Rich Batchelor got traded for Lee Smith, saw 3 ML seasons
Sent to the Cardinals in August 1993, minor leaguer Rich Batchelor could hardly believe who he was traded for: Lee Smith, The Poplar Bluff Daily American Republic wrote.
What happened next, though, was even better. The Cardinals made Batchelor a major leaguer.
"I'm really happy with the trade and it was a treat for me to make it to the big leagues last year," Batchelor told The Daily American Republic ahead of spring 1994. "I hope I can get a shot at making the club this season."
Batchelor ultimately didn't make it back until 1996. He would see three major league seasons in all, 43 total major league appearances.
Batchelor's career began in 1989, taken by the Yankees in the 38th round of the draft out of the University of South Carolina Aiken.
Batchelor started with the Yankees in 1990 at single-A Greensboro. He went 2-2, with a 1.58 ERA in 27 relief outings.
He played 1991 largely at high-A Fort Lauderdale, then 1992 at AA Albany-Colonie. He went 4-5 at Albany-Colonie, with a 4.20 ERA in 58 relief outings.
For 1993, he played between Albany-Colonie and AAA Columbus. He turned in a 1.43 ERA in 51 outings ahead of the trade to the Cardinals.
With the Cardinals, he saw nine relief outings down the stretch. He gave up nine earned in 10 innings pitched.
He then played 1994 and 1995 at AAA Louisville. He returned to Louisville for 1996, but also saw 11 outings in St. Louis. He went 2-0, with a 1.20 ERA.
He picked up another 10 outings for St. Louis in 1997, before finishing out the year with the Padres and 13 more relief outings.
Batchelor continued in the minors through 2000. He also saw seven outings in 1999 with Yakult in Japan.
In 1998, pitching with the Indians at AAA Buffalo, Batchelor served as the team's closer, saving 22 games. He missed a save in a May game.
"It's a tough situation when things go like that, but this is a tough job they have me in," Batchelor told The Buffalo News then. "It's something I like to do and I've done it over the years. I knew what I was facing and I didn't get the job done today."
Batchelor is last recorded as playing for the Yankees at high-A Tampa in 2000, eight relief appearances to end his career.
- Poplar Bluff Daily American Republic, Feb. 4, 1994: Cardinals Put Stock In Minor-Leaguer
- Buffalo News, May 3, 1998: Bisons
Made the Majors:1,460-31.8%-X
Never Made Majors:3,135-68.2%