{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1995)}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name = Sam Delaplane |image = |team = |number = |position = Pitcher |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|3|27}} |birth_place = San Jose, California, U.S. |bats = Right |throws = Right |debutleague = MLB |debutdate = |debutyear = |debutteam = |statleague = MLB |statyear = |stat1label = |stat1value = |stat2label = |stat2value = |stat3label = |stat3value = |teams = }}
'''Samuel Louis Nathan Delaplane''' (born March 27, 1995) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played college baseball for Eastern Michigan University. Delaplane was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 23rd round of the 2017 MLB draft. Despite spending time on the 40-man rosters of the Mariners and San Francisco Giants, he never played in Major League Baseball (MLB).
==Early life== Delaplane is the son of Fred and Sue Delaplane, and has a brother, Brad.<ref name="emueagles.com">{{Cite web|url=https://emueagles.com/sports/baseball/roster/sam-delaplane/7761|title=Sam Delaplane – Baseball|website=Eastern Michigan University Athletics}}</ref>
He attended Leigh High School ('13) in San Jose, California,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crowley |first=Kerry |date=May 31, 2021 |title=SF Giants trade for a San Jose native, place Scott Kazmir on restricted list |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/31/sf-giants-trade-for-a-san-jose-native-place-scott-kazmir-on-restricted-list/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927190823/https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/31/sf-giants-trade-for-a-san-jose-native-place-scott-kazmir-on-restricted-list/ |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |access-date=September 17, 2024 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}</ref> which is where he was born.<ref name="maxpreps.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/sam-delaplane/NGBulfTmEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/baseball/stats.htm |title=Sam Delaplane High School Baseball Stats Leigh (San Jose, CA) |publisher=MaxPreps |access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2012/12/27/student-athletes-find-success-at-the-next-level-2/|title=Student athletes find success at the next level|author=Kevin Sparrer and Mike Barnhart|website=The Mercury News|date=December 27, 2012|access-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref> Playing baseball as a pitcher and catcher, he was All-League First Team and ''San Jose Mercury'' Honorable Mention in his senior season, as he was 6–2 with a 1.66 ERA on the mound and batted .342.<ref name="emueagles.com"/><ref name="maxpreps.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2012/12/27/student-athletes-find-success-at-the-next-level-2/ |title=Student athletes find success at the next level |work=The Mercury News |date=December 27, 2012 |access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref>
==College== Undrafted out of high school, Delaplane attended Eastern Michigan University, earning a degree in marketing.<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2021/2/2/22261817/40-in-40-sam-delaplane-strikeout-king-short-king-death-slider-the-coroner-too-dark-as-a-nickname|title=40 in 40: Sam Delaplane|first=Kate|last=Preusser|date=February 2, 2021|website=Lookout Landing}}</ref><ref name=EMU>{{cite web|url=https://emueagles.com/news/2017/6/14/baseball-delaplane-selected-by-the-mariners-in-the-2017-mlb-draft.aspx|title=Delaplane Selected by the Mariners in the 2017 MLB Draft|author=Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball|website=emueagles.com|date=June 14, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref> He spent four seasons (2014–17) playing college baseball for the Eastern Michigan Eagles, and was first-team All-Mid-American Conference in his senior year.<ref name=EMU/> During the summer of 2016, he played for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=895382&seasonid=29795 |title=#12 Sam Delaplane |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=July 16, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://emueagles.com/news/2016/8/23/2016-eastern-michigan-summer-baseball-review.aspx|title=2016 Eastern Michigan Summer Baseball Review|author=Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball|website=emueagles.com|date=August 23, 2016|access-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref> He was named 2017 first team All-American (D-I) by the ''Jewish Sports Review''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://yale.prestosports.com/sports/m-basebl/2016-17/releases/20170720bqudem | title=Brodkowitz, Wanger Named First Team All-Americans by Jewish Sports Review | date=July 20, 2017 }}</ref> Delaplane was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 23rd round of the 2017 MLB draft.<ref name=EMU/>
==Professional career== ===Seattle Mariners=== Delaplane split his debut season of 2017 between the AZL Mariners of the Rookie-level Arizona League and the Tacoma Rainiers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, combining to go 2–1 with a 3.00 ERA and 50 strikeouts over 33 innings (13.6 strikeouts per 9 innings).<ref name=stats>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/sam-delaplane-676845|title=Sam Delaplane Player Page|website=MLB.com|access-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref> He spent the 2018 season with the Clinton LumberKings of the Single–A Midwest League, going 4–2 with 10 saves (3rd in the league) and a 1.96 ERA, and 100 strikeouts over {{frac|59|2|3}} innings (15.1 strikeouts per 9 innings; he struck out 38% of batters faced).<ref name=stats/><ref name="auto3"/>
