Miami Marlins: Looking at the career of Chad Qualls

As we continue our weekly series here at Marlin Maniac, this week’s player from Miami Marlins franchise history is Chad Qualls, a reliever who spent only one season with the organization back in 2013, one of the better single-season’s of the right-hander’s 14-year career.

Looking back at the Miami Marlins career of Chad Qualls

A former second round pick by the Houston Astros in the 2000 MLB Draft, Qualls enjoyed an impressive start to his professional career with four strong season’s in Houston from 2004-07. Traded to Arizona back in 2007, Qualls would enjoy similar success with the Diamondbacks in 2008-09, but would be traded to Tampa Bay in 2010 after a rough start to the season.

After struggling in 2010, the right-hander would bounce-back nicely with San Diego in 2011, but struggled once again in 2012 while spending the season split between the Phillies, Yankees, and Pirates. After that down year, the Marlins would sign Qualls to a minor league deal back on January 25, 2013, one that also included an invite to Spring Training.

Beginning the year in Miami’s bullpen, Qualls would go-on to enjoy success in Miami pitching primarily in a middle-inning relief role to begin the season, but emerged more as a set-up option later in the year where he collected 15 holds.

Finishing the season by making a total of 66 relief appearances, Qualls would pitch a total of 62 innings where the then 34-year-old posted a 5-2 record with a 2.61 ERA, the lowest of his 14-year career. Striking out a total of 49 batters compared to 19 walks, Qualls also posted a few other notable numbers such as a 1.7 WAR, as well as opponents holding a .658 OPS against.

A free agent at the conclusion of the 2013 season, Qualls would return to Houston in 2014-15, and would also spend time with the Colorado Rockies in 2016-17 before last pitching in 2017.