Billy Koch

Billy Koch was drafted in the 1st round (4th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1996 Amateur Draft.  Coming out of Clemson, where he played for 3 seasons, Koch impressed Jays scouts by routinely hitting 100mph on the radar gun. After signing for a $1.45 million bonus. Koch was assigned to high-A level Dunedin of the Florida State League to start the 1997 season, Billy Koch dominated for 20 innings and continued to do so in 1998 – as a starting pitcher.  He was promoted quickly to AAA Syracuse at the end of the 1998 season.  He made 5 starts in Syracuse before being brought up to Toronto on May 5, 1999 at 24-years old.  With the departure of closer Randy Myers following the 1998 season, Koch was thrown into the fire as the Jays closer.  It was thought that he could be effective in relief by making use of his 100mph fastball and fringe-average curveball – enough to get 3 outs in the 9th.  Although he experienced some growing pains,  Koch eventually began to thrive in...