Josh Outman
A left-handed pitcher whose resilient arm and sharp slider carved out a seven-year MLB career across four different teams.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American baseball player·Birthday: September 14·Millennials
Biography
Josh Outman's path in baseball was that of a durable craftsman, a left-hander who relied on guile and a biting slider to navigate major league lineups. Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies, he was traded to Oakland where he made his debut, showcasing a promising mix that was soon interrupted by Tommy John surgery. His comeback defined his career; he returned not as a flame-throwing prospect but as a versatile arm who could start or relieve. Outman found a niche, particularly with the Colorado Rockies, where his ability to handle the thin air of Coors Field and get left-handed hitters out made him a valuable piece. He moved through clubhouses in Cleveland and New York with a professional steadiness, embodying the kind of resilient, adaptable player that fills out a roster and competes every time the ball is handed to him.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Josh was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2008 after being acquired in the Joe Blanton trade.
- Pitched a career-high 107.1 innings for the Colorado Rockies in 2013, primarily as a starter.
- Posted a 3.70 ERA across 54 relief appearances for the Cleveland Indians in 2014.
- Finished his MLB career with a winning record of 13-12 and a 4.66 ERA over seven seasons.
Did You Know?
His surname, Outman, led to countless headline puns throughout his playing career.
He was originally drafted as an outfielder in the 2002 MLB draft before being drafted again as a pitcher in 2005.
Outman attended Central Missouri University, not a traditional baseball powerhouse.
“You attack the zone with your best pitch and live with the result.”
