SUMMER 2015
After leading the Florida League in wins and strikeouts last summer, Raftery returned for the new Altamonte Springs team, and has been even more electric to help the Boom secure the second seed in the playoffs with the best pitching staff in the league. He was named the league's Pitcher of the Week in the third week of the season, after tossing 6.1 innings of scoreless, one-hit ball, with just one walk and three strikeouts, and the team's Pitcher of the Week nominee again last week for six shutout innings, scattering four hits with seven strikeouts. Raftery was named to the league's South Team in the All-Star Game, at which point he had a 1.74 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 17 strikeouts in 20.2 innings, and earned the victory for the South with a scoreless inning of work. He currently ranks second in the league in strikeouts (42), third in ERA (1.48), and third in opponent batting average (.179). The Boom will begin a best-of-three series with #3 Leesburg tonight to play in the Championship Game on Sunday at Tropicana Field.
AS A JUNIOR (2015)
Made 24 appearances as a Shark, all in relief, to lead the pitching staff…In his longest outing of the season, struck out a season-high five Delta State hitters and allowed one unearned run for his first win as a Shark (2/7)…Earned his first save for the Sharks with three hitless innings and four strikeouts in a 6-3 win over Southern New Hampshire (2/15), his longest save of the season…Held opponents hitless for 10.0 innings, spanning 10 appearances, from 2/23-3/29…Struck out 18 of 33 batters faced during his hitless streak, allowing just one walk, one hit by pitch, and one batter to reach on an error…Didn’t allow a run in his last 11.0 innings, spanning nine appearances, with 17 strikeouts, compared to just two walks and four singles…Recorded at least one strikeout in 19 consecutive appearances, from 2/24 through the end of the season, totaling 36 in 25.1 innings…Second to teammate Josh Glick for lowest on-base-percentage (.225), on-base-plus-slugging (.447) and WHIP (0.66) in a single season in the NCAA era, minimum 15 innings…Led the team in saves (6)…His 1.30 ERA is fourth-lowest in program history, minimum 15 innings…Struck out 46 batters and only walked 6, for the best strikeout-to-walk rate (7.67) since Miles Mikolas set the record (10.00) in 2009…Finished the season with a .157 batting average against, allowing 17 hits in 34.2 innings.
PREVIOUS SCHOOL
Attended and played at the State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota for two years.
HIGH SCHOOL
Played baseball for four years at Deltona High School under head coach Tommy Hockox…Had a .436 and a 1.70 ERA his senior season…Was named First Team All-District and the team MVP.
PERSONAL
Born in Deland, Fla.…Majoring in communications…Favorite food is chicken, rice and beans…Favorite movies are The Sandlot and Step Brothers…Favorite television shows are The Walking Dead and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air…Favorite sports team is the Boston Red Sox…Son of John and Yolanda…One sibling: John (17).
