Roy Oswalt – A Closer Look

Leading up to Spring Training, we want to take a closer look at Hunter’s Astros teammates.

When you think of the Houston Astros’ pitching staff, you think of Roy Oswalt. Not only is Oswalt the ace of the pitching staff, he’s one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. Since being called up to the big leagues in 2001, Oswalt has simply been dominant.

Oswalt was born in Weir, Mississippi, a town with a population of less than a thousand residents, and played various sports growing up. In his senior year of high school, he played wide receiver and defensive back for his state champion high school football team.

After graduating high school in a class of 32 students, Oswalt went on to pitch for Holmes Community College in Mississippi. He was drafted by the Astros after his freshman season but decided to return to school. Drafted again by the Astros after his sophomore season, Oswalt this time opted to sign with Houston.

His minor league career started shortly after signing with the Astros in 1997. After numerous stops in the minor leagues, he landed on the Astros roster in 2001. Once in Houston, Oswalt has been amazing.

In his first seven seasons in the big leagues, Oswalt has a 3.07 ERA with 112 win and 54 losses. He also has 1170 strikeouts compared to only 323. He won 20 games in both 2004 and 2005, while sporting an ERA under 3.00 in four of his seven seasons.

In 2007, Oswalt went 14-7 with a 3.14 ERA. Although he is only 30-years-old, Oswalt is quickly climbing the charts as the best pitcher in the history of the Astros. He is currently third in wins in franchise history, while also being sixth in ERA, eighth in strikeouts and first in win-loss percentage.

Oswalt enters the 2008 season as one of the most feared pitchers in the game and a player as indispensable to the Astros as anyone on the team.