Dontrelle Willis

Sportskool Baseball coach Dontrelle Willis

Dontrelle Willis Bio
Dontrelle Willis' high, exaggerated leg-kick has drawn comparisons to Hall of Famer Juan Marichal's indelible motion.

But it's not farfetched to compare the two pitchers further. Marichal won 13 games in his first full season; Willis won 14. By their third seasons they led the National League in wins. Marichal with 25, Willis with 22. With numbers like that, the 24-year-old Willis seems destined for greatness.

Willis' outings became must-see events within weeks of his arrival in the majors two months into the 2003 season. With his herky-jerky delivery and constant winning, the 'D-Train' became one of baseball's most recognizable and popular players. He was also one of the best.

Willis was an all-star, helped the Florida Marlins win the World Series and earned Rookie of the Year Honors just several months removed from AA in 2003. In 2005, he became an elite pitcher, becoming the first Marlin to win 20 games.

  • Born January 12, 1982 in Oakland, California
  • Two-time all-star selection (2003, 2005)
  • Regarded as one of the best hitting pitchers in baseball, in 2005 Willis became the first pitcher in more than 32 years to bat seventh in the batting order
  • Became the third player in modern baseball history to win 20 games and collect 20 hits in the same season
  • 2005 runner-up for the National League Cy Young Award
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