Is a 1999 graduate of Fairview (Col.) High School, where he also played basketball and football¡was named the Colorado High School Player of the Year as a senior, but was not drafted out of high school. Went on to attend San Jacinto (Texas) Junior College for two seasons (2000-01) before enrolling at the University of Houston, where he earned All-Conference USA honors as a shortstop and reliever with the Cougars in 2002¡was named First-Team All-American by Baseball America and Baseball Weekly and was selected to the Conference USA All-Academic Team. Drafted by Minnesota in the second round of the June 2002 draft ... signed by Twins scout Marty Esposito. Will become one of seven former Houston Cougars to play for the Astros, joining C Chris Snyder (2012), OF Michael Bourn (2008-11), RHP Woody Williams (2007), C Chris Tremie (2004), RHP Anthony Young (1996) and RHP Doug Drabek (1993-96). Originally born in Ontario, will become the eighth Canadian-born player to play for the Astros and the second in as many seasons (LHP Erik Bedard in 2013). Signed to a one-year free agent contract by the Astros on Dec. 31, 2013.
2013
Was selected to his first American League All-Star Team (was voted onto the team by the AL players) … did not pitch due to being on the Disabled List…made a career-high 29 consecutive scoreless appearances from April 17-June 22, breaking the franchise record of 27 set by J.J. Putz in 2010 … worked 29.0 IP with 16 holds, 38 strikeouts, a .183 (19x104) opponent's average during the streak…the 29.0 scoreless IP streak tied for the 10th-longest in franchise history … registered 19 holds in the first half, tied with Scott Linebrink (2008) for the most in franchise history…allowed one earned run over 20 appearances at U.S. Cellular Field (18.1IP)… limited first batters faced to a .176 average (6x34) … reached the following career milestones on April 12 at CLE: 500 appearances, 500.0 IP and 400 strikeouts … also became the sixth Canadian-born pitcher to appear in 500+ games…did not allow an earned run from April 17-June 28, a span of 31 games and 31.0 IP … was placed on the Disabled List on July 3 (retro to June 30) with a right shoulder strain...was traded to Tampa Bay on July 29 with cash considerations in exchange for players to be named later and cash considerations…the White Sox received LHP Sean Bierman, IF Benjamin Kline and cash on Oct. 16 to complete the deal…did not make an appearance for the Rays in his two months with the organization ... activated from the DL on Sept. 23, warmed up once and again was placed on the DL on Sept. 30 with a strained right shoulder ... declared free agency on Oct. 31.
2012
Recorded career bests in ERA (2.44), opponents average (.171) and strikeouts per 9.0 IP (11.25) in his second season with the White Sox ... ranked among the American League relief leaders in opponents average (6th) and strikeouts per 9.0 IP (11th) ... limitied right-handers to a .129 (13-101) average (lefties batted .232) ... allowed just 20.8 percent (5-24) of inherited runners to score ... first batters faced went 9-45 (.200) ... appeared in 51 games, his fewest since 2007 (18) ... his 10 holds were his fewest since 2009 (5) ... owned a 1.80 ERA (7 ER/35.0 IP) at night (allowed six earned runs over 13.0 IP during the day) ... recorded a 3.00 ERA (3 ER/9.0) and a .188 opponents average with no rest ... opponents hit .163 (8-49) with RISP and .125 (3-24) with risp/two outs ... 41 of his outings were scoreless and 33 were more than 1.0 IP ... recorded at least one strikeout 38 times ... ERA was a combined 1.26 (2 ER/14.1 IP) in April and May (14 games) ... struck out at least one batter in each of his first 11 outings (16 K/11.1 IP) ... made 11 consecutive scoreless relief appearances from 4/17-6/1 (10.0 IP) ... was on the disabled list from 4/21-5/14 with a strained left oblique (made two rehabilitation appearances with Class AAA Charlotte) ... recorded his 100th career hold on 5/30 at Tampa Bay (0 ER/0.2 IP) ... picked up his first win and first blown save on 6/1 vs. Seattle (inherited the tying run in the eighth inning) ... was charged with his second consecutive blown save on 6/2 vs. the Mariners (2 ER/1.0 IP) ... suffered his third blown save on 6/15 at Los Angeles-NL (1 ER/0.1 IP) ... was on the disabled list from 6/24-7/21 with a right posterior shoulder strain ... made 11 consecutive scoreless appearances (9.1 IP) from 7/25-8/17 ... worked a season-high 2.2 scoreless IP and converted his 10th hold on 9/28 vs. Tampa Bay.
