Luke Webber Putkonen (born May 10, 1986) is an American former

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB)

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, ...

who played for the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

from 2012 to 2014. Prior to playing professionally, Putkonen played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

for the

North Carolina Tar Heels The North Carolina Tar Heels (also Carolina Tar Heels) are the college sports in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to ...

High school and college

Putkonen attended Walton High School in

Marietta, Georgia Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Cobb County, Georgia, United States. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 60,972. The 2019 estimate was 60,867, making it one of Atlanta's largest suburbs. Marietta is the fourth largest ...

. He then enrolled at the

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC, UNC–Chapel Hill, or simply Carolina) is a public university, public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1789, the university first began enrolli ...

, where he played

for the

North Carolina Tar Heels baseball The North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team, commonly referred to as Carolina or the Diamond Heels, represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in NCAA Division I college baseball. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlant ...

team. In 2006, he played

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with the

Wareham Gatemen The Wareham Gatemen are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Wareham, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's West Division. The Gatemen play their home games at Clem Spillane Fie ...

of the

Cape Cod Baseball League The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over 1,000 forme ...

Professional career

The

drafted Putkonen in the third round of the

2007 MLB Draft The 2007 Major League Baseball draft, was an annual choosing of high school and college baseball players, held on June 7, 2007 and June 8, 2007. The first day session of the draft included the first 25 rounds and was scheduled to be broadcast "l ...

. He was promoted to the MLB roster for the first time on April 26, 2012. Putkonen made his Major League debut on April 29, 2012, in a relief appearance against 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 ...

. On May 25, Putkonen was optioned back to Triple-A to make room for Luis Marte, who was activated off the 15-day DL. Putkonen was 0–2 with an 8.59 ERA in 7 innings in six games. Putkonen was ejected for the first time in his MLB career on July 11, 2013, after throwing a first-pitch sinker high and inside to

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

batter

Alexei Ramírez Alexei Fernando Ramírez Rodriguez (born September 22, 1981) is a Cuban former professional baseball shortstop. He has played for the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays in MLB and Pinar del Río (baseball), Pinar del Rio ...

immediately following a

Josh Phegley Joshua Aaron Phegley (born February 12, 1988) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago Cubs. Amateur career Phegley attended Terre Ha ...

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. Putkonen was optioned to Triple-A

Toledo Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A baseball team nicknamed the ...

on July 31, and later recalled back to the Major League on August 28. Putkonen finished the 2013 season 1–3 with a 3.03 ERA in 30 relief appearances. On June 13, 2014, Putkonen underwent surgery to shave down a bone spur on his right elbow, and it was announced he would be out for at least 6–8 weeks. On August 28, it was announced Putkonen would begin a minor league rehab assignment with the Class A

West Michigan Whitecaps The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Comstock Park, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, and play their home games at LMCU Ballpar ...

. He was designated for assignment by the Tigers on January 6, 2015, and outrighted to the Toledo Mud Hens on January 15, 2015. Putkonen was released by the Tigers on March 28, 2015. In four appearances during

spring training Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...

he posted a 7.36 ERA in 3 innings, giving up three runs, four hits and three walks. On April 23, 2015, the Tigers re-signed Putkonen to a minor league contract. Putkonen was released by the Tigers on June 4, 2015. Prior to being released, Putkonen was 0–0 with a 32.40 ERA in 1 innings for Toledo, allowing six hits and six earned runs in two games.

Scouting report

Putkonen throws four pitches. He has a

four-seam fastball A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch (baseball), pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the fastest ball thrown by a pitcher. It is s ...

and

two-seam fastball A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and softball. It is a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball and can also include late-breaking action caused by varying the pressure of the index and middle fingers on t ...

at 92–95 mph with good tailing action, a

changeup A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball. The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball, but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced spee ...

in the mid 80s, and a good

curveball In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curve ...

in the upper 70s. His four-seamer and curveball are used against right-handers, and his two-seamer and changeup are used against left-handers.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Putkonen, Luke 1986 births American people of Finnish descent Detroit Tigers players Erie SeaWolves players Gulf Coast Tigers players Lakeland Flying Tigers players Living people Major League Baseball pitchers North Carolina Tar Heels baseball players Oneonta Tigers players People from Winfield, Illinois Baseball players from DuPage County, Illinois Toledo Mud Hens players West Michigan Whitecaps players Wareham Gatemen players