Editing Bruce Sutter (section)

===Early career===
After being selected by the [[Washington Senators (1961–71)|Washington Senators]] in the 21st round of the [[1970 MLB draft]], Sutter instead attended [[Old Dominion University]]. He dropped out of school and returned to Lancaster to play [[semi-professional sports|semi-professional]] baseball. [[Ralph DiLullo]], a [[scout (sport)|scout]] for the [[Chicago Cubs]], signed Sutter as a free agent in September 1971.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Bruce |last=King |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bruce-sutter/|title=Bruce Sutter |website=Society for American Baseball Research |access-date=October 14, 2022}}</ref> He pitched in two games for the [[Gulf Coast League Cubs]] in 1972.<ref name=BRMinors/> When he was 19, Sutter had surgery on his arm to relieve a [[pinched nerve]].<ref name=Philly>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Claire|title=A reliever's long road trip|url=http://articles.philly.com/2006-07-30/sports/25405539_1_bruce-sutter-national-baseball-hall-split-fingered-fastball|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105035603/http://articles.philly.com/2006-07-30/sports/25405539_1_bruce-sutter-national-baseball-hall-split-fingered-fastball|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2013|access-date=November 1, 2013|newspaper=[[Philly.com]]|date=July 30, 2006}}</ref> When he recovered from surgery and returned to the mound a year later, Sutter found that his previous pitches were no longer effective. He learned the [[split-finger fastball]] from minor league pitching instructor [[Fred Martin (baseball)|Fred Martin]]. Sutter's large hands helped him to use the pitch, which was a modification of the [[forkball]].<ref name=Philly/>

Sutter had nearly been released by the Cubs, but found success with the new pitch. [[Mike Krukow]], who was also a Cubs minor league player at the time, said, "As soon as I saw him throw it, I knew he was going to the big leagues. Everyone wanted to throw it after he did."<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web|last=Kurkjian|first=Tim|title=Mastery of splitter led to Sutter's success|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?id=2531648|work=[[ESPN.com]]|access-date=April 7, 2014|date=July 28, 2006}}</ref> He recorded a 3–3 [[win–loss record]], a 4.13 [[earned run average]] (ERA), and five [[save (baseball)|saves]] in 40 games for the [[Quincy Cubs]] in Class A baseball in 1973.<ref name=BRMinors>{{cite web|title=Bruce Sutter Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=sutter001how|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=July 5, 2014}}</ref>

Sutter split the 1974 season between the Class A [[Key West Conchs]] and the Class AA [[Midland Cubs]]. Though he finished the season with a combined 2–7 record, he recorded a 1.38 ERA in 65 innings. He returned to Midland in 1975 and finished the year with a 5–7 record, a 2.15 ERA, and 13 saves.<ref name=BRMinors/> Sutter led the team in ERA and saves as they won the [[Texas League]] West Division pennant.<ref name=Midland>{{cite web|title=1975 Midland Cubs|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=f394c475|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=July 5, 2014}}</ref> He started the 1976 season with the Class AAA [[Wichita Aeros]], but he pitched only seven games with the team before being promoted to the major leagues.<ref name=BRMinors/>