Daniel Steven Straily (born December 1, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins, and Baltimore Orioles, and in the KBO League for the Lotte Giants. The Athletics selected Straily in the 24th round of the 2009 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut with them in 2012.
Early life
Straily was born in Redlands, California, to Sarah Jackson (née Beightler) and Steven Straily. He has an older sister, Larissa. The family moved to Pendleton, Oregon, when he was between kindergarten and first grade. Straily started his baseball career playing Little League Baseball and in the Babe Ruth League in Pendleton. He played his first two years of high school baseball for the Pendleton Buckaroos at Pendleton High School.
The family moved again prior to the start of Straily's junior year in high school, this time to Springfield, Oregon. Straily attended Thurston High School in Springfield,[ Dan Straily Stats, Fantasy & News | MLB.com]
Straily began his college career at Western Oregon University, where he played college baseball for the Western Oregon Wolves for one year. He then transferred to Marshall University, where he played for the Marshall Thundering Herd baseball team as a walk-on, and majored in Business Administration.
Professional career
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics drafted Straily in the 24th round, with the 723rd overall selection, of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.
[ ] He began his professional career with the Vancouver Canadians of the Low–A
Northwest League in 2009. In 16 games pitched (11 starts), Straily had a record of 5–3, a 4.12 earned run average (ERA), and 66
(seventh in the league) in 59
.
[ Dan Straily Minor Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com] His 5 wins were tied for 6th-most in the league.
[ 2009 Northwest League Pitching Leaders | Baseball-Reference.com]
In 2010, Straily was promoted to the Kane County Cougars of the Single–A Midwest League.[ 2010 Midwest League Pitching Leaders | Baseball-Reference.com]
For 2011, Straily was promoted to the Stockton Ports of the Class A-Advanced California League.[ Dan Straily Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball][ 2011 California League Pitching Leaders | Baseball-Reference.com]
To begin 2012, Straily was promoted to the Midland RockHounds of the Class AA Texas League. He posted a 3–4 record, a 3.38 ERA, and 108 strikeouts (6th in the league) in innings in 14 starts.[ 2012 Texas League Pitching Leaders | Baseball-Reference.com] Straily was the May 21 and June 11 Texas League Player of the Week.[ Dan Straily Stats | Baseball-Reference.com] Baseball America named him the A's sixth-best prospect, and as having the best slider and changeup.
Pre-2013, Baseball Prospectus named him the # 85 prospect in baseball.
Pitching for the Athletics at the beginning of the 2014 season, Straily was 1–2 with a 4.93 ERA in innings in seven starts.
Chicago Cubs
On July 4, 2014, Straily was traded to the
Chicago Cubs, with top
shortstop prospect
Addison Russell and
outfielder Billy McKinney, for pitchers
Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Straily had been pitching for the A's Triple–A affiliate.
Straily reported to the
Iowa Cubs of the PCL, but was called up to Chicago on August 16.
Straily started for the Cubs that night against the New York Mets, giving up seven runs in five and a third innings and picking up the loss. The next day, Straily was optioned back to Iowa.
In 2014 with the Cubs, he was 0–1 with a 11.85 ERA in 13.2 innings.
Houston Astros
On January 19, 2015, Straily and infielder
Luis Valbuena were traded to the Houston Astros for center fielder
Dexter Fowler.
Pitching for the Triple–A
Fresno Grizzlies, he was 10–9 record with a 4.77 ERA in innings as he struck out 124 batters, leading the Pacific Coast League.
Pitching for the Astros in 2015, he was 0–1 with a 5.40 ERA in 16.2 innings.
Cincinnati Reds
On March 28, 2016, the Astros traded Straily to the San Diego Padres for catcher
Erik Kratz.
On April 1, he was designated for assignment by the Padres and claimed off of waivers by the
Cincinnati Reds.
He began the 2016 season as a
long reliever, but soon entered the Reds' starting rotation.