2011
Established career bests in ERA (2.62), holds (24) and strikeouts (70) in his first season with the White Sox ... also tied his career best with
a .215 (50-233) opponents average ... ranked among the American League relief leaders in winning percentage (2nd, .727), wins (2nd, 8), holds (t6th, 24) and strikeouts (9th, 70) ... the eight wins were his most since 2005 (12) and the most by a Sox reliever since Antonio Osuna in 2002 (8) ... his 24 holds marked the most by a White Sox right-hander since Barry Jones (30) in 1990 ... ERA was 4.50 (6 ER/12.0 IP) in April, but posted a 2.19
ERA (13 ER/53.1 IP) from 5/1-the remainder of the season, the eighth-best mark among AL relievers ... was 1-7 in save opportunities (career-high six
blown saves) ... did not hit a batter for the first time in his career and did not throw a wild pitch (second time, also 2007) ... ERA was 1.33 (4 ER/27.0
IP) on the road, compared to 3.52 (15 ER/38.1 IP) with six home runs allowed at home ... left-handers hit .184 (16-87) and righties .233 (34-146)
with all seven home runs ... first batters faced hit a career-low .161 (9-56), the 10th-best mark in the AL ... allowed 31.8 (14-44) percent of inherited
runners to score ... went 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA (1 ER/10.0 IP) in Interleague play ... made his Sox debut on 4/1 at Cleveland (1 ER/1.0 IP) ... matched
his career high with four strikeouts on 4/17 vs. the Angels (2.0 IP) ... Major
League Baseball overruled an official scoring call from the Sox game vs. Baltimore game on 4/29, adding four earned runs to his season total ...
posted a 0.52 ERA (1 ER/17.1 IP) in 18 appearances from 6/9-7/24, including a season-high 11 straight scoreless outings (9.1 IP) ... tied a career high
with six hitless outings from 6/9-22 (also 9/1-15/04) ... save on 6/11 vs. Oakland was his first since 7/16/10 vs. the White Sox ... threw a career-high 48 pitches on 8/16 vs. Cleveland (2.0 IP) ... struck out at least one batter in eight straight appearances from 8/26-9/20 (13 total), one shy of his career best ... registered a hold in nine of his final 12 appearances.
2010
Established a career high with 21 holds and 62 strikeouts in his
seventh season with Minnesota...posted a 3.04 ERA (23 ER/68.0 IP) in
71 appearances, his lowest mark since 2005 (2.71)...ranked among the
American League relief leaders in holds (T8th), appearances (9th) and IP
(T12th)...converted 1 of 4 in save opportunities...recorded a 1.66 ERA
(8 ER/43.1 IP) in his final 46 outings and a 0.28 ERA (1 ER/31.2 IP) in his
last 35 to lower his season mark from 5.47...held the opposition to a .177
(26-147) average during that span with just three extra-base hits...lowered
his ERA from 3.93 (15 ER/34.1 IP) in the first half to 2.14 (8 ER/33.2 IP)
after the All-Star Break...limited left-handers to a .196 (20-102) average,
the third-lowest among right-handed AL relievers...posted a 1.82 ERA (11
ER/54.1 IP) at night, compared to 7.90 (12 ER/13.2 IP) during the day ...
did not allow a run in seven interleague outings (7.1 IP) and posted a 0.00
ERA (10.1 IP) in 10 games vs. the White Sox...did not allow an earned
run in 22 consecutive plate appearances from 6/10-8/4 (20.2 IP), including
a career-best, 20-game scoreless streak from 6/13-8/4 (20.0)...struck out
in his first career plate appearance on 6/18 at Philadelphia...picked up the
save on 7/16 vs. the White Sox, his first since 2006...signed a three-year
contract with the White Sox on 12/20.
