Meet A Prospect : David Aardsma

David Allan Aardsma was born on December 27th, 1981 in Denver, CO where he went to high school at Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colorado. Coming in at 6'3" and 205 lbs he has a great frame for a pitcher, although struggling with control sometimes, he spent his college years splitting time for Pennsylvania State University in Pennslyvania and Rice University in Houston Texas. The San Francisco Giants made him their first round pick, 22nd overall, in the 2003 MLB First Year Players draft. Just as an FYI when you list all the Major League Baseball players of all time David Aardsma is listed first right ahead of Hank Aaron, and being ahead of Hank Aaron on ANY list is quite an accomplishment. Let's take a look back at the Yankees new middle reliever.

After spending a year at Pennsylvania State University David Aardsma transferred to Rice University in Houston where he led the Rice Owls team to a National Championship in 2003 after winning the College World Series. David had two wins and a save in the College World Series that year and set both the single season and career saves record for the Owls in that 2002-2003 season. David was named to the Summer League All American First Team in 2002 as well.

David started his career with the San Francisco Giants in their minor league system where he spent parts of three seasons in the Giants minor league system. Aardsma was sent to A Ball straight out of the draft where he finished the 2003 season and amazingly started the 2004 season with the big league club totally skipping over the AA and AAA affiliates. He lasted until April of that season before being sent down to AAA Fresno where he was sent down and called up from six different times during that season. David would start the 2005 season with the AA affiliate Norwich Navigators before being traded along with Jerome Williams in 2006 to the Chicago Cubs for Latroy Hawkins. Aardsma was traded again during the 2007 season this time to the Chicago White Sox in a deal that brought the Cubs Neal Cotts. Aardsma was traded once again in 2008 this time to the Boston Red Sox. In early 2009 the Boston Red Sox traded David to the Seattle Mariners and stayed there until he required Tommy John surgery in mid 2011.

The Yankees swept up David as a free agent in February of 2012 signing him to a one year deal worth $500K with a club option for the 2013 that we obviously picked up. Coming back fully and healthy from Tommy John surgery was the one goal for David and the Yankees in 2012 and he did more than we could have asked for making it all the way back to the majors as a September call up in 2012. David is married to Andrea Aardsma and are listed in the Yankees Wives and Girlfriends section so check that out and look out for David in the 2013 season for the Yankees!