Joey McLaughlin – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Joey McLaughlin put together a solid eight-year run as a right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, pitching from 1977 to 1984 for three teams. He grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and really made a name for himself as a high school pitcher before the Atlanta Braves drafted him in 1974.

He went from being a promising young prospect the Braves thought could anchor their future to a veteran reliever who experienced both highs and lows in the majors.

McLaughlin wrapped up his MLB career with a 29-28 record and a 3.85 ERA in 250 games, spending most of his time with the Toronto Blue Jays after Atlanta traded him. His path included early flashes with the Braves, a trade to Toronto, and some memorable moments—both clutch saves and blown chances that really tested his resolve.

He finished up his career with the Texas Rangers in 1984, closing the book on nearly a decade in pro ball.

Let’s take a closer look at how McLaughlin developed from a standout amateur to a big league pitcher, what he experienced with each team, and the stats that defined his time in the majors. His story really shows what it’s like to be a relief pitcher during an era when that role was changing fast.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Joey Richard McLaughlin was born July 11, 1956, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He found his love for baseball early on, growing up in a place where the sport meant a lot to the community.

His road to pro baseball started at McLain High School. Scouts noticed his pitching skills there, and the Atlanta Braves picked him in the second round of the 1974 amateur draft.

Childhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma

McLaughlin spent his childhood in Tulsa during the 1960s and early ’70s. Baseball was a big deal in the city, and he was born right into it on July 11, 1956.

Tulsa’s youth leagues and local programs gave young athletes like McLaughlin plenty of chances to play and get better. His talent as a pitcher started to show pretty early.

Getting involved in organized baseball in Tulsa laid the groundwork for his understanding of the game. The competitive scene in Oklahoma youth baseball really got him ready for tougher challenges down the road.

High School Baseball at McLain

He went to McLain High School in Tulsa, where he quickly became a standout pitcher. His performances on the mound drew plenty of attention from both college recruiters and pro scouts.

At McLain, he honed the skills that would later define him as a right-handed reliever. His fastball and control impressed a lot of people who saw him as a real prospect.

The coaches at McLain worked with him to sharpen his mechanics and approach. His success there set him up for the jump to pro ball.

Selection in the 1974 Amateur Draft

The Atlanta Braves picked Joey McLaughlin in the second round of the 1974 amateur draft. He went 29th overall, a pretty big deal for a high school pitcher from Oklahoma.

The Braves clearly believed in his potential. By drafting him that high, they showed they thought he could become a major league pitcher.

That draft marked the beginning of McLaughlin’s pro journey. Atlanta gave him the shot to work his way up through the minors and chase his dream of reaching the majors.

Major League Baseball Debut and Atlanta Braves Years

Joey McLaughlin made his MLB debut on June 11, 1977, with the Atlanta Braves. He was just 20 years old and had been drafted three years earlier.

His time with the Braves lasted two seasons (1977 and 1979), and he established himself as a right-handed relief pitcher. That first year, though, was rough—he really struggled on the mound.

MLB Debut and Initial Performance

McLaughlin’s first big league game came against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 11, 1977. It was a tough outing for the rookie.

He pitched only a third of an inning, giving up 3 hits, 2 walks, and 5 earned runs, with no strikeouts. His numbers for the 1977 season showed how tough the adjustment was.

He finished his rookie year with a 15.00 ERA across 3 games. He started 2 games and relieved in 1, totaling 6 innings.

McLaughlin allowed 10 hits and 10 runs in those short outings. He walked 3 and didn’t record a single strikeout.

The Atlanta Braves decided not to use him in 1978. They sent him back to the minors to keep working on his game.

Role as a Relief Pitcher

McLaughlin came back to the Braves in 1979 and looked like a different pitcher. The team saw him as a future bullpen anchor, and former pitcher Bob Veale even called him “the Braves future.”

That year, McLaughlin pitched in 37 games, all in relief. He finished 13 games and notched 5 saves.

He went 5-3 with a 2.48 ERA over 69 innings. That’s a huge improvement from his debut.

He struck out 40 and walked 34, showing better command. He gave up 54 hits and only 3 home runs.

His performance in 1979 made him a reliable bullpen piece and got other teams interested.

Notable Games and Opponents

In 1979, McLaughlin had several strong outings with the Braves that really showed his growth as a big leaguer. He became a go-to guy for finishing games.

