Name: Billy Koch
Rank: 326
Position: P
Years With White Sox: 2003-2004
Billy Koch rode a blazing fastball to major league success, saving 144 games in his first 4 seasons in the major leagues. After racking up 44 saves and finishing 18th in the MVP voting for the 2002 A’s, Koch was looking at a pretty decent payday at arbitration, so Billy Beane looked to move his star closer. Enter Kenny Williams, who sent Keith Foulke, Mark Johnson, Joe Valentine, and cash out west in exchange for Koch, Neal Cotts, and Daylon Holt.
Unfortunately for all involved, when Koch arrived in Chicago, his 98 MPH fastball did not. And while a closer can get by with only a fastball with no movement when it is 98 MPH, he most certainly cannot when the fastball tops out in the low 90s or upper 80s. Koch struggled during the 2003 season, finishing with only 11 saves and a 5.77 ERA. The following year, Koch was put back in the closer role and again struggled, putting up a 5.44 ERA in 24 appearances through early June, when his White Sox career came to an end. He was traded to the Marlins on June 17 in exchange for Wilson Valdez and cash. Koch finished the season strong for the Marlins, but never pitched again in the major leagues following the 2004 season.
Koch’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:
