Graduated from Mangum (Okla.) High School in 1993 as a member of the National Honor Society...lettered four years in baseball and basketball and two years in football...as a high school senior, he was selected All-State in baseball, All-State Honorable Mention in basketball and All-Class in football and was team MVP in all three sports...posted an 8-6 record, 2.62 ERA and 26 saves in 70 appearances (65 in relief ) over three seasons at Wichita State -- tallied 155 strikeouts while walking 48 in 165.0 innings...was inducted into the WSU Shockers Sports Hall of Fame on 2/1/03 at halftime of the team's basketball game vs. Southern Illinois...competed in the 1996 College World Series and was a consensus first-team All-America selection as a junior... named Baseball America's top college prospect...also named to the conference All-Academic team...selected third-team All- America by Collegiate Baseball and second-team by American Baseball Coaches Association in 1995...was a first-team ABCA All-Region and All-Missouri Valley Conference pick...chosen MVC All-Academic honorable mention...played with the U.S. National Team during the '95 summer, leading the staff with 17 appearances -- went 1-0 with six saves...performed with the U.S. National Team in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, garnering the bronze medal -- went 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 18 outings for Team USA...he serves as the Cardinals Player Representative...resides in Palos Heights, Ill., with wife, Shannon, daughter Toryn Hope (2/18/00) and son Braden Landen (8/10/02).

Converted to starting pitcher and finished 2nd on the team in wins (12), games started (30) and innings pitched (175.0) despite missing time (6/18-7/1) due to right shoulder fatigue.  Went 7-1 with a 1.69 ERA in nine day starts and finished tops in all of baseball with his overall 1.82 daytime ERA. Conversely, went 5-11, 6.75 ERA in 20 starts at night.  During his 30 starts had a 1.45 ERA (78.2 IP/13 ER) in his 12 wins, 9.79 ERA (60.2/66) in his 12 losses and 4.08 ERA (35.1/16) in six no-decisions.  Made quality starts in 18 of his 30 starts and was second on the team in quality starts.  In 15 starts at Busch Std., went 7-4 with a 3.34 ERA vs. 5-8, 6.72 in 15 road starts.  Limited opponents to a .223 (46-206) batting average with two outs.  Held opponents to just four hits in each of five starts from 8/11-9/2 and had a scoreless streak of 14.0 innings from 8/28-9/2.  In three of his Sept. starts had an 11.57 ERA (18 ER/14 IP)...in his other two starts allowed only one run in 14.0 IP (0.64 ERA).  Posted his 400th career strikeout in 5/6 start vs. HOU.  Made 30 starts to begin the season before pitching 0.1 inning of relief in the team's final game (9/30 at PIT).  Made his first M.L. start on 4/4 vs. Mets...dropped a 10-0 decision, but allowed only three runs in his 6.0 IP, all coming in his 6th & final inning...threw 93 pitches.  Pitched 7.0 shutout innings, allowing two hits, 4/9 at PIT in a 3-0 Cards win.  Won his third-straight start with a 2-1 win over the Cubs on 4/20 at CHI. Allowed a 1st inning run on three singles, but then allowed just 2 hits over his next 6.0 IP. Needed just 89 pitches to go 7.0 IP.  Limited the Reds to just one run (6th inn. solo HR - J. Hamilton) in 7.0 IP 4/25 & had first ND. Cards plated four 8th inning runs & won the game, 5-2.  Won his 4th decision on 5/6 vs. HOU, 3-1...allowed a 1st inning run before blanking the Astros over his final five innings.  Improved to 5-2 with 5-0 win at SD on 5/12, as he allowed just three hits over 7.0 IP while fanning career-high 7.  Tossed 6.0 innings in a no-decision and allowed three runs on four hits in his first start off the DL (rt. shoulder strain) 7/2 vs. ARI...retired 15 of the first 16 batters faced before solo HR by C. Snyder to lead off 6th inning.  Won 7/16 at FLA to snap a 4-game losing streak. Tossed 6.1 innings and allowed two runs on five hits and had his most strikeouts since 5/12 (9 starts ago) with four.  Allowed seven runs to the Braves 7/21 in a 14-6 loss in which he lasted just 2.2 innings, his shortest outing as a starter.  Evened his record at 8-8 with 11-1 win over CHI on 7/26 as he held the Cubs to one run (D. Lee-HR) in 7.0 innings. It was his 1st win at Busch since 5/24.  Matched season-high for wins (9) with a 10-5 victory on 8/6 vs. SD, allowing 4 runs (3 HR's) in 6.1 IP...Cards scored 10 runs in their 5th, as they tied ML record with 10 consecutive hits in the inning.  Set career high with his 10th win on 8/11 vs. LA. Had a no-hitter into the 5th before Garciaparra led off the inning with an infield hit. Went 6.0 innings and threw 85 pitches on a 95-degree day.  Victimized by 2-run HR to J. Jones 8/17 at CHI, his only runs allowed in 2-1 loss.  Went 7.0 scoreless at HOU on 8/28 in a 7-0 shutout. Allowed four hits in his fourth-straight start, walked only one and fanned 4 on100 pitches in the start.  Recorded 7.0 scoreless innings in a second-straight start 9/2 vs. CIN. Extended scoreless streak to 14.0 innings. Gave up four hits and no walks in 4th-straight win at home.  Did not get a decision vs. the Cubs in Game 1 of a DH on 9/15, a 3-2 loss. Allowed only one run and three hits over 7.0 innings and retired 18 of his final 19 batters faced.  Underwent surgery in Oct. to shave bone from his left (non-throwing) shoulder.