Alumni Report: Jon Rauch
Jon Rauch won 21 games for the Charlotte Knights over parts of four seasons from 2001-2004. He entered the 2001 season ranked as the fourth-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America. A third-round pick of the White Sox in the 1999 draft, Rauch is still winning games today – now as a member of the New York Mets.
Rauch, 34, is 3-7 with a 3.51 ERA and four saves for the Mets in 71 games (as of October 1). He got off to a great start to the 2012 campaign – going 3-0 with a 2.53 ERA in 12 games during the month of April. After struggling through May and June, Rauch turned his season back around in July.
The Kentucky native posted a 0-0 mark with a 1.17 ERA in July and was even better in August. In 14 games during the month of August, Rauch went 0-0 with two saves and a 0.93 ERA.
For the season, right-handed batters have hit just .172 against him. With runners in scoring position, batters have just a .174 batting average against him.
The 2012 season was his first in the National League since 2009, when he went 2-2 with a 4.14 ERA in 58 games for the Diamondbacks.
Rauch, who is the tallest player in Major League Baseball history at 6’11”, holds a career Major League record of 42-38 with a 3.79 ERA and 62 saves over 539 games.
The 2007 season was his most successful at the Major League level. As a member of the Washington Nationals, Rauch posted an 8-4 record with a 3.61 ERA in a career-high 88 games. His 88 appearances were the most in the National League.
Where Does He Rank: Rauch ranks third in Knights franchise history in games started (61), tied for fifth in wins (21), fourth in strikeouts (279), and seventh in innings pitched (334.1).
Stay tuned for more updates on this former Knight and other former Knights throughout the offseason. Knights Media Relations Director Tommy Viola will have a new Alumni Report every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the offseason.
If there is a former Knights player you would like an update on, please send an email to Tommy Viola at [email protected].