David Hess (baseball)

David James Hess (born July 10, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, and Tampa Bay Rays.

David Hess
Hess with the Baltimore Orioles
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1993-07-10) July 10, 1993 (age 30) Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 12, 2018, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics (through 2021 season)
Win–loss record	6–22
Earned run average	6.25
Strikeouts	161
Teams
Baltimore Orioles (2018–2020) Miami Marlins (2021) Tampa Bay Rays (2021)

Amateur career

Hess played baseball at Tullahoma High School in Tullahoma, Tennessee. As a senior, he had a 8–1 win–loss record with a 1.91 earned run average (ERA) along with batting .393 with eight home runs.^[1] After high school, he enrolled at Tennessee Technological University and played college baseball for the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. In 2014, his junior year, he pitched to a 9-3 record with a 3.24 ERA in 16 starts.^{[citation needed]}

Professional career

Baltimore Orioles

After the season, Hess was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the fifth round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.^[2] He made his professional debut with the Aberdeen IronBirds and also spent time with the Delmarva Shorebirds; in ten total games between the two teams, he pitched to a 2–1 record and 3.24 ERA.^[3] He started 2015 with the Frederick Keys and was promoted to Bowie Baysox during the season.^[4][5][6] In 28 games (27 starts) between both clubs, he posted a 10–5 record and a 3.64 ERA. He returned to Bowie in 2016, going 5–13 with a 5.37 ERA in 25 games (24 starts). In 2017, he once again returned to Bowie, pitching to an 11–9 record with a 3.85 ERA with 123 strikeouts in a career high 154.1 innings pitched.^[7] The Orioles added Hess to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.^[8]

Hess made his major league debut on May 12, 2018^[9] against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. He pitched six innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits, three strikeouts, and zero walks. He remained in the Orioles rotation, totaling 21 appearances, 19 of them starts. He went 3-10 in 103+1⁄3 innings.

In his first start of the 2019 season in a 6–5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 1, Hess had a no-hit bid through 6 1/3 innings before being removed by manager Brandon Hyde in favor of Pedro Araújo.^[10] With his record at 1–10 by the end of the campaign, he and Gabriel Ynoa became the first pair of teammates with double-digit losses and no more than one win since Jack Nabors and Tom Sheehan of the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics.^[11]

Hess only appeared in 3 games for the Orioles in 2020, and gave up 5 runs over 7 innings pitched.^[12] On October 29, 2020, Hess was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and became a free agent.

Tampa Bay Rays

On December 3, 2020, Hess signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays organization.^[13] Hess posted a 2.81 ERA through 13 appearances with the Triple-A Durham Bulls.^[14]

Miami Marlins

On July 3, 2021, the Rays traded Hess to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Justin Sterner and cash considerations. The Marlins selected Hess' contract to the active roster following his acquisition.^[15] On August 14, 2021, Hess was designated for assignment by the Marlins.^[16] On August 18, Hess rejected his outright assignment and elected free agency.^[17]

Tampa Bay Rays (second stint)

On August 19, 2021, Hess signed a minor league deal to return to the Tampa Bay Rays and was assigned to Triple-A Durham.^[18] On August 21, the Rays selected Hess' contract.^[19] The following day, Hess was designated for assignment without appearing in a game.^[20] On August 24, Hess cleared waivers and was assigned outright back to Triple-A Durham.^[21] Hess's contract was selected on September 6.^[22] Hess made 1 appearance for the Rays, recording a 27.00 ERA with 2 strikeouts before he was designated for assignment on September 8. On October 14, Hess elected free agency,^[23] before re-signing with the Rays on a minor league deal on November 11.^[24] He was released on July 11, 2022.

Personal life

Hess is a Christian.^[25] Hess and his wife, Devin, married in 2016.^[26] On October 13, 2021, Hess announced via Twitter that he will undergo chemotherapy after doctors discovered a cancerous germ cell tumor in his chest.^[27] On January 28, 2022, Hess was 'cured' and cleared for baseball activities.^[28] However, on May 27, 2023, Hess announced that his cancer had returned and that he would begin chemotherapy again.^[29]

References

1. "Tullahoma High School retires number, jersey of former Golden Eagle hurler David Hess". 24 January 2019.
2. "Orioles continue pitcher run with fifth-rounder Hess". Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
3. "Steve Melewski: Prospect Profile: Hess makes solid debut, draws Bud Norris comparison". MASNsports. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
4. "Mitch Horacek, David Hess contrasts in success for Frederick". Baltimore Sun. April 16, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
5. "Hess Receives Promotion to Double-A Bowie". Frederick Keys. MiLB. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
6. "Steve Melewski: David Hess takes the mound in must-win game for Bowie (Baysox lead 4–1)". MASNsports. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
7. "David Hess Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
8. . Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
9. Jon Meoli. . Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
10. Matheson, Keegan. "Hess' 6 1/3 no-hit innings lead O's by Jays," MLB.com, Monday, April 1, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019
11. Trezza, Joe. "O's find silver lining in loss: No. 2 Draft pick," MLB.com, Wednesday, September 25, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019
12. "David Hess Stats, Fantasy & News | MLB.com". MLB.com.
13. Connor Byrne. "Minor MLB Transactions: 12/3/20". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
14. "David Hess Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
15. TC Zencka (2021-07-03). "Marlins Trade Justin Sterner And Cash Considerations To Rays For David Hess". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
16. Darragh McDonald (2021-08-15). "Marlins Activate Elieser Hernandez, Designate David Hess For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
17. Steve Adams (2021-08-18). "David Hess Elects Free Agency". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
18. Steve Adams (2021-08-19). "Rays, David Hess Agree To Minor League Deal". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
19. TC Zencka (2021-08-21). "David Hess To Rejoin Rays". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
20. Anthony Franco (2021-08-22). "Rays Designate David Hess For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
21. Anthony Franco (2021-08-25). "Outrighted: Dugger, Hess". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
22. "Rays Select David Hess". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
23. "Players Recently Electing Free Agency". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
24. "David Hess - Latest Transactions". Milb.com. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
25. Mercer, Kevin (15 October 2021). "Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Hess on cancer diagnosis: 'God is going to use this for His glory'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
26. "David Hess on Instagram: "4 years in and each day is better than the last with you! This year has given us a lot of time together and I'm grateful for every bit of…"". Instagram.com. 2020-12-18. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
27. Mark Polishuk. "Quick Hits: Hess, Washington, Padres, Black, Strom". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
28. "Rays' David Hess 'cured' and cleared for baseball activity three months after cancerous tumor diagnosis".
29. "Former MLB right-hander David Hess says cancer has returned". espn.com. Retrieved September 23, 2023.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles bio