Top Tier 2004 Alum John Ely made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday afternoon against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Ely pitched for the original Top Tier team in 2004 before starring on the mound at Miami (OH). In his three seasons at Miami John amassed 26 wins and 284 strikeouts.
Ely was selected in the 3rd Round of the 2007 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by the Chicago White Sox. Last season John pitched for the White Sox AA affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama going 14-2 with a 2.82 ERA in 27 starts for the Barons. Prior to the 2010 season John was traded by to the Dodgers for Juan Pierre.
Ely took the loss for the Dodgers surrendering five runs in six innings. He allowed 6 hits and 3 walks, and tallied 4 strikeouts. Most of the damage was done in a four run second inning. After the game manager Joe Torre said he pitched better than his statistics would indicate, "He gave up those runs but didn't fall apart." Catcher Russel Martin said Ely has a promising future, "He's going to be very good, I don't know if he knows it yet."