2009
Did not allow a run in five straight appearances (5.0 ip), April 8-16...recorded his first win
with 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, April 14 vs. Toronto...did not allow a home run in his first 10 appearances...recorded second win, May 13 vs. Detroit...appeared in 23 games for the Twins, posting a 8.15 ERA (17.2 ip, 16 er) with 12 walks and 13 strikeouts before being optioned to Triple-A Rochester, June 16...appeared in 12 games for the Red Wings, posting a record of 1-0, 2.55 (17.2 ip, 5 er) with 22 strikeouts and one save before being recalled, July 22...earned the win on July 29 vs. Chicago (AL), tossing 2.0 scoreless innings...finished August with a record of 1-0, 3.55 (12.2 ip, 5 er) in 10 appearances...did not allow a run in 17 consecutive appearances (16.2 ip), August 25-September 30, allowing just six hits and six walks during that span...went 5-0, 2.93 (30.2 ip, 10 er) in 30 appearances from July 29-October 6.
2008
Did not allow an earned run in six of eight appearances, going 1-0, 1.86 (9.2 ip, 2 er), April 18-May 14...was 2-0, 1.13 (8.0 ip, 1 er) in seven appearances, May 27-June 8...struck out three batters in back-to-back appearances (tying career-high), June 11 at Cleveland and June 14 at Milwaukee...did not allow an earned run in 11 of 12 appearances, going 0-0, 0.75 (12.0 ip, 1 er), June 11-July 11...pitched 1.0 innings-or-more in 44 of 66 appearances...in those appearances, posted a 2.55 ERA...struck out 50 in 62.2 innings pitched...averaged 7.2 strikeouts per-nine-innings.
2007
Did not allow a run in five of six appearances, going 0-0, 1.50 (6.0 ip, 1 er), April 2-21...tossed season-high 1.2 innings, April 10 vs. New York (AL)...tied season-high two strikeouts, May 9 vs. Chicago (AL)...disabled with right shoulder inflammation, May 16...had season-ending surgery to repair torn labrum and rotator cuff in right shoulder, May 29...transferred to 60-day disabled list, June 1.
2006
Pitched a season-high 3.0 innings, April 20 vs. Los Angeles (AL)...did not allow a run in six appearances, going 0-0, 0.00 (7.2 ip), May
5-19...did not allow an earned run in four appearances, going 0-1, 0.00 (5.0 ip), May 29-June 6...posted a 2.03 ERA (13.1 ip, 3 er) in 11 June
appearances...did not allow a run in six of seven appearances, going 0-0, 0.87 (10.1 ip, 1 er), July 16-August 1...finished July going 1-1 with a
1.84 ERA (14.2 ip, 3 er) and 12 strikeouts in 10 appearances...tied season-high three strikeouts, August 4 at Kansas City...did not allow a run
in 16.1 innings (13 appearances) from August 10-September 12, during the span struck out 11 and walked two...earned his fourth win of the
season after tossing 1.1 innings, September 14 at Cleveland...allowed one run in his final 22 appearances, August 10- October 1...during the
span posted a 0.38 ERA (23.2 ip, 1 er) with 15 strikeouts and three walks....stranded 21 of 34 (62%) inherited runners and first-batters-faced in relief were 16-for-63 (.254).