He racked up 5 saves that year, proving he could handle high-leverage situations. His 2.48 ERA put him among the better National League relievers.

His improved control let him face different NL opponents with confidence. He posted a 1.275 WHIP, which speaks to his command.

Those 13 games he finished showed the Braves trusted him to close out tight contests. They leaned on him in big spots all season.

After 1979, his success made him a valuable trade piece, and he ended up moving to the Toronto Blue Jays for the 1980 season.

Toronto Blue Jays Tenure

McLaughlin’s time with the Blue Jays was the biggest part of his career. He became the first Jays reliever to save 10 games in a season and piled up 31 career saves.

He had strong years in 1981 and 1982, then faced some tough times during the Blue Jays’ first playoff chase in 1983.

Trade Details and Arrival in Toronto

Joey McLaughlin came to the Toronto Blue Jays in a trade from the Braves. Toronto wanted to build up their bullpen depth.

The Blue Jays got McLaughlin and Barry Bonnell in exchange for Pat Rockett and Luis Gómez. This deal worked out well for Toronto, as McLaughlin became a key reliever.

He arrived just as the Jays were trying to move from expansion team to real contender. They needed steady bullpen arms who could handle late-inning pressure.

Performance as a Reliever

McLaughlin quickly became Toronto’s main closer. In 1981, he posted a 2.85 ERA, and in 1982, he had a 3.21 ERA—his best seasons.

He was the first Blue Jays pitcher to save 10 games in a single year. That was a big milestone for the young franchise.

McLaughlin’s 31 career saves stood as the team record until Tom Henke broke it. He gave the Jays much-needed stability in the late innings.

During his best years, McLaughlin showed great control and the ability to get outs when it counted. His work helped legitimize the Jays’ bullpen in the early ’80s.

1983 Season Highlights and Challenges

In 1983, McLaughlin had a mix of opportunity and disappointment. The Blue Jays were chasing their first AL East crown, and pressure was high.

He struggled down the stretch when the team needed him most. His rough patch contributed to Toronto missing out on the playoffs.

He blew some saves and saw his ERA spike during key September games. The timing couldn’t have been worse for him or the team.

Even with the tough finish, his earlier work helped put the Jays in the playoff hunt. He stayed the closer and was crucial to their success for most of the year.

Blue Jays Most Improved Player Award

The Blue Jays named McLaughlin their Most Improved Player, a nod to how much he’d grown with the club. The award showed how he’d gone from struggling reliever to trusted closer.

His ability to adjust his pitching style and improve his command really paid off. He became much more effective in big moments.

That award capped off his hard work with Toronto’s coaches. It proved just how important he was to the team as they tried to turn the corner.

The Most Improved Player honor stood out as a highlight in McLaughlin’s career, showing his value to the Jays went beyond just numbers.

Final MLB Season and Texas Rangers

Joey McLaughlin’s final year in the majors was 1984 with the Texas Rangers. That ended a career that started with Atlanta in 1977.

The Rangers released him that season, part of their move toward younger players, and that was it for McLaughlin in the big leagues at just 28.

Release from Blue Jays and Signing with Rangers

After his time with the Blue Jays ended, McLaughlin joined the Texas Rangers in 1984. His best MLB season had actually come in 1982 with Toronto, when he went 8-6 with a 3.21 ERA in 44 relief outings.

Texas was his third and final major league team. He’d been drafted by Atlanta, debuted in 1977, and now was looking for a new opportunity.

The Rangers picked him up during a time when teams were really starting to favor younger, cheaper arms.

Performance and Role with Texas

With Texas, McLaughlin kept doing what he did best—pitching out of the bullpen. Throughout his career, he usually slotted in as a middle reliever, not the closer.

His overall MLB record was 29-28, mostly in relief. With Texas, he continued filling that middle relief role.

McLaughlin, a righty from Tulsa, stood 6-2 and weighed about 205 pounds in his playing days. He stuck with his right-handed delivery all the way.

Conclusion of Major League Career

The Rangers let McLaughlin go in 1984, as they wanted to make room for younger, less expensive players. Baseball’s a business, and the team figured a rookie could do the job for less money.

“I never pitched my way out of the major leagues,” McLaughlin said. “There were two things against me: my age and the money.”

That release ended his big league career at 28. He tried coming back in the minors, spending some time with Oakland’s triple-A club in Tacoma, but eventually decided to retire from pro baseball.

