Jason Isidore Gurka (born January 10, 1988) is an American former professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

. He played in

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(MLB) for the

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

and

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...

Career

Baltimore Orioles

Gurka was drafted by the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) 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 America ...

in the 15th round, with the 446th overall selection, of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his professional debut with the rookie–level

Bluefield Orioles Bluefield may refer to: * Bluefield, Virginia, US * Bluefield, West Virginia, US * Nvidia BlueField, a line of computer hardware See also * Bluefields, Nicaragua * Bluefields, Jamaica {{geodis ...

. Gurka did not make an appearance in 2009 and became a free agent following the season. Gurka re–signed with the organization on a minor league deal on June 17, 2010. He finished the year with the Low–A

Aberdeen IronBirds The Aberdeen IronBirds are a Minor League Baseball team based in the city of Aberdeen in Harford County, Maryland. They are the High-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles and compete in the South Atlantic League. They were previously members of th ...

, logging a 4.93 ERA in 22 games. Gurka split the 2011 season between the Single–A

Delmarva Shorebirds The Delmarva Shorebirds are a Minor League Baseball team based in Salisbury, Maryland. They are members of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Their home games are played at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. The Shor ...

and High–A

Frederick Keys The Frederick Keys are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. The Keys are based in Frederick, Maryland. The franchise is named for the "Star-Spangled Banner" writer Francis Scott Key, a native of Frederick County. A new team ...

. In 33 appearances for the two affiliates, he accumulated a 2.87 ERA with 67 strikeouts across innings pitched. Gurka split the 2012 campaign between Frederick and the Double–A

Bowie Baysox The Chesapeake Baysox are a Minor League Baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League. Their home ballpark is Prince George's Stadium. From 1993 to 2024, th ...

. In 32 total games, he recorded a 3–5 record and 2.62 ERA with 65 strikeouts across innings. Gurka spent the entirety of 2013 with Bowie, posting a 2.95 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 4 saves in 20 games out of the

bullpen In baseball, the bullpen (or simply the pen) is the area where relief pitchers warm up before entering a game. A team's roster of relief pitchers is also metonymically referred to as "the bullpen". These pitchers usually wait in the bullpen if ...

. Gurka remained with Bowie for the 2014 campaign, receiving a late–season

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with the Triple–A

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

. In 30 outings for Bowie, he compiled a 3–1 record and 2.38 ERA with 60 strikeouts across innings pitched. Gurka elected free agency following the season.

Colorado Rockies

Gurka signed a minor league deal with the

on December 16, 2014. Gurka was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on August 28, 2015. He replaced Carlos Gonzalez in right field in the bottom of the sixteenth inning against the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

on September 16. In 9 appearances during his rookie campaign, Gurka struggled to a 9.39 ERA with 7 strikeouts across innings pitched. On December 2, 2015, the Rockies non–tendered Gurka, making him a free agent. On December 15, 2015, the Rockies re-signed Gurka to a minor league deal. His contract was selected to the majors on April 3, 2016. In six appearances, Gurka struggled to a 9.31 ERA with 7 strikeouts over innings of work. Gurka was released by the Rockies organization on August 20.

New York Yankees

On December 12, 2016, Gurka signed a minor league deal with the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...

. He was assigned to the

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, often abbreviated to SWB RailRiders, are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Moosic, Pen ...

. The Yankees released Gurka on June 2, 2017.

Los Angeles Angels

On June 5, 2017, Gurka signed a minor league contract with the

. On September 1, the Angels selected Gurka's contract. On October 9, the Angels designated him for assignment. He elected free agency on November 6, 2017.

Baltimore Orioles (second stint)

Gurka signed a minor league contract with the

on December 1, 2017. In 16 games for the Triple–A

, he logged a 3.18 ERA with 24 strikeouts across innings pitched. Gurka was released from the organization on June 10, 2018.

Acereros de Monclova

On June 22, 2018, Gurka signed with the

Acereros de Monclova The Acereros de Monclova (English: Monclova Steelers) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports l ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. Gurka did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

Mariachis de Guadalajara

On March 29, 2021, Gurka was traded to the

Mariachis de Guadalajara The Mariachis de Guadalajara ( English: Guadalajara Mariachis) were a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Zapopan, Jalisco, in the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Their home ballpark was the Estadio Panamericano, with a capaci ...

of the

. He became a free agent after the 2022 season.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gurka, Jason 1988 births Living people Aberdeen IronBirds players Acereros de Monclova players Albuquerque Isotopes players 21st-century American sportsmen American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Angelina Roadrunners baseball players Baseball players from Houston Bluefield Orioles players Bowie Baysox players Colorado Rockies players Delmarva Shorebirds players Frederick Keys players Los Angeles Angels players Major League Baseball pitchers Mariachis de Guadalajara players Mexican League baseball pitchers New Britain Rock Cats players Norfolk Tides players Salt Lake Bees players Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players Surprise Saguaros players