2005
Did not allow an earned run in 17 appearances (14.0 ip), April 5-May 18 . . . had career-high 8-game win-streak, April 28-July 1 . . . had 16.1 inning scoreless streak, May 22-June 19 . . . set American League record for consecutive wins to start a career as a reliever (11), July 1 vs. Tampa Bay . . . recorded first career save, July 10 at Kansas City . . . was 1-0, 0.00 (6.2 ip, 0 er) in 6 appearances, July 10-23 . . . did not allow a run in 7 of 8 appearances, going 0-0, 0.73 (12.1 ip, 1 er), August 6-20 . . . tied season-high 2.1 innings, September 6 vs. Texas . . . had .219 batting-average-against with lefthanders batting .209 (23-110) with 2 homers and righthanders batting .225 (38-169) with 4 homers . . . stranded 31 of 42 (74%) inherited runners and first-batters-faced in relief were 17-67 (.254) . . . tied for club lead in games and was second in wins . . . was fifth in league in winning percentage (.706) . . . led American League rookies in games and winning percentage (.706), was tied for second in wins and ninth in innings pitched . . . set club record for games by a rookie.
2004
Began season at Rochester . . . was 1-0, 3.38 (8.0 ip, 3 er) with one save
in 6 appearances, April 8-17 . . . did not allow an earned run in 11 of 12
appearances, going 1-1, 0.63 (14.1 ip, 1 er) with 7 saves, April 21-May 19 . .
. Twins' Minor League Player of the Week, going 0-0, 0.00 (3.0 ip, 0 er) with
3 saves, May 15-21 . . . did not allow a run in 15 consecutive appearances,
going 1-0, 0.00 (20.1 ip), June 13-July 29 . . . played in Class AAA All-Star Game,
July 13 at Pawtucket . . . contract selected, August 1 . . . made major league
debut in relief, August 5 vs. Anaheim . . . did not allow a run in 10 appearances,
going 2-0, 0.00 (15.1 ip, 0 er), August 13-September 15 . . . optioned to
Elizabethton, August 29 . . . recalled and recorded first major league win,
September 1 vs. Texas . . . season-high 3-game win-streak, September 9-
October 1 . . . had .179 (17-95) batting-average-against with lefthanders
batting .211 (8-38) with no homers and righthanders batting .158 (9-57) with
2 homers . . . stranded 7 of 17 (41%) inherited runners and first-batters-faced
in relief were 5-19 (.263) . . . ranked 12th Best Prospect, Best Fastball and Best
Reliever in International League by Baseball America . . . played for Grand
Canyon in the Arizona Fall League.
2003
Began season at Ft. Myers . . . did not allow a run in ip), April 6-30 . . . season-high 6 strikeouts,
April 11 at Palm Beach . . . promoted to New Britain, May 6 . . . did not allow an earned run in 11 of 12 appearances,
going 0-0, 0.44 (20.2 ip, 1 er) with 6 saves, May 7-June 6 . . . Twins' Minor League Player of the Week, May 10-16 . . .
was 1-0, 0.00 (12.0 ip) with 3 saves in 7 appearances, June 15-29 . . . season-high 3.2 innings, June 25 at Binghamton
. . . Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June . . . promoted to Rochester, July 1 . . . did not allow an earned
run in 12 appearances, going 1-0, 0.00 (13.0 ip, 0 er) with 9 saves, July 17-August 16 . . . was second among Twins'
minor leaguers in saves and fourth in strikeouts . . . named to Baseball America's Class AA All-Star team . . . ranked 11th
best prospect, best reliever and best fastball in Eastern League by Baseball America . . . ranked 14th best prospect in
International League Baseball America . . . won Jim Rantz Award as Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
2002
Began season at Elizabethton . . . did not allow an earned run in 6 appearances, July 26-August 9 . . . had .082
(4-49) batting-average-against . . . promoted to Quad Cities, August 10 . . . did not allow a run in 5 of 6 appearances,
August 11-25 . . . had .154 (6-39) batting-average-against.
