Grant Balfour

[William Malone]

Grant Robert Balfour was born on December 30, 1977 in Australia.

The Minnesota Twins signed him as an international free agent in 1997. He made his Major League debut for them in 2001, making two relief appearances for them that July. Balfour allowed four runs over 2.2 innings, and was sent back to the minor leagues.

He didn't reach the Majors again until 2003, going 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA across 17 appearances that summer. Balfour was 4-1 with a 4.35 ERA over 36 appearances in 2004. Minnesota included him on their 2004 playoff roster. He got New York Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield to ground into an inning ending double play during game two of the ALDS, helping the Twins get out of a seventh inning jam created by Brad Radke. They wound up losing that game in 12 innings. Balfour also pitched two shutout innings in game four of that series, retiring all six batters he faced. The Twins also lost that game in extra innings.

Balfour missed the entire 2005 after undergoing surgery for a torn rotator cuff. Minnesota released him, and he signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds. Setbacks in his rehab limited him to just nine minor league innings in 2006, and Balfour was released by the Reds as well. The Milwaukee Brewers signed him to a minor league deal in 2007. He returned to the big leagues that July, but was designated for assignment after allowing six runs in three relief appearances.

The Tampa Bay Rays acquired Balfour from Milwaukee, and his career was finally able to get rolling. Balfour was 6-2 with a 1.54 ERA and four saves in 2008, helping Tampa Bay clinch their first ever postseason berth. He continued to pitch for the Rays through 2010, before spending three years with the Oakland Athletics. Balfour made the All-Star team in 2013. He finished his career by returning to Tampa Bay, pitching for the Rays in 2014 and 2015.

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