View source for Troy Percival

{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1969)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Troy Percival
|image=Troy Percival (1099898562).jpg
|team=Idaho Falls Chukars
|caption=Percival with the Cardinals in 2007
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1969|8|9}}
|birth_place=[[Fontana, California]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 26
|debutyear=1995
|debutteam=California Angels
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 21
|finalyear=2009
|finalteam=Tampa Bay Rays
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=35–43
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.17
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=781
|stat4label=[[Save (baseball)|Saves]]
|stat4value=358
|teams=
* [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California / Anaheim Angels]] ({{mlby|1995}}–{{mlby|2004}})
* [[Detroit Tigers]] ({{mlby|2005}})
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{mlby|2007}})
* [[Tampa Bay Rays]] ({{mlby|2008}}–{{mlby|2009}})
|highlights=
* 4× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1996]], [[1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1998]], [[1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1999]], [[2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2001]])
* [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|2002}})
}}
'''Troy Eugene Percival''' (born August 9, 1969) is an American professional [[baseball]] coach and former [[pitcher]]. He is currently the manager of the [[Idaho Falls Chukars]] of the [[Pioneer League (baseball)|Pioneer League]]. During a 14-year baseball career spanning from 1995 to 2009, he pitched for four [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) teams, primarily with the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California/Anaheim Angels]]. He was an integral part of that franchise's [[2002 World Series]] championship team, and gained fame as a [[Closer (baseball)|closer]].

==Amateur career==
Percival started playing [[baseball]] at Moreno Valley Youth Federation (MVYF). Percival played on the [[Moreno Valley High School (Moreno Valley, California)|Moreno Valley High School]] baseball team, before attending the [[University of California, Riverside]], where he played [[college baseball]] for the [[UC Riverside Highlanders baseball|Highlanders]] from 1987&ndash;1990.<ref name=ucr>{{cite web|title=University of California, Riverside Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/university_of_california_riverside_baseball_players.shtml|work=Baseball-Almanac.com|access-date=18 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040712224354/http://baseball-almanac.com/college/university_of_california_riverside_baseball_players.shtml|archive-date=12 July 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

==Professional career==
===California Angels / Anaheim Angels===
Percival was then drafted by the [[California Angels]] in the 6th round, with the 175th overall selection, of the [[1990 Major League Baseball draft]] as a [[catcher]]. He [[Batting average (baseball)|batted]] .203 in his only season as a catcher with the [[Boise Hawks]] and was converted to a [[pitcher]] when coaches noticed that his return throws to the mound were actually faster than the pitches he caught. He made his major league debut as a reliever in {{mlby|1995}}, and was mostly used as a [[Setup pitcher|setup]] man for [[Lee Smith (baseball)|Lee Smith]]. He was coached by his father Richard Percival for all of his childhood years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riversidesporthalloffame.com/troy-percival/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506053213/http://www.riversidesporthalloffame.com/troy-percival/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 6, 2012|title=Troy Percival - Riverside Sport Hall of Fame|website=www.riversidesporthalloffame.com|date=2 May 2012}}</ref>

In {{mlby|1996}}, he became the regular [[Closer (baseball)|closer]] for the Angels and had 36 [[Save (baseball)|saves]] with 100 [[strikeout]]s in 74 innings. He is one of only six pitchers in the Angels' 44-year history to strike out at least 100 batters in a season without starting a game. The others are [[Mark Clear]] (105, {{mlby|1980}}), [[DeWayne Buice]] (109, {{mlby|1987}}), [[Bryan Harvey]] (101, {{mlby|1991}}) [[Scot Shields]] (109, {{mlby|2004}}) and [[Francisco Rodríguez (Venezuelan pitcher)|Francisco Rodríguez]] (123, 2004).

He had a career-high 42 saves in {{mlby|1998}}, and enjoyed his best season in {{mlby|2002}} with a 4–1 record, 40 saves, 68 strikeouts, and a 1.92 [[Earned run average|ERA]]. That year en route to winning the [[2002 World Series|World Series]], he was 7 for 7 in save opportunities, tying [[John Wetteland]] for most saves in one postseason (since tied by [[Brad Lidge]], [[Koji Uehara]] and [[Greg Holland (baseball)|Greg Holland]]; [[Robb Nen]] was also 7 for 7 but blew one on the eighth opportunity).

A four-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]], Percival compiled a 29–38 record with a 2.99 ERA in 586.2 innings for the Angels. His 355 saves grant him inclusion in the [[300 save club]]. However, his [[strikeouts per nine innings]] went down considerably after his years as an elite closer. In {{mlby|2001}}, his [[K/9]] rate was 11.08 and decreased to 5.98 in 2004. His [[fastball]], once clocked consistently at 96–100 MPH, was down to about 92–93 MPH in 2004, due to a degenerative hip condition that first appeared in 2003, which forced him to alter his pitching delivery.