In 2019, he split the season between the Modesto Nuts of the High–A California League and the Arkansas Travelers of the Double-A Texas League, going a combined 6–3 with 7 saves and a 2.23 ERA, and 120 strikeouts (leading all minor league relievers) over {{frac|68|2|3}} innings (15.7 strikeouts per 9 innings; second-best in minor league baseball for pitchers who pitched 50 innings) in 46 relief appearances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-add-four-players-to-their-40-man-roster/|title=Mariners add four players to their 40-man roster|work= The Seattle Times|date=November 20, 2020}}</ref><ref name=stats/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/modesto/news/eight-players-named-to-the-2019-all-star-game/c-307866986|title=Eight Players Named to the 2019 All-Star Game|author=Modesto Nuts|website=MiLB.com|date=June 7, 2019 |access-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2019/5/23/18636512/confessions-of-a-third-day-draft-pick-sam-delaplane-talks-analytics-development-and-draft-prospects|title=Confessions of a third day draft pick: Sam Delaplane talks analytics, development, and draft day|author=Nicholas Stillman|website=Lookout Landing|publisher=SB Nation|date=May 23, 2019|access-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref> Delaplane had the highest K-BB% (37.0%) and pure strikeout rate (45.8%) in minor league baseball, and his curveball/slider had the second-highest swing-and-miss rate of all slider in baseball.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sam-delaplanes-slider-has-him-soaring-toward-seattle/|title=Sam Delaplane's Slider Has Him Soaring Toward Seattle|work=Fangraphs|date=April 2020}}</ref><ref name="lookoutlanding.com">{{cite web|last=Trupin |first=John |url=https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2019/9/10/20858868/the-2019-ll-mariners-minor-league-awards |title=The 2019 LL Mariners Minor League Awards |publisher=Lookout Landing |date=September 10, 2019 |access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref> He was named a mid-season California League All Star.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=676845#/career/R/pitching/2019/ALL |title=Sam Delaplane Stats, Highlights, Bio |publisher=Milb.com |access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref> In September 2019 Jim Callis named him to MLB Pipeline's Second Team Prospect Team of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Callis |first=Jim |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-pipeline-2019-prospect-team-of-the-year |title=MLB Pipeline 2019 Prospect Team of the Year |work=MLB.com |date=September 10, 2019 |access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref>
Following the 2019 regular season, Delaplane played for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League, and in six appearances was 0–1 with two saves and a 1.13 ERA over eight innings with 15 strikeouts and 1 walk.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/reliever-reggie-mcclain-has-been-effective-for-mariners-despite-struggles-early-in-appearances/|title=Reliever Reggie McClain has been 'effective' for Mariners despite struggles early in appearances|author=Ryan Divish|website=The Seattle Times|date=August 29, 2019|access-date=September 20, 2019}}</ref> He was named a Fall League All-Star.<ref name="Jonathan Mayo">{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/fall-stars-game-arizona-fall-league-rosters|title=Here are Saturday's Fall Stars Game rosters|author=Jonathan Mayo|website=MLB.com|date=October 8, 2019|access-date=October 9, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Alexis Brudnicki and Jesse Borek">{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/how-every-prospect-did-in-the-2019-fall-stars-game|title=How each player did in the Fall Stars Game|author=Alexis Brudnicki and Jesse Borek|website=MLB.com|date=October 13, 2019|access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref> In April 2020 Fangraphs ranked him #11 on its list of Mariners' prospects.<ref name="auto1"/> In July 2020 CBS Sports opined: "Sam Delaplane is one of, if not the best relief prospect in the game."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-prospect-watch-one-young-player-for-each-team-who-could-make-an-impact-in-60-game-season/|title=MLB Prospect Watch: One young player for each team who could make an impact in 60-game season|website=CBS Sports|date=July 13, 2020 }}</ref>
Delaplane did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html|title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=June 30, 2020 }}</ref> On November 20, 2020, Delaplane was added to the 40-man roster.<ref>{{cite web|author=Connor Byrne |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/mariners-add-4-players-to-40-man-roster.html |title=Mariners Add 4 Players To 40-Man Roster |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=December 13, 2020}}</ref> That month MLB Pipeline named him Seattle's #20 Prospect.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-protect-four-prospects-from-rule-5-draft |title=Mariners protect four from Rule 5 Draft |website=MLB.com}}</ref> In February 2021, Fangraphs ranked him #9.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jake Mailhot |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-mariners-begin-building-their-bullpen-of-tomorrow/| title=The Mariners Begin Building Their Bullpen of Tomorrow| website=Fangraphs.com|date=February 12, 2021}}</ref> On April 13, 2021, Delaplane underwent Tommy John surgery, effectively ending his 2021 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CN3TiKvpenR/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CN3TiKvpenR |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|website=Instagram.com |title=Sam Delaplane}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On May 27, Delaplane was designated for assignment by Seattle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/mariners-select-hector-santiago-designate-sam-delaplane.html|title=Mariners Select Hector Santiago, Designate Sam Delaplane|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=May 27, 2021 }}</ref>
