With the detached lat of Chicago White Sox starter Jake Peavy, a new spot opened up on the Sox pitching staff. Enter Jeff Marquez, 25, is 7-4 with a 4.02 ERA (40 ER/99.2 IP) in 17 starts this season with Charlotte. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Marquez allowed 99 hits, walked 31 and struck out 54. He went 2-0 with a 2.59 ERA (7 ER/24.1 IP) over his last four starts.
By Paul M. Banks
He is supposed to possess a killer sinker, but quite a few of his “out pitches” have stayed afloat at times. He’s drawn a few comparisons to former Sox All-Star Jon Garland.
I saw him pitch in person once, Easter weekend 2009 in Charlotte. It was likely the worst outing of his career, and he didn’t last very long in that game. I don’t wish to draw many conclusions or extrapolate much from that game because the fact that he’s now here in the show means that game was probably an anomaly. It was also the Charlotte Knights worst loss of the ’09 season, and we left that game long before it ended.
Marquez, who has no major-league experience, will wear uniform No. 48.
Marquez attended Sacramento City College before being chosen by the New York Yankees in the supplemental round as the 41st overall pick of 2004 Major League Baseball draft. Marquez was a compensation pick for losing David Wells to the San Diego Padres.
In 2007, Marquez pitched for the Double-A Trenton Thunder and was an Eastern League midseason All-Star, going 15-9 with a 3.65 ERA. He led the league with 15 wins, was tied with 27 starts, was tied for second in innings pitched (155 1/3), tied for third in complete games (2), and was tenth in ERA (3.65).
He came to the Sox on November 13, 2008, along with minor league pitcher Jhonny Núñez, and utility man Wilson Betemit, who were all traded to Chicago for first baseman Nick Swisher and minor league pitcher Kanekoa Texeira.
Written by Paul M. Banks, President and CEO of The Sports Bank.net , a Midwest focused webzine. He is also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, the Chicago Tribune’s blog network, Walter Football.com, the Washington Times Communities, Yardbarker Network, and Fox Sports.com