Roy Oswalt

Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher Roy Oswalt currently plays for the Houston Astros.

Fast Facts

1. Full name: Roy Edward Oswalt¹
2. Born: August 29, 1977¹
3. Birthplace: Weir, Mississippi¹
4. Height: 6'0"¹
5. Weight: 185 lbs¹
6. Bats: Right¹
7. Throws: Right¹
8. Three-time National League All-Star¹
9. Most wins by a pitcher last five years¹
10. Won a gold medal in 2000 Olympics¹

MLB Career

Originally drafted by the Astros on June 4, 1996, Oswalt has spent his entire professional baseball career with the Astros organization. He played with a variety of Astros minor leagues affiliates after being drafted, until a shoulder injury in 1999 caused him to miss play. Oswalt thought his shoulder muscle was torn and he would need surgery, but a freak accident cured the issue. He was working on his pickup truck, checking the spark plug wires when he was electrocuted for almost a full minute. After the incident, Oswalt claimed the shoulder injury had gone away and has no longer bothered him since. The following year he joined the U.S. Olympic baseball team and won the Gold Medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.²

Oswalt was called up for his MLB debut on May 6, 2001, finishing with a 2.73 ERA in 28 games with the Astros. Oswalt also finished second in voting for the National League Rookie of the Year award. 2002 was equally successful for Oswalt, playing in 35 games and coming in fourth for the Cy Young Award for the best MLB pitcher. Oswalt played only 21 games during the 2002 season, after injuries kept him out most of the season. He was however honored that year for the Darryl Kile Award, given to the player "who reflects the qualities of decency and character represented by" the former Astros pitcher Darryl Kile.²

Still battling injuries, Oswalt averaged roughly 30 games with the Astros over the next few seasons. He joined the Astros in the post season in both 2004 and 2005, including playing one game of the 2005 World Series. 2005 also brought him his first of three All-Star selections. In 2007 he was ranked second in the Sports Illustrated Pitcher Player Value Ranking. A few months later he was one of five pitchers to be named to the "Current Dream Team."²

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