}}</ref>

===Texas Rangers===
[[File:MG 8291 Kevin Millwood.jpg|280px|thumb|Millwood pitching for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] in {{Mlby|2008}}.]]
On December 26, 2005, the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] signed Millwood to a five-year, $60&nbsp;million deal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/rangers/2005-12-26-millwood_x.htm
|title=Millwood signs five-year, $60&nbsp;million deal with Rangers | work=USA Today | date=December 29, 2005 | access-date=May 7, 2010}}</ref>

In 2006, he and [[Vicente Padilla]] won 15 games; a total not matched by a Rangers pitcher until [[Scott Feldman]] in 2009.<ref>[http://www.star-telegram.com/284/story/1589283.html Wilson, Jeff, "Road-warrior Feldman paces Rangers again"], ''The Fort Worth Star-Telegram'', 9/4/09, accessed 9/4/09</ref>

In 2008, when batters did hit the ball against him, it was with uncommon success, as his .358 batting-average-against on balls in play was the highest in the major leagues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-batting-pitching.shtml|title = 2008 Major League Baseball Batting Against}}</ref> 26% of all balls put in play against him were line drives, the highest percentage in the majors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-ratio-pitching.shtml|title=2008 Major League Baseball Pitching Ratios}}</ref>

===Baltimore Orioles===
Millwood was traded to the [[Baltimore Orioles]] on December 9, 2009, for [[Chris Ray]] and a [[player to be named later]] (left-handed pitcher Ben Snyder, a Rule 5 pick from San Francisco).

During the 2010 season, Millwood went 4–16 with a 5.10 [[earned run average]], leading the league in losses.

===New York Yankees===
On March 25, 2011, Millwood was signed to a minor league contract by the [[New York Yankees]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20110325&content_id=17113614&vkey=pr_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121007142929/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20110325&content_id=17113614&vkey=pr_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy| archive-date = 2012-10-07| title = Yankees sign RHP Kevin Millwood to a minor league contract}} </ref> After making three starts in the minor leagues, he opted out of his contract on May 1.<ref>[https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=6460838 Kevin Millwood opts out of contract], [[ESPN.com]], May 1, 2011.</ref>

===Boston Red Sox===
Millwood signed a minor league contract with the [[Boston Red Sox]] on May 19, 2011.<ref>[http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/29434677 Red Sox sign Millwood] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522013459/http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/29434677 |date=May 22, 2011 }}, [[CBS Sports]], May 19, 2011.</ref> He was released on August 7, exercising an opt-out clause.

===Colorado Rockies===
On August 8, 2011, Millwood signed a minor league contract with the [[Colorado Rockies]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_18639749?source=commented-|work=Denver Post|first=Troy E.|last=Renck|title=Rockies sign veteran pitcher Kevin Millwood; could replace Juan Nicasio|date=August 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_18642722|work=Denver Post|title=Kevin Millwood latest hired help for Colorado Rockies' rotation|date=August 9, 2011}}</ref> Millwood was called up August 10 to fill a void after an injury to [[Juan Nicasio]].

===Seattle Mariners===
On January 22, 2012, it was reported that the [[Seattle Mariners]] had signed Millwood to a minor league contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gastongazette.com/sports/sign-66403-gastonia-mariners.html |work=Gaston Gazette |first=Richard |last=Walker |title=Millwood to sign with Seattle Mariners |date=January 22, 2012 |access-date=September 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909174747/http://www.gastongazette.com/sports/sign-66403-gastonia-mariners.html |archive-date=September 9, 2012 }}</ref> He was called up from [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] and made his first major league start of the season on April 22 against the [[2012 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=320422112|title=White Sox vs. Mariners - Box Score - April 22, 2012 - ESPN}}</ref> On May 13, Millwood became the 67th pitcher to record [[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders|2,000 career strikeouts]] when he struck out [[2012 New York Yankees season|Yankee]] [[Curtis Granderson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SO_p_career.shtml|title=Career Leaders & Records for Strikeouts|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 18, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2018209544_marinotes15.html |title=Millwood reflects after reaching milestone 2,000th career strikeout |newspaper=[[Seattle Times]] |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=May 14, 2012 |access-date=July 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718091115/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2018209544_marinotes15.html |archive-date=July 18, 2012 }}</ref> Millwood notched a win over Yankee starter [[Andy Pettitte]], who was pitching in the majors for the first time since 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/13/kevin-millwood-notches-2000th-strikeout-in-beating-yankees/|title=Kevin Millwood notches 2,000th strikeout in beating Yankees|last=Pouliot|first=Matthew|date=May 13, 2012|access-date=July 19, 2012|work=Nbcsports.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/13/andy-pettitte-allows-four-runs-in-return-to-major-leagues/|last=Silva|first=Drew|title=Andy Pettite allows four runs in return to major leagues|date=May 13, 2012|access-date=July 19, 2012|work=Nbcsports.com}}</ref>

