CAREER
2008: Split the season between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo...started the year with Erie in the Eastern League and pitched in four games before being promoted to Toledo on April 12...appeared in 26 games with Toledo (all relief), going 3-0 with back-to-back wins on May 19 & 22...struck out a season-high 5 batters on May 22...assigned to Erie on June 25...promoted to Toledo on August 13...assigned to Erie on August 15...promoted to Toledo on August 17...pitched a season-high 5.0 innings on August 25 vs. Richmond to earn the win...issued just 2 walks in 33.2 IP over from June 8 to the end of the season ...established a career-high in games (48). 2007: Spent the entire season with Double-A Erie in the Eastern League, going 6-1 with 3 saves in 40 games (all relief)...longest outing of the year was 3.1 IP on April 16 at Akron...struck out a season-high 4 batters on June 13 at Portland...finished the year strong with an ERA of 1.04 (2 ER/17.1 IP) after the All-Star break...opponents managed just a .173 batting average (9-52) against him with runners in scoring position. 2006: Spent the entire season with Single-A West Michigan in the Midwest League, going 9-3 with a 1.79 ERA (16 ER/80.1 IP) in 39 games (3 starts)...longest outing of the year was 3.0 innings (12 times)...struck out a season-high 5 batters twice...did not allow a HR in his first 27 games (57.0 IP)...finished 2nd among all Midwest League relievers with 0.88 walks per 9.0 innings and 8.07 baseruners per 9.0 innings...appeared in four games (all relief) in the playoffs with 1 save and an ERA of 2.70 (2 ER/6.2 IP) helping West Michigan win the Midwest League Championship. 2005: Started his professional career with the Gulf Coast Tigers, going 1-3 with 1 save in 7 games (6 starts)...earned the save in his pro debut on July 22 at GCL Phillies...longest outing was 7.0 innings on August 24 vs. GCL Yankees...struck out a season-high 4 batters on 3 occasions...promoted to Single-A Oneonta on August 30 and pitched in 2 games ...appeared in 1 game for Oneonta in the NY/Penn League playoffs (4 ER/1.0 IP).
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS
Attended Mount Olive College in NC...signed by Bill Monbouquette..resides in Schenectady, NY.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS
Originally signed by Detroit as a non-drafted free agent on on July 18, 2005.
MATT RUSCH’S CAREER RECORD YR 05
TEAM GCL Tigers Oneonta 06 W. Michigan 07 Erie 08 Erie Toledo 09 Toledo Minor Lg. Totals
W-L 1-3 1-0 9-3 6-1 1-1 3-0 2-4 23-12
ERA G GS SHO SV IP H R ER BB SO 3.06 7 6 0 1 35.1 35 18 12 2 16 1.80 2 0 0 0 5.0 6 1 1 0 5 1.79 39 3 0 1 80.1 63 19 16 10 66 3.40 40 0 0 3 53.0 42 20 20 18 55 5.45 22 0 0 1 33.0 39 21 20 8 30 4.24 26 0 0 0 40.1 44 20 19 13 33 4.86 38 1 0 1 74.0 90 45 40 24 48 3.59 174 10 0 7 321.0 319 144 128 75 253
RHP Matt Rusch (photo courtsey of Paul Nelson)
Toledo Mud Hens - 53