Dan Runzler

Daniel Joseph Runzler (born March 30, 1985) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who is the pitching coach for the Low-A San Jose Giants of the San Francisco Giants organization. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Giants from 2009 to 2012 and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017.

Born in Santa Monica, California, on March 30, 1985, Runzler attended the University of California, Riverside. A pitcher for the Highlanders, he was twice drafted, first by the Seattle Mariners in 2006, then by the Giants in 2007 after moving from the starting rotation to the bullpen. He signed with the Giants and made his MLB debut in 2009, posting a 1.04 earned run average (ERA) in 11 games. During the Giants' 2010 World Series season, he pitched in a career-high 41 games, posting a 3–0 record with an ERA of 3.03, though the second half of his season was interrupted by a fractured patella. In 2011, the Giants experimented with using him as a starting pitcher, but he posted a 6.26 ERA and spent much of the season in the minor leagues. An injured lat muscle cost him the first two months of 2012, and he only pitched in six games for the Giants in the 2012 season, when they won their second World Series during his time with the club. He did not pitch for San Francisco in 2013 and 2014, pitching in the minor leagues until halfway through the 2014 season, when he went to Japan and joined the Orix Buffaloes' secondary affiliate for the rest of the year.

Runzler returned to the United States in 2015, pitching in the minor leagues with various organizations until the Pirates added him to their roster in September 2017. He pitched in eight games for them, then spent the next two years in the minor leagues. In 2021, he accepted a job as the director of pitching development for Sirious Baseball, a youth and high school baseball training organization, and also became the pitching coach for the Milkmen.

Early years Daniel Joseph Runzler was born on March 30, 1985, in Santa Monica, California. He attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in the San Fernando Valley, where he played baseball. Originally, he played first base and right field for Chaminade. Not excelling at either position, he was the only junior ballplayer at Chaminade that had not reached the varsity team. Former Major League Baseball (MLB) player Mark Gubicza took over as Chaminade's varsity coach in 2003 when Runzler was a senior, and Gubicza added Runzler to the varsity team–though as a pitcher. Runzler underwent a growth spurt in high school, rising from as a freshman to by the time he graduated. On August 1, he entered a game against the Chatham Athletics in the sixth inning with the bases loaded, two outs, and the Kettleers clinging to a 1–0 lead. Runzler struck out Doug Pickens, ending the threat and preserving the lead in an eventual 2–1 victory that clinched the Western Division title for Cotuit. As a junior in 2007, Runzler experienced greater success serving as a relief pitcher. During the Tempe Super Regional, on June 3, 2007, Runzler hit a batter with a pitch with the bases loaded to allow an inherited runner to score, then allowed three runs of his own (though they were all unearned) in an 11–1 loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers that eliminated the Highlanders from tournament play. In the 2007 MLB draft, he was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 9th round (284th overall). He chose to sign with the Giants on June 18. He did not allow a run in his first 15 games with San Jose; combined with his last appearances with Augusta, Runzler threw consecutive scoreless innings.

Major leagues (2009–12) On September 4, 2009, Runzler made his MLB debut against the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out center fielder Jody Gerut on three pitches. With that appearance, Runzler became the first player in Giants' history to play minor league baseball at four levels and appear in the major leagues in the same season. He had a 5.00 ERA through May 26, but in his next 16 games through July 8, Runzler allowed just one earned run. In the July 8 contest, against the Brewers, Runzler entered the game with one out in the sixth, the bases loaded, and San Francisco clinging to a 6–3 lead. He got through the inning without allowing any runs to score, then received a chance to have his first MLB at bat in the bottom of the inning, as manager Bruce Bochy wanted him to pitch in the seventh inning as well. Facing David Riske, Runzler fouled a ball off his knee. Unable to finish the at bat, he was placed on the disabled list with a fractured left patella. He returned in September and made five more appearances, allowing no runs.

Runzler began the 2011 season with the Giants but struggled, posting a 6.41 ERA in his first 18 games. On May 28, he was optioned to Fresno to make room for Casilla, who was activated from the disabled list. While he was in Fresno, the Giants used him as a starting pitcher, though sportswriter Andrew Baggarly thought the move was a temporary one meant to get him more time on the mound. On August 16, Runzler was recalled when Sergio Romo was placed on the disabled list. Runzler was called on to make a spot start on August 21 after Jonathan Sánchez was injured. He gave up four runs in only innings against the Houston Astros, but the Giants ultimately won 6–4 in 11 innings. Afterwards, Eric Surkamp was called up to join the rotation. Both pitchers were sent to Fresno on August 28 to make room for Romo and Andrés Torres to return from the disabled list, but they were recalled on September 6 after rosters had expanded. In 17 games (10 starts) for Fresno, Runzler had a 2–3 record, a 3.98 ERA, 59 strikeouts, 32 walks, and 47 walks in 52 innings. In 31 games, he had a 1–2 record, a 6.26 ERA, 25 strikeouts, 16 walks, and 29 hits allowed in innings pitched. Runzler consulted sports physician James Andrews, who determined that surgery for the injury was unnecessary. He pitched in six games without allowing a run, striking out five, walking three, and allowing one hit in innings. After the season, Runzler pitched for the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League. In 10 games, he had a 1–1 record, a 3.38 ERA, 11 strikeouts, seven walks, and six hits allowed in eight innings. In 51 games for the Grizzlies, he had a 3–7 record, a 5.68 ERA, 50 strikeouts, 37 walks, and 58 hits allowed in innings.

Runzler was invited to spring training in 2014 but returned to Fresno to start the season. Runzler did not appear with Orix's main club, but did appear in six games in the Japan Western League. He registered a 4.50 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched. He then signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 33 games, he had an 0–1 record, a 1.95 ERA, 29 strikeouts, 10 walks, and 36 hits allowed in innings. He did not allow a run in his first six outings, then gave up two runs in of an inning against the Washington Nationals on September 29. In Pittsburgh's last game of the year, on October 1, Runzler got two outs in the ninth and would have finished the inning, but an error by José Osuna allowed Wilmer Difo to reach, and Runzler gave up two runs before George Kontos entered to get the last out. Pittsburgh still won 11–8. In eight games for Pittsburgh, Runzler had no record, a 4.50 ERA, four strikeouts, two walks, and seven hits allowed in four innings pitched. However, he was released on March 11. He spent the 2018 season with the Skeeters again. In 53 games, he had a 4–2 record, a 2.81 ERA, 58 strikeouts, 27 walks, and 46 hits allowed in 48 innings. He was assigned to the Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League on April 3. In 22 games, he had a 1–1 record, a 5.40 ERA, 22 strikeouts, 15 walks, and 26 hits allowed in innings pitched. On March 5, 2021, Runzler was released by the Sultanes. On April 9, 2021, Runzler was hired as the pitching coach for the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. He will continue to work with Sirious during the offseason.

Career statistics and pitching style Runzler pitched in the major leagues for parts of five seasons: four with the Giants (2009–12) and one with the Pirates (2017). In 97 games, he had a 4–2 record, a 3.89 ERA, 82 strikeouts, 46 walks, and 72 hits allowed in innings pitched. The Giants experimented with using him as a starter in 2011, but only one of his MLB appearances was a start. His fastball, which reporter Andrew Baggarly described as "tantalizing," travelled in the mid-90 mph range (approximately 145 km/h). However, control problems prevented him from remaining in the major leagues.