Today In Brewer History: Happy Birthday, Jeff D'Amico

by Kyle Lobner on Dec 27, 2011 6:00 AM CST in History

On this day in 1975, Jeffrey Charles D'Amico (not to be confused with fellow former major leaguer Jeffrey Michael D'Amico) was born in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was just 17 years old when the Brewers drafted him with the #23 overall pick in the 1993 draft, just two picks after the Twins took Torii Hunter and Jason Varitek with back-to-back selections.

D'Amico didn't make his pro debut until the 1995 season, but climbed the ladder very quickly. By 1996 (his age 20 season) he was already Baseball America's #25 prospect and splitting the season between AA and the Brewers. He made 17 starts for Milwaukee that season and posted a 5.44 ERA. He made 23 more starts as a 21 year old in 1997 before having shoulder surgery and pitching in just one game over the next two years.

D'Amico's best season was his first full one after the surgery: In 2000 he made 23 starts and posted a 2.66 ERA, striking out just 5.6 batters per nine but allowing just 1.16 combined walks and hits per inning. He narrowly missed winning the ERA title. Unfortunately, he couldn't carry the momentum into 2001 and posted a 6.08 ERA in ten starts while once again battling injuries.

The Brewers traded D'Amico to the Mets following the 2001 season and he pitched three more years as a member of the Mets, Pirates and Indians before retiring after just seven major league appearances in 2004.

Thanks to the B-Ref Play Index for reminding me that D'Amico turns 36 today.

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36, geez.

I’m 31 and I can’t fathom my career having been over for 2 years already. I’m sure he made some reasonable money, but certainly not enough to live off of for the rest of his life. Only knowing baseball for your entire life and then being told you have to figure out something else to do with your life would be difficult. Another promising arm left on the injury scrap heap of history.

by ecocd on Dec 27, 2011 6:41 AM CST reply actions

Hold off the pity wagon.

Dude made $6.4MM in Major League salary alone (not counting whatever bonus he made as a high 1st round pick). I think any of us would feel pretty secure starting a new life with a several million dollar cushion.

by mpbMKE on Dec 27, 2011 6:33 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

saw him pitch at Beloit as a kid

and was pumped. He mowed them down.

Ugh, Shortstop

by theBrouhaha on Dec 27, 2011 7:05 AM CST reply actions

Ben Sheets

Does anyone know if he still plans to make a comeback? He had elbow surgery over a year ago, and we haven’t heard anything since. Hopefully it went well, and he’s happy doing whatever it is he’s doing.

I asked Haudricourt and McCalvey on twitter but didn’t get a reply.

by KittenMittons on Dec 27, 2011 10:36 AM CST reply actions

Wrong thread, supposed to be the mug, sorry.

by KittenMittons on Dec 27, 2011 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

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