Joey Eischen

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Joseph Raymond Eischen, born May 25, 1970, in West Covina, California, is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He batted and threw left-handed and went to West Covina High School, where he played several sports and graduated in 1988.

Eischen made his MLB debut with the Montreal Expos on June 19, 1994. He later played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1995–1996), Detroit Tigers (1996), and Cincinnati Reds (1997). After a short stint away from the majors, he returned to the Expos in 2001, which became the Washington Nationals, and stayed with them through 2006. His best seasons came in 2002 (6–1, 1.34 ERA) and 2003 (70 games, 3.06 ERA).

Injuries affected his later years. He had a shoulder injury in 2004, and in 2005 with the Nationals he appeared in 57 games but pitched only 36 innings. He was known for his hard work, wit, and for wearing a mouth guard to protect his teeth while pitching. He was a cult favorite in Washington and earned the Nationals’ first-ever win as a National. His 2006 season was troubled by injuries, and he was released after six seasons with the organization. He attempted a comeback with the Detroit Tigers in 2007, but was cut during spring training, effectively ending his career.

Overall, Eischen finished with a career MLB record of 11–9, a 3.67 ERA, and 244 strikeouts.