HOUSTON – One “disastrous” inning against the Houston Astros back in 2017 was enough to ruin Michael Bolsinger’s career, according to a lawsuit he recently filed against the ball club.
Seeking more than $1 million in damages, Bolsinger filed suit against the Astros on May 13 in Harris County District Court.
According to his lawsuit, the Astros’ alleged “malicious conduct” finds its origins in the massive debt used to acquire the team in 2011, as the team was motivated to pay down the debt.
Bolsinger was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010. On July 3, 2017, he was called up the Toronto Blue Jays. On Aug. 4, 2017, he pitched a third of inning against the Astros and gave up four runs “due to the sign stealing scheme.”
“This ultimately cost him his job, as he was immediately sent down to Triple A after the game never to be called up again,” the suit states. “At the time, the Blue Jays believed as a result of the disastrous inning that Bolsinger was not capable of being a relief pitcher, and other MLB scouts shared that view.
“For a journeyman pitcher in the MLB a disastrous inning … could and did prove to be the death knell to Bolsinger’s career in the MLB.”
In 2018, Bolsinger played in Japan, where “he was considered one of the top pitchers in all of Japan,” the suit states.
He is currently a free agent hoping to secure a job in the U.S. for 2021 season.
Bolsinger is accusing the Astros of trade secret misappropriation and conversion.
He is suing for his lost earnings and loss of reputation as a major league pitcher.
Houston attorney Robert Ammons represents him.
Case No. 2021-28763