Percival's contract with the Angels expired in 2004 and he became a [[free agent]] at the end of that season. Rather than bring Percival back, the Angels decided to turn to young phenom [[Francisco Rodríguez (Venezuelan pitcher)|Francisco Rodríguez]] to close, motivated largely by Rodríguez's much lower price tag and concerns about Percival's age and health. The Angels offered to negotiate a reduced role (at a correspondingly reduced salary) for Percival to return as a setup man, but Percival decided to seek opportunities elsewhere that would allow him to remain a closer.

===Detroit Tigers===
Percival signed with the [[Detroit Tigers]] as a free agent for the {{mlby|2005}} season. However, after a mediocre start to his career at [[Comerica Park]], during which he converted eight saves from 11 opportunities and posted an ERA of 5.76, Percival suffered a serious injury to his right forearm in early July. The severity of the injury ended his season, and put the rest of his career in doubt.

After attempting to recuperate, Percival reported to [[spring training]] for the Tigers in {{mlby|2006}}. However, on his first outing he again suffered significant pain and left the team. After spending the entire 2006 season on the Tigers' [[disabled list]] and working for the team as an advance scout, Percival's contract with the Tigers expired at the end of the 2006 season.

Though he didn't pitch a game during the Tigers' run to the [[American League]] Championship, the team voted Percival a ring and a full playoff share. Appreciative of this gesture, he used the money to buy a suite at Comerica Park for his teammates' wives.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

In November and December 2006, during his time off from baseball, Percival funded and personally built a new clubhouse at the [[Riverside Sports Complex]], the home venue of his [[college baseball]] program, [[UC Riverside Highlanders baseball|UC Riverside]].<ref name=2007renovs>{{cite web|last=Shaikin|first=Bill|title=Percival Delivers New Home Base|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-12-sp-percival12-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=18 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801202722/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/feb/12/sports/sp-percival12|archive-date=1 August 2014|date=12 February 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

===St. Louis Cardinals===
[[File:Troy Percival Angels Opening Day First Pitch 2012 (9275935926) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|160px|Percival throwing out the [[ceremonial first pitch]] before an Angels game in 2012]]
On January 19, {{mlby|2007}}, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hired Percival as a special assignment pitching instructor. However, believing his arm to have finally healed, he requested his release from his [[minor league]] coaching contract to pursue a comeback. Percival signed a contract with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and joined the major league team on June 26.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=January 19, 2007|title=Former Angel Troy Percival returns as special assignment pitching instructor|url=http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070119&content_id=1782872&vkey=pr_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225010654/http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070119&content_id=1782872&vkey=pr_ana&fext=.jsp&c_id=ana|archive-date=December 25, 2007|access-date=February 7, 2021|website=[[Los Angeles Angels]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Molony|first=Jim|date=May 22, 2007|title=Inside Pitch: Percival ready to reload|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070522&content_id=1979315&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070716193845/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070522&content_id=1979315&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|archive-date=July 16, 2007|access-date=February 7, 2021|website=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=DiComo|first=Anthony|date=June 26, 2007|title=Percival back in big leagues|url=http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070626&content_id=2050580&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811063550/http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070626&content_id=2050580&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl|archive-date=August 11, 2007|access-date=February 7, 2021|website=[[St. Louis Cardinals]]}}</ref> Percival was the fourth member of the 2002 championship Angels team to play for the 2007 Cardinals, joining [[David Eckstein]], [[Scott Spiezio]], and [[Adam Kennedy]], as well as former Angels teammate [[Jim Edmonds]].

Percival made his first appearance in the Majors since 2005 on June 29, 2007, against the [[Cincinnati Reds]]. He struck out the first batter he faced, [[David Ross (catcher)|David Ross]], and was also credited with the [[Win (baseball)|win]].

===Tampa Bay Rays===
On November 29, 2007, Percival signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the [[Tampa Bay Rays]]. The contract contained up to $4 million in performance-based incentives.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Olney|first=Buster|date=November 29, 2007|title=Percival signs two-year, $8 million deal with Rays|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3132471|access-date=February 7, 2021|website=[[ESPN]]|language=en}}</ref> Percival was the team's primary closer in {{mlby|2008}}.

On May 22, 2009, a day after allowing two runs in {{fraction|1|3}} of an inning against the [[Oakland Athletics]], Percival was placed on Tampa Bay's disabled list. On August 11, he announced that he was likely to retire, and would cease his attempts at coming back from his injury.

