Rocky Ty Cherry (born August 19, 1979) is an American former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professional ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

for the Chicago Cubs and

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...

Career

Amateur

Cherry pitched for the

University of Oklahoma , mottoeng = "For the benefit of the Citizen and the State" , type = Public research university , established = , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.7billion (2021) , pr ...

from 2000–2002. He was used mostly in relief his first season, but was a full-time starter by the time he finished at school. He had an overall record of 18–16 in 208 innings pitched. In 2000, he played collegiate summer baseball with the

Brewster Whitecaps The Brewster Whitecaps are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Brewster, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's East Division. The Whitecaps play their home games at Stony Bro ...

of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Chicago Cubs

The Philadelphia Phillies chose Cherry in the 10th round (290th overall) of the

2001 MLB draft The 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 5 and 6. First round selections Supplemental First Round Selections Compensation Picks Background On June 1, 2001, Rolando Viera, a Cuban ba ...

, but he did not sign at the time. The next year, the Chicago Cubs selected him in the 14th round (423rd overall) of the 2002 MLB draft, and he signed with them. He was a starter for his first three minor league seasons (2003–2005). Cherry's 2005 season ended after only three appearances for the

West Tenn Diamond Jaxx The Jackson Generals were a professional baseball team located in Jackson, Tennessee. From 1998 to 2020, they were a part of Minor League Baseball's Southern League (SL) as the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (1998–2006), Seattle Mari ...

of the Double-A Southern League, after which he had Tommy John surgery. When he returned to West Tenn in 2006, Cherry became a full-time reliever. He had a middle finger injury to his pitching hand in mid-July which also required surgery. Cherry made his major league debut with the Cubs on April 23, 2007 against the Milwaukee Brewers, He allowed a game-winning home run in the 12th inning to Brewers first baseman

Prince Fielder Prince Semien Fielder (born May 9, 1984) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers. He was selected in ...

, and suffered the loss. Cherry earned his first big league win on May 1 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Baltimore Orioles

In August 2007, the Cubs traded Cherry and third baseman Scott Moore to the Orioles for starting pitcher

Steve Trachsel Stephen Christopher Trachsel (born October 31, 1970) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher with the Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles between 1993 and 2008. He batted and t ...

. Cherry began 2008 on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder strain. As of May 20, he was on rehab assignment to the Triple-A

Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's location on the Chesapea ...

. He was the last visiting pitcher ever at the original

Yankee Stadium Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Bronx, New York City. It is the home field of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, and New York City FC of Major League Soccer. Opened in April 2009, the stadium replaced the orig ...

while a member of the Orioles on September 21, 2008.

New York Mets

In December 2008, Cherry was selected by the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

in the 2008 Rule 5 draft. He was released by the Mets on March 17, 2009, after the Orioles declined to take him back.

Boston Red Sox

On March 24, , Cherry signed a minor league contract with the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...

. He was released on August 18, 2009.

San Diego Padres

On August 21, 2009, Cherry signed a minor league contract with the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...

. He was granted free agency on November 9, 2009.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cherry, Rocky 1979 births Living people Chicago Cubs players Baltimore Orioles players Baseball players from Dallas Major League Baseball pitchers Oklahoma Sooners baseball players Brewster Whitecaps players Lansing Lugnuts players Boise Hawks players Daytona Cubs players West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx players Iowa Cubs players Arizona League Cubs players Norfolk Tides players Bowie Baysox players Pawtucket Red Sox players Portland Beavers players