Tim Melville

Timothy Macgill Melville (born October 9, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, and Colorado Rockies. Melville has also played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Uni-President Lions and Wei Chuan Dragons.

Melville attended Wentzville Holt High School in Wentzville, Missouri. He played for the school's baseball team as a pitcher. In 2007, his junior year, he threw a perfect game. He pitched to a 10–1 win–loss record and a 0.89 earned run average (ERA) as a junior, and was named the Aflac National Player of the Year. He pitched to an 8–1 win–loss record and a 2.56 ERA in his senior year, while recording 89 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched. He committed to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels on a college baseball scholarship.

Baseball America ranked Melville as the best high school player available in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. Because of the commitment to UNC, Melville fell out of the first round in the draft. The Kansas City Royals selected him in the fourth round, with the 115th overall selection, and signed him to a contract with a $1.25 million signing bonus.

Melville began his professional career with the Burlington Bees of the Single–A Midwest League in 2009, pitching to a 7–7 win–loss record and a 3.79 ERA. He was promoted to the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High–A Carolina League in 2010, where he struggled, pitching to a 2–12 win–loss record and a 4.97 ERA. He returned to Wilmington in 2011, and compiled an 11–10 record with a 4.32 ERA. Melville required Tommy John surgery in 2012. In 2014, Melville pitched for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double–A Texas League, but struggled with a 2–11 win–loss record, a 5.50 ERA, while allowing 68 walks in 129+1⁄3 innings.

On November 19, 2014, Melville signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers organization, and played for the Toledo Mud Hens of the Triple–A International League. He became a free agent following the season.

On November 25, 2015, Melville signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds considered adding Melville to their Opening Day starting rotation, but instead chose Robert Stephenson, who was already on the Reds' 40-man roster. Melville was assigned to the Triple–A Louisville Bats of the International League.

On April 8, the Reds announced Melville would start in the series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, in place of Anthony DeSclafani, on April 10. The start marked Melville's MLB debut. He threw 4 innings, giving up 1 run in a no-decision vs. Pittsburgh. Melville was designated for assignment by the Reds on April 22. After clearing waivers on April 24, he spent the remainder of the year with Louisville and the Double–A Pensacola Blue Wahoos, logging a combined 4.85 ERA with 59 strikeouts across 38 appearances out of the bullpen. Melville elected free agency following the season on November 7.

On April 6, 2017, Melville signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.^{[citation needed]}