VIDEO: Mossy Creek Conversations with Steve Cishek
FALMOUTH, Mass. – Former Carson-Newman pitcher Steve Cishek announced on his personal Instagram account Friday night that the 13-year Major League Baseball veteran is retiring after a career with eight teams.
"I believe the time has come to move on from the game I grew up loving," Cishek said on his Instagram page. "Although it will be difficult to be at peace with not competing everyday, it's exciting to be with my family and see what this next season of life will look like. First and foremost I am grateful to the Lord Jesus for the free gift of salvation for those who believe, and for this season of life that was so special. I never took putting on a uniform for granted and I strived to give him all the glory, even though I failed to do that at times."
The right-hander appeared in 737 games racking up 33 wins and 743 strikeouts finishing with a career earned run average of 2.98. With 133 career saves, the reliever finished 106th in MLB history in the category while only 86 pitchers in history have appeared in more games on the rubber. On two occasions, Cishek finished in the top five in the league in appearances finishing second with 80 in 2018 and fifth in 2021 with 74.
Per FanGraphs, Cishek struck out 24.8 percent of the batters he faced and induced a ground ball on 48 percent of hitters faced. Nearly 72 percent of the balls put in play against him were classified as soft or medium contact.
Over six seasons with the Marlins, the former Eagle recorded 94 saves including 34 in 2013 and a club-record 39 in 2014 (since broken by AJ Ramos in 2016 with 40). In 2013, Cishek represented the United States by pitching in the World Baseball Classic.
In 2015, the big league veteran was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals where he pitched in 27 games. He spent a year and a half in Seattle before again being dealt at the trade deadline to the Tampa Bay Rays.
In December 2017, he signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs posting a 2.18 ERA over 80 games striking out 78 in 70 1/3 innings pitched posting a 1.038 WHIP.
After pitching on the Southside with the White Sox in 2020, the right-hander finished his career with stops in Los Angeles with the Angels and Washington in 2022 where he appeared in 69 games fanning 74 in 66 1/3 innings pitched.
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The Falmouth, Mass. native is the highest drafted player in school history being taken in the fifth round by the then Florida Marlins in the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft, 166th overall. He made his Major League debut on Sept. 26, 2010 firing two scoreless innings at Milwaukee. Spanning his first two years, the pitcher did not allow a run over his first 11 outings tallying 15 2/3 innings pitched.
Cishek opened his career at Mossy Creek in 2005 appearing in 17 games with three starts winning a pair of games with a 3.55 ERA. Limited to 10 appearances and 19 2/3 innings pitched in 2006, the flamethrower won a game and finished with a 3.20 ERA.
The 2007 was one to remember for the team and Cishek as the club won three games in one day to hoist the South Atlantic Conference Tournament trophy and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Over 15 outings, he finished with a 3.14 ERA fanning 43 while walking just 10 in 43 innings on the bump.
All told, Cishek appeared in 42 games posting five victories, eight saves, 81 strikeouts in 102 1/3 innings as opponents hit .233 against the sidewinder.
The Eagle Sports Network has spoken with Cishek on several occasions most recently in 2020 with Mossy Creek Conversations available here or wherever you get your podcasts and in 2017 with a deep dive into his career at the time by clicking here.
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