===San Francisco Giants=== On May 31, 2021, Delaplane was acquired by the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/05/giants-acquire-sam-delaplane.html|title=Giants Acquire Sam Delaplane|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=May 31, 2021 }}</ref> He was placed on the 60-day injured list the next day as he continued to recover from Tommy John.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/giants-latest-roster-moves.html|title=Giants' Latest Roster Moves|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=June 2021 }}</ref> Following the season, on November 30, 2021, Delaplane was non-tendered by the Giants and became a free agent.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/sam-delaplane-non-tendered-by-san-francisco/ | title=Sam Delaplane: Non-tendered by San Francisco|work=CBS Sports| date=December 2021}}</ref> Delaplane re-signed with the Giants on December 1 on a minor league contract and was later invited to spring training.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2022/3/14/22978577/san-francisco-giants-non-roster-invitees | title=Giants announce non-roster invitees | date=March 14, 2022 }}</ref> He was added to the 40-man roster in June 2022; later in the month, after four rehab outings with the San Jose Giants in which he tallied 11 strikeouts, he was put on the 60-day injured list with a right forearm strain.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-sam-delaplane-shut-down-again-with-forearm-strain/ | title=Giants' Sam Delaplane: Shut down again with forearm strain|work=CBS Sports | date=June 21, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=delapl000sam | title=Sam Delaplane College, Amateur, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History }}</ref> On November 15, Delaplane was designated for assignment by the Giants after they protected multiple prospects from the Rule 5 draft.<ref name="auto5">{{Cite news|title=SF Giants protect Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, and several other prospects from Rule 5 Draft|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/giants/news/sf-giants-marco-luciano-luis-matos-tristan-beck-jose-cruz-keaton-winn-brett-wisely-rule-5-draft|access-date=July 14, 2023|newspaper=Sports Illustrated|language=en}}</ref> He was non–tendered by the Giants in November 18, and became a free agent.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Giants non-tender 10 players|url=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2022/11/18/23467255/san-francisco-giants-non-tender-10-players-2022-donnie-walton-mauricio-llovera-alex-young-lhp|access-date=July 31, 2023|website=mccoveychronicles.com|date=18 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Delaplane re–signed with the Giants on a minor league contract the following day.
Through 2022, in four minor league seasons, Delaplane was 12–6 with 17 saves and a 2.41 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 15.3 K/9 (278 strikeouts in 164 innings), and a 4.63 SO/W ratio in 104 relief appearances.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://aroundthefoghorn.com/posts/sf-giants-activate-austin-slater-and-add-intriguing-arm-in-series-of-roster-moves-01g4tc3pjj5n | title=SF Giants activate Austin Slater and add intriguing arm in series of roster moves | date=June 5, 2022 }}</ref>
On July 4, 2023, while playing for the High–A Eugene Emeralds, Delaplane combined with Hayden Birdsong, Mat Olsen, and William Kempner to no-hit the Tri-City Dust Devils. The no-hitter was the first since 2015, and the first since the franchise became a part of the Giants organization.<ref>{{Cite news|title=SF Giants pitching prospects throw a combined no-hitter at High-A Eugene|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/giants/news/sf-giants-prospects-no-hitter-hayden-birdsong-mat-olsen-william-kempner-sam-delaplane|access-date=July 12, 2023|newspaper=Sports Illustrated|language=en}}</ref> He elected free agency on November 6. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-11-06|title=Transactions|website=MiLB.com}}</ref> In 2023 Delaplane pitched for the Double–A Richmond Flying Squirrels, Eugene, and the Single–A San Jose Giants, and was 5-4 with a 4.14 ERA across 32 relief appearances. In his {{fraction|45|2|3}} innings, and gave up 31 hits and 36 walks while striking out 67 batters (13.2 strikeouts per 8 innings).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=delapl000sam|title=Sam Delaplane Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Delaplane elected free agency following the season on November 6.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=May 13, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=8 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
===Long Island Ducks=== On April 11, 2024, Delaplane signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2024 Transactions|url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/|access-date=April 12, 2024|website=atlanticleague.com|language=en}}</ref> In 23 appearances for the Ducks, he compiled a 3–2 record and 4.63 ERA with 44 strikeouts across {{fraction|23|1|3}} innings pitched. On July 9, Delaplane retired from professional baseball.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Transactions|url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/transactions.html?leagueid=174&seasonid=33927|access-date=July 9, 2024|website=baseball.pointstreak.com|language=en}}</ref>
==Coaching career== On January 20, 2026, Delaplane was announced as the pitching coach for the Inland Empire 66ers, the Single-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mariners Announce Minor League Coaching Staffs for 2026 Season|url=https://www.mlb.com/amp/press-release/mariners-announce-minor-league-coaching-staffs-for-2026-season.html|access-date=February 14, 2026|website=mlb.com|language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=676845|espn=40876|br=|fangraphs=sa3004222 |brm=delapl000sam}} *[https://emueagles.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=7761 Eastern Michigan Eagles bio] *[https://www.instagram.com/sam_delaplane/ Instagram page]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delaplane, Sam}} Category:Living people Category:1995 births Category:Baseball pitchers Category:Baseball players from San Jose, California Category:Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox players Category:Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball players Category:Vermont Mountaineers players Category:Arizona League Mariners players Category:Tacoma Rainiers players Category:Clinton LumberKings players Category:Long Island Ducks players Category:Modesto Nuts players Category:Arkansas Travelers players Category:Peoria Javelinas players Category:San Jose Giants players Category:Eugene Emeralds players Category:Richmond Flying Squirrels players