TAMPA BAY – Former Carson-Newman pitcher Steve Cishek has a new professional baseball home.
The Seattle Mariners traded the reliever and 2007 C-N alum to the Tampa Bay Rayss for Erasmo Ramirez Friday.
Cishek signed with the Mariners as a free agent before the 2016 season and served as the team's closer for much of his first season. In 20 innings this season he has a 3.15 ERA and 1.000 WHIP.
The Rays are Cishek's fourth MLB team.
Cishek was selected by the Marlins in the fifth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft. Cishek was called up to the major leagues for the first time on September 20, 2010. He pitched 4.1 scoreless innings towards the end of the season.
Cishek flourished in 2013, his first full season as Miami's closer, converting 34 of his 36 save opportunities, while posting a 2.33 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. He played with Miami again in 2014 and 2015. He holds the Marlins franchise record with 33 consecutive saves.
He played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2015 before the two-year stint with the Mariners.
Cishek helped Carson-Newman to a 2007 South Atlantic Conference Championship and regional appearance.