Kason Ronald Gabbard (born April 8, 1982 in Oxford,
Ohio) is a starting pitcher who plays for the Texas
Rangers. He bats and throws left handed.
A 29th-round draft pick by the Boston Red Sox in
2000, Gabbard started the 2006 season with Boston's
Double-A affiliate Portland and posted a 9-2 record
with a 2.57 ERA in 13 starts. Promoted to Triple-A
affiliate Pawtucket on June 23, he went 1-3 with a
4.97 ERA in five starts. He earned a promotion to
the Boston Red Sox on July 21 to replace Tim
Wakefield, who was on the disabled list. In his
Major League debut on July 22, he allowed two earned
runs in 5 2/3 innings to the Seattle Mariners and
was charged with a loss. Gabbard's first major
league win was on September 5th against the Chicago
White Sox. Gabbard was solid, going 7 shutout
innings, surrendering three hits and striking out
six in a 1-0 Red Sox win.
Gabbard became the ninth rookie to pitch for the Red
Sox in the 2006 season, joining Abe Alvarez, Craig
Breslow, Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen, Jon Lester,
Jonathan Papelbon, David Pauley, and Jermaine Van
Buren. He also became the third Triple-A recall to
move into Boston's rotation in six weeks, joining
Kyle Snyder and Lester. They replaced David Wells
and Matt Clement, who were on the disabled list.
Likewise, Gabbard joined Pauley as one of two Boston
starters to have begun the 2006 season in Double-A
Portland.
