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From
the farm to the big leagues: Jeremy Accardo
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[July 28, 2007]
NORMAL -- Former Illinois State
baseball player
Jeremy Accardo has taken a journey to reach the big leagues. The
current closer for the Toronto Blue Jays has emerged from uncharted
territory as an undrafted free agent to be an established major
leaguer. This week's "Down on the Farm" checks in with the Mesa,
Ariz., native who starred as a shortstop and as a relief pitcher at
ISU from 2001 to 2003.
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 After beginning 2007 spring training battling for a spot in the
bullpen, Accardo has blossomed in the closing role after the Blue
Jays lost regular closer B.J. Ryan to season-ending Tommy John elbow
ligament replacement surgery. Since taking over in May, Accardo has
converted 16 of 19 save opportunities while striking out 41 batters
by using a combination of a 95 mph fastball and a nasty, 87 mph
split finger fastball. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander boasts a
2.61 earned-run average and has recorded five saves in his last six
chances.While Accardo has shown his ability to punch out batters
when it matters most in the big leagues, he was known more for his
bat and his leather when in a Redbird uniform. Accardo was an
all-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection as a shortstop
in 2003, hitting .333 as a key bat in the everyday lineup. Accardo
also finished as the Redbirds' career saves leader (12) in only two
years on the mound, showing his ability to close out games.
It wasn't until he reached the majors with the San Francisco
Giants that Accardo would learn his signature pitch. He began his
career when he signed a deal in 2003 and worked his way through the
minors until his debut on May 4, 2005. He began to work with former
major league pitcher and Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti during
his sophomore campaign in San Francisco and was taught the split
finger fastball. Accardo was solid in the bullpen during his 1 1/2
seasons as a Giant, striking out 56 batters in 70 innings of work.
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He was acquired by the Blue Jays in a deal that sent third
baseman Shea Hillenbrand to San Francisco in July 2006 and saw spot
action in the 'pen the rest of the season, throwing 28.2 innings
while holding a 5.97 ERA. But it wasn't until Ryan went down that
Accardo was able to show how his repertoire of pitches could equal
victories.
Stay tuned to GoRedbirds.com, as next week's "Down on the Farm"
takes a look at former Redbird pitcher Dan Frega, who currently is a
member of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Class A short season), a
team in the Cleveland Indians organization.
[Text from file received from John
Sandberg,
Illinois
State University]
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