Katy HS grad Jared Gayhart has strong effort out of the pen for Erie

Jared Gayhart

Katy High School graduate Jared Gayhart did his job to perfection out of the bullpen Thursday, July 12, as Erie defeated Binghamton 11-7.

Gayhart struck out two batters, walked two and gave up two hits in three innings pitched to earn the hold.

On the season, Gayhart is 1-1 with and ERA of 4.40. He has stuck out 51 batters this year.

Gayhart is a 2005 graduate of Katy High School. He played one season (2006) of collegiate baseball at San Jacinto College before transferring to Rice. In two seasons (2007 and 2008) for the Owls, Gayhart batted .322 with 10 home runs and 89 RBIs in 119 games at the plate while also going 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 10 career relief appearances on the mound.

Gayhart was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 13th round (403rd overall) of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. He was converted to a pitcher in the Tigers' organization, making 99 appearances (95 of which were relief outings) during his first three professional seasons (2008-10). He had a combined mark of 11-13 with a 3.55 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 162 innings advancing as high as Double-A Erie of the Eastern League. Gayhart was born Oct. 29, 1986, in Houston.