Straily pitched to a 14–8 record and a 3.76 ERA over 191.1 innings for the Reds in 2016, and led the NL in home runs allowed (31), was second in
(11), was fourth in HBP (11), was fifth in
(73), and was seventh with 7.244 hits/9 IP.
On defense, he had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Miami Marlins
On January 19, 2017, the Reds traded Straily to the
Miami Marlins for Luis Castillo,
Austin Brice, and Isaiah White.
Straily posted a winning record for the second straight season, finishing 10–9 with a 4.26 ERA and a career-high 170 strikeouts in 181.2 innings, and leading the NL with 33 starts, as he was second in the NL with 31 home runs allowed and 6th with 8 sacrifice hits allowed.
On June 19, 2018, Straily was ejected for the first time in his career when he hit Buster Posey with a pitch with warnings in place.
Straily and the Marlins agreed on a $5 million salary for the 2019 season. However, the Marlins released Straily on March 25, 2019.[ "Marlins release Dan Straily as team moves forward with young rotation"]
Baltimore Orioles
Straily signed with the Baltimore Orioles on April 5, 2019.
[ Orioles sign right-hander Dan Straily to major league contract, designate Drew Jackson for assignment - Baltimore Sun] Straily was designated for assignment on June 20. He had a 9.42 ERA in innings over 14 games (8 starts) with 22 home runs and 52 earned runs against him before his designation.
Philadelphia Phillies
On July 31, 2019, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired Straily from the Orioles in exchange for cash considerations, and assigned him to the Triple–A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
He elected free agency on October 1.
Lotte Giants
On December 14, 2019, Straily signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the
Lotte Giants of the
KBO League.
He excelled in his first season, registering a 15–4 record with a 2.50 ERA and a league-leading 205 strikeouts. He became the first KBO pitcher in eight years to reach 200 strikeouts in a season.
On December 2, 2020, Straily re-signed with the Giants on a one-year, $1.2MM contract that includes $500K in incentives.
He posted a 10–12 record with a 4.07 ERA and 164 strikeouts over 31 starts. Straily was not re-signed for the 2022 season and became a free agent.
Arizona Diamondbacks
On February 4, 2022, Straily signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, being assigned to their Triple-A affiliate
Reno Aces.
In 15 games (12 starts) for Reno, he struggled to a 6.35 ERA with 53 strikeouts across innings pitched. Straily was released by the Diamondbacks organization on August 1.
Lotte Giants (second stint)
On August 3, 2022, Straily signed with the
Lotte Giants of the
KBO League. He made 11 starts for the team down the stretch, posting a 4–2 record and 2.31 ERA with 55 strikeouts in innings of work.
On November 23, 2022, Straily re-signed with Lotte on a one-year, $1 million contract for the 2023 season. In 16 starts for Lotte in 2023, he registered a 3–5 record and 4.37 ERA with 70 strikeouts in innings pitched. On July 18, 2023, Straily was released by the Giants following the signing of Aaron Wilkerson.
Chicago Cubs (second stint)
On April 23, 2024, Straily signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
However, two days later, Straily's contract was purchased by the
Chicago Cubs organization.
In 17 games (16 starts) for the Triple–A
Iowa Cubs, he struggled to a 1–7 record and 5.49 ERA with 75 strikeouts across innings pitched. Straily was released by the Cubs organization on August 8.
Diablos Rojos del México
On January 21, 2025, Straily signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the
Mexican League.
In eight appearances (seven starts) for México, he struggled to a 1-2 record and 9.00 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 32 innings of work. Straily was released by the Diablos on June 26.
On July 5, 2025, Straily announced his retirement from professional baseball via social media.
Scouting report
Straily is and . He is a four-pitch power pitcher; he walked 3.5 per 9 innings in the major leagues through July 2019.
Straily has a four-seam fastball that sits around and can reach . He also has a "swing-and-miss" slider (84 mph), an "early-in-count"
curveball (77 mph), and an above-average
changeup (85 mph).
Personal life
Straily married Amanda Jean Miller on December 15, 2012, in Springfield, Oregon.
External links