==Coaching career==
From 2010 to 2012, Percival was a volunteer pitching coach at [[Riverside Polytechnic High School]].<ref name="UCR bio">{{Cite web|url=http://gohighlanders.com/coaches.aspx?rc=632&path=baseball|title=Troy Percival, Head Baseball Coach|publisher=UC Riverside|access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref> On September 24, 2012, Percival was hired as head varsity baseball coach at his alma mater, [[Moreno Valley High School (California)|Moreno Valley High School]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Krider|first1=Dave|title=Troy Percival hired as baseball coach at alma mater|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/blogs/maxwire-national-blog/jVvHhq-ugkKwMRDwsFIC3w/troy-percival-hired-as-baseball-coach-at-alma-mater.htm|website=MaxPreps|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=July 30, 2014}}</ref> On July 26, 2014, he was named head coach of the [[UC Riverside Highlanders baseball|UC Riverside baseball]] team.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Steele|first1=Allan|title=BASEBALL: Percival to be named UCR's new coach|url=http://www.pe.com/articles/percival-697998-coach-ucr.html|work=The Press Enterprise |access-date=July 29, 2014}}</ref> On November 11, 2020, Percival resigned as head coach of the Highlanders, citing the desire to help his son through the professional ranks as his reason for resignation.<ref name="Resigned">{{cite news |title=Troy Percival resigns as UC Riverside baseball coach |url=https://www.pe.com/2020/11/11/troy-percival-resigns-as-uc-riverside-baseball-coach/ |work=The Press-Enterprise |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113175119/https://www.pe.com/2020/11/11/troy-percival-resigns-as-uc-riverside-baseball-coach/ |archive-date=2020-11-13 |date=November 11, 2020 |url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On January 12, 2024, Percival was announced as the manager of the [[Idaho Falls Chukars]] of the [[Pioneer League (baseball)|Pioneer League]].<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Troy Percival Announced as Manager of the Idaho Falls Chukars|url=https://www.pioneerleague.com/sports/bsb/2023/releases/20240112i1mllp|access-date=April 17, 2024|website=pioneerleague.com|date=January 12, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
{{CBB yearly record start | type = coach| conference = | postseason= }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      =[[UC Riverside Highlanders baseball|UC Riverside Highlanders]]
 | conference=[[Big West Conference]]
 | startyear =2015
 | endyear   =2020
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = 
| season       = [[2015 NCAA Division I baseball season|2015]]
| name         = UC Riverside
| overall      = 15–40
| conference   = 4–20
| confstanding = 9th<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigwest.org/sports/baseball/info/review/2015/standings.asp|title=Baseball - 2015 standings|publisher=Big West Conference|access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref>
| postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = 
| season       = [[2016 NCAA Division I baseball season|2016]]
| name         = UC Riverside
| overall      = 26–29
| conference   = 12–12
| confstanding = T–4th<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigwest.org/sports/baseball/info/review/2016/standings.asp|title=Baseball - 2016 standings|publisher=Big West Conference|date=June 22, 2016|access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>
| postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = 
| season       = [[2017 NCAA Division I baseball season|2017]]
| name         = UC Riverside
| overall      = 22–32
| conference   = 8–16
| confstanding = T–7th<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigwest.org/sports/baseball/info/review/2017/standings.asp|title=Baseball - 2017 standings|publisher=Big West Conference|date=June 19, 2017|access-date=June 11, 2018}}</ref>
| postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = 
| season       = [[2018 NCAA Division I baseball season|2018]]
| name         = UC Riverside
| overall      = 19–33
| conference   = 7–17
| confstanding = 8th<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigwest.org/sports/baseball/|title=Baseball - 2018 standings|publisher=Big West Conference|date=June 10, 2018|access-date=June 11, 2018}}</ref>
| postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = 
| season       = [[2019 NCAA Division I baseball season|2019]]
| name         = UC Riverside
| overall      = 20–36
| conference   = 8–16
| confstanding = T–7th
| postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = 
| season       = [[2020 NCAA Division I baseball season|2020]]
| name         = UC Riverside
| overall      = 9–7
| conference   = 0–0
| confstanding = 
| postseason   = Season canceled due to [[COVID-19]]
}}
{{CBB yearly record end
| overall = 111–177
| legend = no
}}

==Personal life==
Percival's son, Cole, was drafted by the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] in the 31st round of the [[2017 MLB Draft]].

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Baseballstats |mlb=120401 |espn=3155 |br=p/percitr01 |fangraphs=29}}

{{2002 Anaheim Angels}}
{{300 saves club}}
{{UC Riverside Highlanders baseball coach navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Percival, Troy}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]]
[[Category:American League All-Stars]]
[[Category:Anaheim Angels players]]
[[Category:Baseball coaches from California]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Riverside, California]]
[[Category:Boise Hawks players]]
[[Category:California Angels players]]
[[Category:Detroit Tigers players]]
[[Category:High school baseball coaches in the United States]]
[[Category:Lake Elsinore Storm players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Memphis Redbirds players]]
[[Category:Midland Angels players]]
[[Category:Palm Springs Angels players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Moreno Valley, California]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Rays players]]
[[Category:UC Riverside Highlanders baseball coaches]]
[[Category:UC Riverside Highlanders baseball players]]
[[Category:Vancouver Canadians players]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball managers]]