Patrick John Neshek (born September 4, 1980) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, and Colorado Rockies. The Twins selected him in the sixth round of the 2002 MLB draft from Butler University. Neshek made his MLB debut for the Twins on July 7, 2006, and played for them until 2010, except 2009, which he missed due to Tommy John surgery.
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics traded for Neshek on August 3, 2012, for cash considerations, and immediately called him up from Triple-A Norfolk. To make room for Neshek on the roster along with same-day call-up right-handed pitcher Dan Straily, the A's optioned relievers Jim Miller and Evan Scribner to Triple-A Sacramento River Cats.  On September 22, Neshek gave up the game-tying home run in the bottom of the 13th inning to New York Yankees slugger Raul Ibanez. The A's had scored four runs in the top of the inning, leading to a galling 10-9 loss the next inning. However, the A's defeated the Yankees the next day and went 9-2 to end the season, edging the Texas Rangers out of the American League West championship by one game, including sweeping the final three-game series in Oakland. In 24 games with the A's, Neshek tallied  19 2/3 IP, yielding 10 hits and six walks, with 16 SO and a 1.37 ERA. He relied heavily on the slider, throwing it 83.5 percent of all pitches.  On November 30, 2012, Neshek avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal with the A's. He started the season well, posted a 2.34 ERA in his first 38 appearances into August, with 30 of them being scoreless. However, he gave up three runs apiece in two different appearances. Neshek attributed his early success to throwing almost exclusively sliders to right-handed hitters. Of all his pitches, he threw the slider 73 percent of the time in 2013.  The A's designated Neshek for assignment on August 26. For the season, he finished with a 3.35 ERA in  40 1/3 IP. He elected free agency November 5. Through the end of 2013, Neshek had faced 555 right-handed batters in his MLB career, holding them to a .181 batting average, .257 OBP and .315 SLG. In 326 PA, opposite-handed hitters, had more success with a .237 AVG, .328 OBP and .432 SLG.

Q: When did Pat sign to the Oakland Athletics?
A: The Oakland Athletics traded for Neshek on August 3, 2012,

Q: Which team did he leave to join the Oakland Athletics?
A: Triple-A Norfolk.

Q: Were there any other star players on the team?
A: Jim Miller and Evan Scribner
How did Pat perform on the Oakland Athletics?
He started the season well, posted a 2.34 ERA in his first 38 appearances into August, with 30 of them being scoreless.
He started the season well, posted a 2.34 ERA in his first 38 appearances into August, with 30 of them being scoreless.