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Grant Balfour | Relief Pitcher

Team: Oakland Athletics
Age / DOB:  (35) / 12/30/1977
Ht / Wt:  6'2' / 200
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

Grant Balfour pitched a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the A's win over the Rangers on Tuesday.
Balfour struck out a batter and now owns a 1.47 ERA through 18 1/3 innings this year. He has yet to blow a save in nine chances. May 21 - 11:25 PM

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Date:
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour converted his eighth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning in Saturday's win over the Royals.

Balfour walked a batter but was otherwise unburdened. He entered this weekend with six saves but has picked up a pair in consecutive 2-1 wins against the Royals. The typically reliable Balfour is eight-for-eight in save conversions and holds a 1.56 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.
May 19 - 12:25 AM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour converted his fifth save of the season with a scoreless inning in Sunday's win over the Yankees.

Balfour allowed a two-out single to Brett Gardner and then issued an intentional pass to Robinson Cano. He was able to put out the fire, though, getting a high fastball by Vernon Wells for his second strikeout of the inning. The fiery reliever is a perfect 5-for-5 in save chances this season, and he boasts a 2.02 ERA and 1.28 WHIP.
May 5 - 5:01 PM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour picked up his first save of the season Saturday in the A's win over the Astros.

Balfour looked sharp, allowing no hits and striking out one of the three batters he faced. He emerged as an excellent fantasy closer last season and should again be a reliable option in 2013 even if the A's don't win as many games.
Apr 6 - 10:59 PM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour (knee) threw a perfect inning while striking out one Thursday in his Cactus League debut.

The successful appearance followed a one-inning stint in a minor league game on Monday. Balfour is expected to make four more Cactus League appearances before the A's evaluate whether he's ready for the start of the season. It would be a surprise if they deem him unready.
Mar 21 - 7:44 PM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour (knee) made a successful one-inning appearance in a minor league game Monday.

"It was fine," he said. "I wasn't thinking about (his knee) at all, so now it's about getting ready and going through those speed bumps I get. It's Spring Training -- same old, same old, trying to get my arm going." Balfour is slated to make his Cactus League debut Thursday, which will be the first of five spring training outings. He should be ready for Opening Day if he can avoid a setback.
Source: Athletics.mlb.com
Mar 18 - 11:56 PM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour (knee) is likely to make his Cactus League debut on Thursday.

Balfour first has to make it through a one-inning minor league appearance on Monday. The A's closer had right knee surgery last month but should be ready on Opening Day. He'll be a fine fantasy option this season.
Source: Jane Lee on Twitter
Mar 18 - 1:08 PM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour (knee) will face hitters again on Friday.

If the live batting practice session goes well, Balfour could be cleared to make his Cactus League debut on Monday. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last month but has made a smooth recovery so far and should be the A's closer on Opening Day.
Source: Jane Lee on Twitter
Mar 14 - 2:49 PM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour (knee) is aiming to make his Cactus League debut by Monday.

Balfour threw to hitters Tuesday for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last month. He's also resumed running this week. The fiery closer will only have two weeks' worth of game action in order to get ready for Opening Day, but that should be enough as long as he doesn't have a setback.
Source: Athletics.mlb.com
Mar 12 - 10:09 PM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour (knee) is scheduled to throw to hitters Tuesday.

Balfour was recently cleared to start running and will need to make it through a few throwing sessions against hitters before testing himself in game action. Barring any setbacks, the A's closer should have enough time to get ready for the season.
Source: Susan Slusser on Twitter
Mar 12 - 11:43 AM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour threw his fourth bullpen session Saturday in his quest to return from knee surgery last month.

"He's on a good schedule right now," manager Bob Melvin said. "If he continues at the pace he's on right now and there are no setbacks, he certainly would be ready for the season." Balfour, 35, became the A's closer last season and saved 24 games for the playoff team. Assuming he's ready for the start of the season, he'll retain that role in 2013.
Source: athletics.mlb.com
Mar 10 - 12:05 AM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour (knee) threw 40 pitches off a bullpen mound on Wednesday morning in Athletics camp.

That's up from his 35-pitch workout on Monday. Balfour has now thrown three full-intensity bullpen sessions and should be able to fit in several Cactus League relief appearances before the start of the regular season. He will open the 2013 campaign as Oakland's closer.
Source: John Shea on Twitter
Mar 6 - 2:34 PM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour threw his second bullpen session Monday since undergoing February knee surgery.

Balfour tossed 35 pitches and felt fine. Relief pitchers only need a handful of spring appearances to get properly tuned up for the regular season, so Balfour has good odds of being ready on Opening Day. He will serve as Oakland's primary ninth-inning man this summer.
Source: Jane Lee on Twitter
Mar 4 - 12:17 PM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour (knee) threw a bullpen session Friday.

Balfour has healed rapidly from right knee surgery, as he went under the knife just two weeks ago. As long as he doesn't have a setback, the A's closer will have plenty of time to get ready for Opening Day.
Source: Susan Slusser on Twitter
Mar 1 - 12:07 PM
Grant Balfour - R - Athletics

Grant Balfour (knee) made 35 throws off flat ground on Wednesday afternoon in A's camp.

Balfour felt fine during and after the throwing session, and is hoping that his next workout will be on top of a mound. The A's closer underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on February 14 and was given a 4-6 week timetable. He's ahead of schedule for now.
Source: Jane Lee on Twitter
Feb 28 - 11:34 AM

Depth Charts

Batters
PosRoleName
C1John Jaso
2Derek Norris
1B1Brandon Moss
2Nate Freiman
3Daric Barton
2B1Eric Sogard
2Adam Rosales
3Scott Sizemore
SS1Jed Lowrie
2Hiroyuki Nakajima
3B1Josh Donaldson
LF1Yoenis Cespedes
CF1Coco Crisp
2Chris Young
RF1Josh Reddick
DH1Seth Smith
Starting Pitcher
PosRoleName
S1Brett Anderson
2Jarrod Parker
3Tommy Milone
4Bartolo Colon
5A.J. Griffin
Relief Pitcher
PosRoleName
R1Grant Balfour
2Ryan Cook
3Sean Doolittle
4Jerry Blevins
5Pat Neshek
6Jesse Chavez
7Hideki Okajima
8Fernando Rodriguez