# Brandon Puffer > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Brandon_Puffer > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Brandon_Puffer.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Puffer > Source revision: 1356605190 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American baseball player (born 1975)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Brandon Puffer | image = | position = [Pitcher](/source/Pitcher) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|10|5}} | birth_place = [Downey, California](/source/Downey%2C_California), U.S. | bats = Right | throws = Right | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = April 17 | debutyear = 2002 | debutteam = Houston Astros | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = June 26 | finalyear = 2005 | finalteam = San Francisco Giants | statleague = MLB | stat1label = [Win–loss record](/source/Win%E2%80%93loss_record_(pitching)) | stat1value = 3–4 | stat2label = [Earned run average](/source/Earned_run_average) | stat2value = 5.09 | stat3label = [Strikeout](/source/Strikeout)s | stat3value = 71 | teams = *[Houston Astros](/source/Houston_Astros) ({{Baseball year|2002}}–{{Baseball year|2003}}) *[San Diego Padres](/source/San_Diego_Padres) ({{Baseball year|2004}}) *[San Francisco Giants](/source/San_Francisco_Giants) ({{Baseball year|2005}}) }} '''Brandon Duane Puffer''' (born October 5, 1975) is an American former professional [baseball](/source/baseball) [pitcher](/source/pitcher). A [relief pitcher](/source/relief_pitcher), Puffer played in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) (MLB) with the [Houston Astros](/source/Houston_Astros) ({{mlby|2002}}–{{mlby|2003}}), [San Diego Padres](/source/San_Diego_Padres) ({{mlby|2004}}), and [San Francisco Giants](/source/San_Francisco_Giants) ({{mlby|2005}}) and received a World Series ring with the 2004 Boston Red Sox. ==Career== Puffer was drafted by the [Minnesota Twins](/source/Minnesota_Twins) in the 27th round of the [1994 Major League Baseball draft](/source/1994_Major_League_Baseball_draft) and played two seasons for their [Gulf Coast League](/source/Gulf_Coast_League) affiliate before being released. On May 28, {{Baseball year|1996}}, Puffer signed with the [California Angels](/source/California_Angels), playing two seasons for them before his release on December 15, {{Baseball year|1997}}. He signed with the [Cincinnati Reds](/source/Cincinnati_Reds) on January 14, {{Baseball year|1998}}, and played as high as Double-A before becoming a [free agent](/source/free_agent) after the {{Baseball year|1999}} season; he had an [ERA](/source/Earned_run_average) of 1.99 in 63.1 innings with [Clinton](/source/Clinton_LumberKings) in 1999. On November 18, 1999, he signed with the [Colorado Rockies](/source/Colorado_Rockies), but was released on May 18, {{Baseball year|2000}}. Puffer played with the [Somerset Patriots](/source/Somerset_Patriots) of the [Atlantic League](/source/Atlantic_League_of_Professional_Baseball) before his contract was purchased by the Astros on July 17, 2000. He made his major league debut on April 17, 2002, for the Astros, pitching 69 innings with an ERA of 4.43 for the season. He was released by the Astros on November 19, 2003. On January 14, 2004, Puffer signed with the Padres, but the [Boston Red Sox](/source/Boston_Red_Sox) purchased his contract on July 2. Puffer was promoted to Boston on September 2, 2004, and was in the Red Sox bullpen that night but did not pitch. He was designated for assignment the next day by the Red Sox in order to clear a roster spot for outfielder [Adam Hyzdu](/source/Adam_Hyzdu). Boston ultimately won the World Series championship that fall, and team owner [John W. Henry](/source/John_W._Henry) decided championship rings would be given to any player that was on the Red Sox roster that year. Despite never having thrown a single pitch for the Red Sox, Puffer received a [World Series ring](/source/World_Series_ring). The 18-carat white gold ring was encrusted with diamonds and adorned with a ruby "B".