College After playing at
Mater Dei High School, Slama played two seasons of
college baseball at
Santa Ana College from 2004-2005, before transferring to the
University of San Diego, where he played for the
Toreros in
2006. Slama was selected in the 39th round of the
2006 Major League Baseball draft by the
Minnesota Twins. However, he did not sign and returned to San Diego for the
2007 season. Prior to the
2007 draft, he signed a professional contract with Minnesota.
Minnesota Twins Slama began his professional career in 2007 with the rookie-level
Elizabethton Twins, and after only six appearances where he struck out 10 in innings, earned a promotion to the Single-A
Beloit Snappers. Slama spent the 2008 season with the Twins' High-A affiliate, the
Fort Myers Miracle. He compiled a 2-0 record with a 0.50
earned run average and 12
saves in the first half of the 2008 season—helping
Fort Myers capture the
Florida State League first-half West Division title. Along with teammates
Rob Delaney,
Brian Dinkelman,
Jeff Manship,
Wilson Ramos, and
Danny Valencia, Slama represented the Miracle in the 2008 Florida State League All-Star game. For the season, he went 4-1 with a 1.01 ERA, 25 saves and 110
strikeouts in 71
innings to earn All-FSL Team honors, the Jim Rantz Award Twins' Minor League
Pitcher of the Year and MILB.com's "Best Class A Reliever." He recorded the save in both division play off games against the
Dunedin Blue Jays, and in the Miracle's one win against the
Daytona Cubs in the FSL championship series. His 13.94 strikeouts-per-nine innings ranked third among all Minor League relievers, and his .173 opponents' batting average ranked eighth. On July 20, 2010, Slama was called up to the major leagues for the first time, and
Alex Burnett was sent down to make room for him. He made his major league debut for the Twins the following day, against the
Cleveland Indians. Slama worked one inning, striking out two in finishing a victory. Slama spent most of 2011 with Triple-A
Rochester, but did play 2 games with the Twins in late May/early June. He spent all of 2012 in Rochester, and began 2013 there as well. On June 13, 2013, Slama was released by the Twins after an 0-4 start with a 13.50 ERA. Over parts of 5 seasons with Rochester, Slama went 6-10 with a 3.17 ERA in 137 appearances with 38 saves, striking out 200 in innings.
York Revolution On July 5, 2013, Slama signed with the
York Revolution of the independent
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs On February 17, 2014, Slama signed with the
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, also of the Atlantic League.
Los Angeles Dodgers On August 15, 2014, Slama signed a minor league contract with the
Los Angeles Dodgers and was assigned to the Double-A
Chattanooga Lookouts. He only appeared in five games for the Lookouts and was 0–2 with a 6.00 ERA before finishing the season on the inactive list. ==References==