Harry Jonathan Pettibone (born July 19, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2013–14. His father, Jay, was a starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.
After signing with the Phillies in 2008, Pettibone methodically progressed through their farm system, generally spending about one season at each level until 2012, when he advanced to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs after having spent the majority of that season with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. Early in 2013, the Phillies promoted him to the major league club, and he made 18 starts with the Phillies before inflaming his rotator cuff, for which the Phillies precautionarily did not use him for the remainder of the season. Pettibone began the 2014 season competing for a spot in the back of the Phillies starting rotation, making two starts, but was ineffective, and was sent back to the minor leagues, where he sustained a SLAP tear, and was placed on the disabled list.
Early life
Pettibone was born July 19, 1990, in Placentia, California, and grew up predominantly in Yorba Linda, California. He has two siblings; his father, Jay, played six seasons of professional baseball, including four appearances with the Minnesota Twins. The younger Pettibone attended Esperanza High School in Anaheim, California, and played baseball and basketball there prior to graduating in 2008. After graduation, he planned to play college baseball for the University of Southern California Trojans; however, the Phillies subsequently drafted Pettibone, leaving him to decide between playing college or professional baseball. In an effort to sway him to join the Phillies, scout Darrell Conner had Phillies pitchers Cole Hamels and Kyle Kendrick call Pettibone to share their experiences in deciding when to sign a professional contract, and ultimately, Pettibone agreed to a contract with the Phillies that included a signing bonus.
Professional career
Minor leagues (2008–2012) Pettibone was selected in the third round (110th overall) of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. That year, he started his professional career as a member of the Gulf Coast League Phillies, with whom he made only one appearance, allowing two unearned runs in one inning, and thus receiving the loss. At the conclusion of the season, he participated in the Florida Instructional League (FIL). In 2009, he played for the Williamsport Crosscutters of the New York–Penn League (Single-A short season). In June, he made three starts and compiled an 0.56 earned run average (ERA) in them, which helped him earn NY-Penn player of the week honors for June 22–28. Overall, he went 2–4 in nine games (eight starts) with a 5.35 ERA and thirty-six strikeouts in 35 innings, and again participated in the FIL at the end of the season.
Pettibone’s steady advancement through the minor league system continued in 2010, when he pitched with the Lakewood BlueClaws of the South Atlantic League (Single-A). With Lakewood, he allowed three or fewer earned runs in all but four of his 23 starts, and had a particularly strong second half of the season, posting a 2.41 ERA. Cumulatively, Pettibone finished ninth in the league with a 3.49 ERA, posted a win–loss record of 8–6, and threw a total of 131 innings. He pitched for the Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League (Single-A advanced) the next year, and had a strong season, leading the league in innings pitched (161, tying for second place in starts (27), and finishing with the fifth-best ERA (2.96). Pettibone also was named a league all star, and the Phillies' minor league pitcher of the week in late April. At the conclusion of the season, Baseball America rated him the Phillies' fourth-best prospect. Pettibone split 2012 between the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils (Eastern League) and the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (International League), earning a promotion to the latter in July. He posted an aggregate ERA of 3.10, to complement his 13–8 record in 159 innings pitched. Again, Baseball America ranked Pettibone as the Phillies' fourth-best prospect at the conclusion of the season, his last spent solely in the minor leagues.
Philadelphia Phillies (2013–2014)