Former Mid 2000's Mets Pitcher: Matt Ginter (2004)

Matthew Shane Ginter was born on December 24th, 1977 in Lexington, Kentucky. The six foot one, righty attended Mississippi State University.

He was one of four first round pitchers chosen by the Chicago White Sox in the 1999 amateur draft.

Ginter had pitched in the 1998 Baseball World Cup earning a save with a 5.40 ERA. He went through the White Sox minor leagues & by 2000 he was 11-8 at AA Birmingham posting a 2.25 ERA.

He debuted in the majors that September actually earning a win against the Anaheim Angels in his first game, pitching a scoreless inning. In his next appearance he blew a save allowing four runs on two hits in just one inning.

In 2001 he was picked as the best prospect in the Sox organization by Baseball America. He was called up in June & made twenty appearances as a middle reliever going 1-0 with a 5.22 ERA.

He spent two more seasons in Chicago making 33 appearances in 2002 but just three the next year in 2003. That off season he was traded to the New York Mets for Timo Perez. He began the year at AA Norfolk & would go 1-5 there with a 2.95 ERA during the season.

He got to the Mets club by May 16th, debuting in Houston getting the start against the Astros Roger Clemens. Ginter pitched well into the 6th inning, but earning no decision. He left the game behind 2-0 but a 9th inning Mike Piazza HR, off former Mets pitcher; Octavio Dotel tied the game. The Mets won it in the 13th inning, on a Jason Phillips HR. In his next appearance he allowed five runs but beat the Colorado Rockies 9-7 at Shea Stadium earning his only win as a Mets pitcher.

He would take a loss to Cleveland on June 16th as the Indians scored five runs off him in an inter league game at Shea. 

A week later he was knocked out in the third inning across town by the A.L. New York team in a Mets subway series loss.

Ginter made 15 appearances for the fourth place Mets, going 1-3 with a 4.54 ERA, 38 strike outs & 20 walks in 69 inning pitched. On April 5th of the 2005 he was sent to the Detroit Tigers for Steve Coyler who never pitched in a Met uniform.

Ginter only played in 15 games there becoming a free agent at the end of the year. He signed with a bunch of teams but didn't see any big league action until 2008 with the Cleveland Indians where he went 1-3 in four starts.

 In his seven year career he was 5-7 with 132 strike outs 75 walks one save a 5.43 ERA in 232 innings pitched over 96 games.