Justin Pope, P

B-T: S-R

HT: 6-0 

WT: 180

BORN: November 8, 1979, West Palm Beach, FL

RESIDES: Lake Worth, FL

HOW OBTAINED: Signed by Phillies as a minor league free agent, 12/7/07; originally selected by STL in 1st round (28th overall) of 2001 draft

EDUCATION: Attended University of Central Florida where he was named First-Team All-American after setting 9 UCF career or single-season records including career wins (32), strikeouts (335) and wins in a single season (15) ... 2007: Began season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA) ... His first 4 appearances were scoreless (5.0 IP) ... Made 2 starts, 5/15 at Norfolk (L, 4.0 IP, ER) and 5/22 at Richmond (W, 5.0 IP, 0 R) ... Was 1-0, 9.00 ERA (15 ER, 15.0 IP) in 11 relief outings and 1-1, 1.00 ERA (1 ER, 9.0 IP) in 2 starts ... Transferred to Trenton (AA), 6/16 ... 22 of his 29 appearances were scoreless ... Had a season-best 8.1-inning scoreless streak spanning 9 games, 7/31-8/17 ... Held opponents to a .181 avg which ranked 3rd among Eastern League relievers and right-handers to a .159 avg (14-88) ... Went 2-0, 0.77 ERA (2 ER, 23.1 IP) in 22 games for Bravos de Margarita in Venezuelan Winter League ... Did not allow an ER over his final 12 appearances (10.2 IP) ... 2006: Began season with Columbus (AAA) ... Transferred to Trenton (AA) after 8 appearances ... Had a team-leading 23 saves which ranked 2nd in the Eastern League ... Averaged 8.64 SO/9.0 IP ... Held opponents to a .228 avg and left-handers to just .203 ... Converted 11 consecutive save opportunities, 6/6-30 ... Suffered a strained right shoulder, 7/23 at New Hampshire and was placed on the DL the following day ... Reinstated, 8/8 ... Established the all-time Thunder franchise record with 53 career saves at Trenton, including his 29 in 2005 ... 2005: Spent season with Trenton ... Recorded a franchise-record 29 saves which ranked 2nd among all EL pitchers ... Also ranked 2nd in the league in games pitched ... Helped lead the Thunder to a 63-1 record when leading after eight innings ... Named an EL All-Star ... 2004: Combined to go 9-7, 3.94 ERA in 31 games (19 starts) between Tampa (A) and Trenton ... Finished 4th in the EL in SHO and CG ... Named EL Pitcher of the Week, 7/30 ... 2003: Began season with Palm Beach (A) ... Went 2-1, 2.76 ERA (9 ER, 29.1 IP) over a span of 5 starts, 7/26-8/18, after going 0-5, 7.62 ERA (22 ER, 26.0 IP) in 5 prior outings, 6/29-7/21 ... Traded to NYY with LHP Ben Julianel in exchange for LHP Sterling Hitchcock on 8/22 and assigned to Tampa ... Earned the win in both of his appearances, posting a 0.96 ERA ... 2002: Spent season with Midwest League champion Peoria Chiefs (A) ... Was on the DL with right elbow tendinitis, 4/27-7/15 ... Won each of his last 5 starts of the season, posting a 1.11 ERA (5 ER, 40.2 IP) and holding opponents to a .177 avg (25-141) ... 2001: Began pro career with New Jersey (A) ... Led New York-Penn League in starts ... Posted a 0.78 ERA (2 ER, 23.0 IP) in 5 home games.

CAREER STATISTICS: *League leader