Daniel Coulombe Pitches Perfect Frame in MLB Debut
September 17, 2014 | Baseball
Coulombe made his MLB debut just two years after being selected in the 25th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Dodgers.
LUBBOCK, Texas - Former Texas Tech left-handed pitcher Daniel Coulombe became the 28th Red Raider to make his Major League Baseball debut on Tuesday night as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers while pitching a perfect inning in relief during the Dodgers 10-4 loss against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver.
Coulombe, originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, pitched two seasons for the Red Raiders (2011-12) and today received news he had been called up to the big leagues. Hours later he arrived in Denver and soon after entered his first big league game in the seventh inning to pitch a three-up, three-down frame with a strikeout, lineout and fly out
The Dodgers currently hold a three-game lead in the National League West Division with less than two weeks of the regular season remaining.
Coulombe becomes the first Red Raider to make his MLB debut with the Dodgers while also becoming the first Texas Tech player since 2000 to make his big league debut in just two years after his draft year. He was selected by the Dodgers in the 25th round of the 2012 MLB Draft.
The last Red Raider to make the jump from Texas Tech to the big leagues in two years was catcher Trey Lunsford, who was a 33rd round pick by the Giants in 2000 and made his big league debut in 2002 with San Francisco.
Coulombe needed only 12 pitches (9 strikes) to retire the side in order as he struck out Rafael Ynoa on a 1-2 pitch with an 87 MPH slider, recorded a lineout to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez while facing Charlie Blackmon and using a 93 MPH fastball to get Josh Rutledge to fly out to right fielder Matt Kemp to end the Rockies' half of the seventh inning.
Coulombe started the 2014 season in Class A-Advanced with Rancho Cucamonga and finished the regular season with Double-A Chattanooga where he combined went 3-0 on the season with a 2.89 ERA in 49 outings - all relief - with six saves, 65.1 innings pitched with 92 strikeouts and 27 walks allowed.
Texas Tech has had at least one player debut in the big leagues every year for the past six years and has a total of 12 players that have made it to Major League Baseball since 2006.
Coulombe, who was one of a school-record nine MLB Draft picks in 2012, is the first of that class to make their MLB debut. Three others from the 2012 draft class have made it to the Double-A ranks (Shane Broyles, Duke von Schamann, Reid Redman).
Coulombe made 14 appearances during his two-year Tech career - including four starts during his first season that ended short due to injury. He tallied a 3.24 career ERA at Tech which included 54 strikeouts and 16 walks allowed in 41.2 innings pitched.
He was one of Tech's top relievers during his redshirt junior season in 2012 while posting a 1.64 ERA in eight relief outings with 11 innings and 13 strikeouts with five walks allowed.
Coulombe made his Red Raider debut as the Opening Day starter for Tech in 2011 during a no decision against Western Michigan (8-0 victory) going four shutout innings allowing just one hit with five strikeouts and two walks.
NOTES: - Texas Tech has five pitchers that served as its Opening Day starter from 2006-11 that have made it to the big leagues as 2006 starter Josh Tomlin (Indians), 2007 starter Colt Hynes (Padres), 2008 starter A.J. Ramos (Marlins), 2009 and 2010 starter Chad Bettis (Rockies) and 2011 starter Daniel Coulombe (Dodgers) all have made their big league debuts.
- Coulombe made his debut wearing No. 64. He is the first Dodgers player to wear No. 64 since Brian Falkenborg and is only the fourth player in franchise history to wear the jersey number. Paul Lo Duca (1998) and Jerry Brooks (1993) also wore No. 64 during their Dodger careers.
TEXAS TECH PLAYERS MAKING MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT:
Daniel Coulombe (2011-12) - MLB Debut 9/16/14 - Los Angeles Dodgers (LHP)
Chad Bettis (2008-10) - MLB Debut 8/1/13 - Colorado Rockies (RHP)
Roger Kieschnick (2006-08) - MLB Debut 7/31/13 - San Francisco Giants (OF)
Colt Hynes (2006-07) - MLB Debut 7/14/13 - San Diego Padres (LHP)
Nathan Karns (2008-09) - MLB Debut 5/28/13 - Washington Nationals (RHP)
AJ Ramos (2006-09) - MLB Debut 9/4/12 - Miami Marlins (RHP)
Zach Stewart (2008) - MLB Debut 6/16/11 - Toronto Blue Jays (RHP)
Josh Tomlin (2006) - MLB Debut 7/27/10 - Cleveland Indians (RHP)
Dustin Richardson (2005-06) - MLB Debut 9/28/09 - Boston Red Sox (LHP)
Dallas Braden (2004) - MLB Debut 4/24/07 - Oakland Athletics (LHP)
Jeff Karstens (2003) - MLB Debut 8/22/06 - New York Yankees (RHP)
Chris Sampson (1999) - MLB Debut 6/2/06 - Houston Astros (RHP)
Joe Dillon (1996-97) - MLB Debut 5/18/05 - Florida Marlins (1B)
Steve Watkins (1998) - MLB Debut 8/21/04 - San Diego Padres (RHP)
Trey Lunsford (1999-2000) - MLB Debut 9/12/02 - San Francisco Giants (C)
Josh Bard (1997-99) - MLB Debut 8/23/02 - Colorado Rockies (C)
Travis Driskill (1991-93) - MLB Debut 4/26/02 - Cleveland Indians (RHP)
Stubby Clapp (1996) - MLB Debut 6/18/01 - St. Louis Cardinals (2B)
Matt Miller (1994-96) - MLB Debut 5/8/01 - Detroit Tigers (LHP)
Keith Ginter (1997-98) - MLB Debut 9/20/00 - Houston Astros (2B)
Brandon Kolb (1995) - MLB Debut 5/12/00 - San Diego Padres (RHP)
Travis Smith (1994-95) - MLB Debut 6/21/98 - Milwaukee Brewers (RHP)
Ryan Nye (1994) - MLB Debut 6/7/97 - Philadelphia Phillies (RHP)
Mark Brandenburg (1991-92) - MLB Debut 7/20/95 - Texas Rangers (RHP)
Donald Harris (1988-89) - MLB Debut 9/4/91 - Texas Rangers (OF)
Mike Humphreys (1985-88) - MLB Debut 7/29/91 - New York Yankees (LF)
Doug Ault (1971-72) - MLB Debut 9/6/76 - Texas Rangers (1B/LF)
Chuck Harrison (1961-62) - MLB Debut 9/15/65 - Houston Astros (1B)