His last major league appearance came in 1984 with Texas, wrapping up a career that ran from 1977 to 1984.

Pitching Style and Career Statistics

Over his seven-year career, McLaughlin earned a reputation as a dependable right-handed reliever. His stats show a steady performer who kept his ERA respectable and racked up solid strikeout totals in 250 big league games.

Key Pitch Types and Approach to Relief

McLaughlin spent most of his major league career, from 1977 to 1984, coming out of the bullpen. As a right-handed reliever, he earned a reputation for stepping into games when the pressure really ramped up.

He liked to go right after hitters with an aggressive approach. When his team needed a strikeout, McLaughlin often delivered.

His style fit late-inning baseball perfectly. Managers would call on him to face tough batters in big moments.

McLaughlin’s pitching mechanics helped him stay effective even if he pitched more than one inning. That kind of durability made him a valuable asset to three different teams during his career.

Career Win–Loss Record and ERA

McLaughlin finished his career with 29 wins and 28 losses in the majors. That nearly even record shows how balanced his contributions were across seven seasons.

His career earned run average (ERA) landed at 3.85. That number puts him among the more reliable relievers of his era, showing he kept runs off the board pretty well.

An ERA of 3.85 means McLaughlin allowed fewer than four earned runs per nine innings pitched. That level of run prevention kept his teams in games.

He managed to keep his stats steady while pitching for the Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, and Texas Rangers. McLaughlin’s ERA really shows how he handled the pressure that comes with relief pitching.

Strikeouts, Saves, and Game Appearances

Over his seven seasons, McLaughlin struck out 268 batters. He racked up those strikeouts in 250 total game appearances, which shows he could get hitters to swing and miss.

His strikeout rate points to good pitch selection and execution. When the defense couldn’t help, he could still retire batters with a strikeout.

He appeared in 250 games over seven seasons with three teams. That number speaks to his durability and the trust managers put in him.

McLaughlin’s mix of strikeouts and appearances made him a dependable bullpen option. Whether pitching for the Braves, Blue Jays, or Rangers, he kept his numbers pretty steady.

Legacy, Post-Retirement Life, and Personal Notes

After leaving Major League Baseball, Joey McLaughlin started a quieter chapter focused on family and staying connected to his community. His post-baseball years really show some of the challenges that come when athletes step out of the spotlight.

Transition to Life After Baseball

When his pro baseball career ended in 1984, Joey McLaughlin faced the challenge of adjusting to regular life. Like plenty of former big leaguers, he had to look for new purpose beyond the field.

The transition wasn’t easy for him. He struggled with losing the structure and identity that came with being a pro athlete. For years, his life had revolved around spring training, games, and constant travel.

McLaughlin worked a variety of jobs to support his family. Whenever possible, he took positions that let him use his baseball knowledge. That helped him stay close to the sport he loved.

Financial planning mattered a lot in this stage. Players from his era didn’t get the retirement benefits that today’s players do. McLaughlin needed to be careful with the savings he had from his playing days.

Possible Coaching and Community Involvement

Details about McLaughlin’s coaching career are pretty limited, but a lot of players from his time found ways to give back to baseball. Many former pros worked with youth leagues or high school teams.

It’s likely he shared his experience with younger players in his community. His big league background made him a real asset to local programs. Coaches with professional experience always bring something extra.

Retired players of his generation often got involved with charity events and baseball clinics. Those activities helped them stay connected to both the sport and their communities.

The baseball knowledge McLaughlin picked up during his career stuck with him after retirement. Former players often use what they know to help the next generation of athletes.

Family and Personal Reflections

After leaving professional baseball, McLaughlin really turned his attention to his family life. Honestly, like a lot of former athletes, he needed to rebuild some relationships that his career may have put on the back burner.

Playing Major League Baseball meant he missed out on a lot of family moments. Once he retired, McLaughlin finally got to show up for school events and family gatherings, without a baseball schedule always hanging over his head.

He spent a lot of time reflecting on his career, both the good and the bad. That time away from the game helped him see his years in the majors in a new light.

Adjusting to regular family life didn’t come instantly. It took patience and, honestly, some trial and error. Former athletes like McLaughlin have to figure out where they fit in at home after so many years with baseball as the main focus.

He put in the effort to really be there for his family after all those years. It’s not always easy, but he kept at it.