On June 8, Millwood pitched the first six innings of a combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers before leaving the game due to a groin injury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8029259/mlb-seattle-mariners-unusual-no-hitter-takes-time-sink-in|title=Caple: Mariners' unpredictable no-hitter takes time to sink in|date=June 8, 2012}}</ref> [[Charlie Furbush]], [[Stephen Pryor]], [[Lucas Luetge]], [[Brandon League]], and [[Tom Wilhelmsen (baseball player)|Tom Wilhelmsen]] helped him complete the bid. Millwood was put on the disabled list in September with soreness in his shoulder and missed the remainder of the regular season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/29/kevin-millwood-is-thinking-about-retirement/|title=Kevin Millwood is thinking about retirement|last=Short|first=D.J.|date=September 29, 2012|access-date=September 30, 2012|work=Nbcsports.com}}</ref>

===Retirement===
On February 3, 2013, Millwood was reported to be retiring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130203&content_id=41372606&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|title=Report: Millwood steps aside after 16 seasons|last=Meisel|first=Zack|work=MLB.com|date=February 3, 2013|access-date=February 3, 2013}}</ref>

==Pitching style==
Millwood was a [[sinker (baseball)|sinkerball]] pitcher. His sinker clocked at 89–92&nbsp;mph and was complemented mostly by an 89–91&nbsp;mph [[cut fastball|cutter]] and 83–86&nbsp;mph [[Slider (baseball)|slider]]. Millwood also threw a [[curveball]] (71–74) and a [[changeup]] (82–84) that he used against left-handed hitters. He tended to use the cutter early in the count, with higher use of his [[breaking ball]]s in two-strike situations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=119154|title=Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool – Player Card: Kevin Millwood|publisher=Brooks Baseball|access-date=July 23, 2012}}</ref>

==Personal life==
On January 9, 1999 in [[Spartanburg, South Carolina]], Millwood married Rena Stevens of [[Greenville, South Carolina]].<ref name="marriage" />

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters]]
* [[List of Texas Rangers Opening Day starting pitchers]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats|mlb=119154|espn=3687|br=m/millwke01|fangraphs=106|brm=millwo001kev|retro=M/Pmillk004}}
*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=schilcu01 Curt Schilling] at Baseball Almanac
:

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-ach}}}}
{{succession box|before=[[Robert Person]]|title=[[Philadelphia Phillies]] [[Opening Day]] [[Starting Pitcher]]|years=2003–2004|after=[[Jon Lieber]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[No-hitter]] pitcher |before=[[Derek Lowe]]|years= April 27, {{baseball year|2003}}|after=[[Roy Oswalt]], [[Pete Munro]], [[Kirk Saarloos]], [[Octavio Dotel]], & [[Billy Wagner]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters|No-hit game]]|before=[[Johan Santana]]|years=June 8, {{baseball year|2012}}<br />(with [[Charlie Furbush|Furbush]], [[Stephen Pryor|Pryor]], [[Lucas Luetge|Luetge]], [[Brandon League|League]], & [[Tom Wilhelmsen (baseball player)|Wilhelmsen]]) |after=[[Matt Cain]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[Hits per nine innings|Fewest hits per nine innings (NL)]]|before=[[Kerry Wood]]|years=1999|after=[[Chan Ho Park]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{AL ERA champions}}
{{Philadelphia Phillies Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Baltimore Orioles Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Texas Rangers Opening Day starting pitchers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Millwood, Kevin}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Atlanta Braves players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies players]]
[[Category:Cleveland Indians players]]
[[Category:Texas Rangers players]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles players]]
[[Category:Colorado Rockies players]]
[[Category:Seattle Mariners players]]
[[Category:American League ERA champions]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Atlanta]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Gastonia, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Gulf Coast Braves players]]
[[Category:Danville Braves players]]
[[Category:Macon Braves players]]
[[Category:Greenville Braves players]]
[[Category:Durham Bulls players]]
[[Category:Richmond Braves players]]
[[Category:Frisco RoughRiders players]]
[[Category:Trenton Thunder players]]
[[Category:Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees players]]
[[Category:Pawtucket Red Sox players]]
[[Category:People from Bessemer City, North Carolina]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Australia]]