{{short description|American baseball player (born 1981)}} {{Other uses|William Sadler (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography| |image= |name=Billy Sadler |position=Pitcher |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date and age|1981|9|21}} |birth_place=Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=September 15 |debutyear=2006 |debutteam=San Francisco Giants |finaldate=September 10 |finalyear=2009 |finalteam=Houston Astros |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Win–loss record |stat1value=0–1 |stat2label=Earned run average |stat2value=4.53 |stat3label=Strikeouts |stat3value=50 |teams= * San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2006}}, {{mlby|2008}}) * Houston Astros ({{mlby|2009}}) }} '''William Henry Sadler IV''' (born September 21, 1981) is a former right-handed relief pitcher. He is a 2000 graduate of Pensacola (Florida) Catholic High School and was named Florida Class 3A Player of the Year his senior year<ref>Billy Sadler has since converted to Christianity and helps Streets and Lanes Ministries in Pensacola, Florida. {{cite web |url = http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=107&p=8&c=1&nid=615239 |title = Billy Sadler Profile |access-date = 2007-07-13 |work = Scout.com }}</ref> He attended Pensacola Junior College in 2001 and 2002 and transferred to Louisiana State University in 2003.<ref name=mediaguide>{{cite web |url = http://pressbox.mlb.com/pressbox/downloads/y2007/sf/players.pdf |title = San Francisco Giants 2007 Media Guide |access-date = 2007-07-13 |pages = [http://pressbox.mlb.com/pressbox/downloads/y2007/sf/players.pdf#page=88 p. 228–229] |archive-date = August 9, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070809044315/http://pressbox.mlb.com/pressbox/downloads/y2007/sf/players.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> He led LSU with four saves, but took the loss when the Tigers were eliminated from the 2003 College World Series by the University of South Carolina.<ref> {{cite web |url = https://www.espn.com/minorlbb/cws/recap?key=20030615CWSSOCAROLINALSU |title = Gamecocks eliminate Tigers in CWS slugfest |access-date = 2007-07-13 |date = 2003-07-15 |publisher = Associated Press/ESPN.com }}</ref>

==San Francisco Giants== Sadler was selected by Seattle in the 37th round (1106th overall pick) of the {{Baseball year|2000}} amateur draft and in the 30th round (909th overall pick) of the {{Baseball year|2001}} draft, but opted not to sign with the Mariners. He signed with the Giants after they made him their sixth round selection (183rd overall pick) in the {{Baseball year|2003}} draft.<ref> {{cite web |url = https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?name=William+Sadler |title = Draft Picks with the Name Matching: William Sadler |access-date = 2007-07-13 |publisher = Sports Reference, Inc. }}</ref>

In his first four seasons in the Giants minor league system, Sadler played for the Hagerstown Suns of the Single-A South Atlantic League (2003); the San Jose Giants of the advanced Single-A California League ({{Baseball year|2004}}); the Norwich Navigators (2004–{{Baseball year|2005}}) and the Connecticut Defenders ({{Baseball year|2006}}) of the Double-A Eastern League; and the Fresno Grizzlies of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League (2006). Pitching almost exclusively out of the bullpen, he compiled a 14-13 win&ndash;loss record with 27 saves and a 3.06 ERA through the end of the 2006 season. In 2006, he posted 20 saves as the Defenders' closer. Between Connecticut and Fresno, he struck out 78 batters in {{frac|54|2|3}} innings while holding opponents to a .148 batting average.<ref name=mediaguide/>

Sadler's minor league success in 2006 earned him a spot on the Giants' September expanded roster when Armando Benítez was placed on the 60-day disabled list.<ref> {{cite web |url = http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060914&content_id=1662589&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110527012503/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060914&content_id=1662589&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf |url-status = dead |archive-date = May 27, 2011 |title = Notes: Sadler arrives in SF |access-date = 2007-07-13 |last = Harvey |first = Coley |date = 2006-09-14 |work = MLB.com }}</ref> He made his major league debut the following night against St. Louis. After surrendering a walk to Scott Spiezio and a 3-run double to Scott Rolen, he settled down to retire the next four consecutive hitters, including his first big-league strike out.

Sadler was with the Giants in spring training in {{Baseball year|2007}}, but struggled with his control and was optioned to Fresno March 18.<ref> {{cite web |url = http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070318&content_id=1849817&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070322173319/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070318&content_id=1849817&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf |url-status = dead |archive-date = March 22, 2007 |title = Notes: Feliz's new approach paying off |access-date = 2007-07-13 |last = Haft |first = Chris |date = 2007-03-18 |work = MLB.com }}</ref>

He was called up to the majors in {{Baseball year|2008}} to replace struggling pitcher Brad Hennessey. On August 10, 2009 Sadler was released by the San Francisco Giants.

==Houston Astros== On August 18, 2009, Sadler signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Baseballstats|br=s/sadlebi01}} *[http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=452724 MLB.com Player File] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929165612/http://thebaseballcube.com/players/S/Billy-Sadler.shtml The Baseball Cube player page]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sadler, Billy}} Category:1981 births Category:American people of Japanese descent Category:Sportspeople of Japanese descent Category:Connecticut Defenders players Category:Fresno Grizzlies players Category:Gulf Coast Astros players Category:Hagerstown Suns players Category:Houston Astros players Category:Living people Category:LSU Tigers baseball players Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Norwich Navigators players Category:Pensacola State Pirates baseball players Category:Round Rock Express players Category:San Francisco Giants players Category:San Jose Giants players Category:Baseball players from Pensacola, Florida