[https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/GIANTS-NOTEBOOK-Puffer-s-reward-has-nice-ring-2719621.php Schulman, Henry. "Puffer's reward has nice ring to it", ''San Francisco Chronicle'', 3/29/2005] It was featured on a 2013 episode of ''[Pawn Stars](/source/Pawn_Stars)'', but was not sold because cast member [Corey Harrison](/source/Corey_Harrison) was concerned of Puffer's reputation. Puffer became a free agent after the 2004 season and signed with the Giants. A free agent again at the end of the 2005 season, Puffer signed back with the Astros, but was released on July 25, 2006, without appearing in a major league game. Three days later, he signed with the [Oakland Athletics](/source/Oakland_Athletics) and spent the rest of the season playing for their Triple-A affiliate, the [Sacramento River Cats](/source/Sacramento_River_Cats). Before the {{Baseball year|2007}} season, Puffer signed with the [Texas Rangers](/source/Texas_Rangers_(baseball)), playing for their Double-A affiliate, the [Frisco RoughRiders](/source/Frisco_RoughRiders). He started {{Baseball year|2008}} with the RoughRiders before being promoted to Triple-A [Oklahoma](/source/Oklahoma_City_Dodgers). He then became a free agent at the end of the season. ==Arrest and imprisonment== On September 13, 2008, Puffer was arrested after the RoughRiders playoff game against the [Travelers](/source/Arkansas_Travelers) for burglary of a habitation with the intent to commit a felony (sexual assault). The offense carried penalties of up to 99 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.{{cite web |url=http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/other_mlb/view/2008_09_17_Rangers__minor_league_pitcher_arrested_in_Texas_/srvc=home&position=recent |title=Rangers' minor league pitcher arrested in Texas |accessdate=2008-10-29 |agency=Associated Press |date=2008-09-17 |work=BostonHerald.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005051155/http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/other_mlb/view/2008_09_17_Rangers__minor_league_pitcher_arrested_in_Texas_/srvc%3Dhome%26position%3Drecent |archivedate=2008-10-05 }} Puffer was found guilty on July 2, 2009, in a [Collin County](/source/Collin_County%2C_Texas) courtroom, and sentenced to five years in prison. He became eligible for parole on January 26, 2010, and his sentence ran through June 30, 2014.[http://i39.tinypic.com/2irm0w1.jpg Screen image of inmate information page] from the [http://168.51.178.33/webapp/TDCJ/index2.htm Texas Department of Criminal Justice Offender Database] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705214718/http://168.51.178.33/webapp/TDCJ/index2.htm |date=2009-07-05 }}, which does not allow direct linking of search results. (Image created 5/1/2010) He made parole by 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2013/08/a_red_sox_2004_series_ring_up_for_grabs.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818113956/http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2013/08/a_red_sox_2004_series_ring_up_for_grabs.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 18, 2013 |title= A Red Sox 2004 Series Ring Up For Grabs |accessdate=2013-08-15 |author= Peter Abraham |work= The Boston Globe |date=2013-08-15}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Baseballstats|mlb=407836|br=p/puffebr01|brm=puffer001bra|retro=P/Ppuffb001}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Puffer, Brandon}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:American people convicted of burglary Category:Arizona League Angels players Category:Asheville Tourists players Category:Boise Hawks players Category:Cedar Rapids Kernels players Category:Charleston AlleyCats players Category:Chattanooga Lookouts players Category:Clinton LumberKings players Category:Fresno Grizzlies players Category:Frisco RoughRiders players Category:Gulf Coast Twins players Category:Houston Astros players Category:Kissimmee Cobras players Category:Leones del Caracas players Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Category:New Orleans Zephyrs players Category:Oklahoma RedHawks players Category:Pawtucket Red Sox players Category:Portland Beavers players Category:Prisoners and detainees of Texas Category:Round Rock Express players Category:Sacramento River Cats players Category:San Diego Padres players Category:San Francisco Giants players Category:Somerset Patriots players Category:Baseball players from Downey, California Category:Baseball players from Mission Viejo, California Category:Baseball players from Orange County, California Category:Tiburones de La Guaira players Category:American sportspeople convicted of crimes --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Brandon Puffer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Puffer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Puffer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.