Anthony Thomas Slama (born January 6, 1984) is an American former professional baseballrelief pitcher. He is 6'3", and weighs 207lbs., and bats and throws right-handed. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins.
Slama began his professional career in 2007 with the rookie-level Elizabethton Twins, and after only six appearances where he struck out 10 in 7+1⁄3 innings, earned a promotion to the Single-A Beloit Snappers.
For the season, he went 4-1 with a 1.01 ERA, 25 saves and 110 strikeouts in 71 innings to earn All-FSL Team honors, the Jim Rantz Award Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year and MILB.com's "Best Class A Reliever."[citation needed] He recorded the save in both division play off games against the Dunedin Blue Jays, and in the Miracle's one win against the Daytona Cubs in the FSL championship series. His 13.94 strikeouts-per-nine innings ranked third among all Minor League relievers, and his .173 opponents' batting average ranked eighth.
On July 20, 2010, Slama was called up to the major leagues for the first time, and Alex Burnett was sent down to make room for him.[citation needed] He made his major league debut for the Twins the following day, against the Cleveland Indians. Slama worked one inning, striking out two in finishing a victory. Slama spent most of 2011 with Triple-A Rochester, but did play 2 games with the Twins in late May/early June.
He spent all of 2012 in Rochester, and began 2013 there as well. On June 13, 2013, Slama was released by the Twins after an 0-4 start with a 13.50 ERA.[2] Over parts of 5 seasons with Rochester, Slama went 6-10 with a 3.17 ERA in 137 appearances with 38 saves, striking out 200 in 167+2⁄3 innings.
On August 15, 2014, Slama signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was assigned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. He only appeared in five games for the Lookouts and was 0–2 with a 6.00 ERA before finishing the season on the inactive list.
