| 01/01/1985 | Drafted in the 1985 inaugural draft (Round 1, Pick 6, 6th overall pick) by the Cincinnati Reds. |
| 03/17/1985 | Injured (shoulder soreness), day-to-day for 5 days. |
| 07/07/1985 | Injured (sore ankle), day-to-day for 4 days. |
| 08/11/1985 | Injured (sore thumb), day-to-day for 2 days. |
| 11/26/1985 | Received a 1-year contract worth a total of $300,000 through automatic renewal. |
| 01/01/1986 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 66 (69); Movement: 67 (77); Control: 60 (60). |
| 04/28/1986 | Injured (bruised thumb), day-to-day for 6 days. |
| 05/20/1986 | Pitches a 6-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies with 13 strikeouts and 0 BB allowed! |
| 08/27/1986 | Injured (shoulder soreness), out for 4 weeks. |
| 11/28/1986 | Received a 1-year contract worth a total of $4,158,000 through arbitration. |
| 01/01/1987 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 70 (70); Movement: 71 (71); Control: 57 (57). |
| 04/16/1987 | Injured (shoulder soreness), out for 4 weeks. |
| 06/12/1987 | Injured (finger blister), day-to-day for 3 days. |
| 11/18/1987 | Received a 1-year contract worth a total of $5,065,000 through arbitration. |
| 01/01/1988 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 70 (70); Movement: 69 (69); Control: 49 (49). |
| 07/10/1988 | Was selected to the 1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. |
| 07/16/1988 | Injured (fractured elbow), out for 4 months. |
| 11/21/1988 | Received a 1-year contract worth a total of $5,065,000 through arbitration. |
| 01/01/1989 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 70 (70); Movement: 71 (71); Control: 46 (46). |
| 05/05/1989 | Pitches a 5-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies with 8 strikeouts and 4 BB allowed! |
| 11/20/1989 | Became a free agent. |
| 12/09/1989 | Signed a 8-year contract worth a total of $96,000,000 with the San Diego Padres organization. |
| 01/01/1990 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 69 (68); Movement: 70 (69); Control: 41 (41). |
| 07/01/1990 | Pitches a 4-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs with 8 strikeouts and 3 BB allowed! |
| 01/01/1991 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 67 (68); Movement: 68 (68); Control: 43 (43). |
| 10/04/1991 | Injured on 10/02/1991, diagnosed with a damaged elbow ligament, will miss 14 months. |
| 11/14/1991 | Wins the 1991 ML NL Gold Glove Award at P. |
| 01/01/1992 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 66 (67); Movement: 67 (68); Control: 46 (45). |
| 01/01/1993 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 65 (67); Movement: 68 (68); Control: 46 (46). |
| 08/04/1993 | Suspended 4 games after ejection following a brawl. |
| 10/26/1993 | Released by the San Diego Padres. |
| 12/08/1993 | Signed a 4-year contract worth a total of $46,500,000 with the Chicago Cubs organization. |
| 01/01/1994 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 65 (66); Movement: 67 (67); Control: 49 (47). |
| 01/01/1995 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 66 (66); Movement: 66 (67); Control: 50 (48). |
| 06/22/1995 | Was selected to the 1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. |
| 07/11/1995 | Pitches a 2-hit shutout against the Florida Marlins with 7 strikeouts and 5 BB allowed! |
| 08/01/1995 | Wins the ML NL Pitcher of the Month Award. |
| 01/01/1996 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 67 (66); Movement: 66 (67); Control: 51 (50). |
| 05/10/1996 | Collects his 2000th career Major League Baseball strikeout! |
| 01/01/1997 | OSA scouting updated ratings (potential): Stuff: 62 (62); Movement: 66 (66); Control: 52 (53). |
| Year | SH | Rank | | 1995 | 15 | 5 | | 1997 | 15 | 5 | | | Year | GS | Rank | | 1990 | 33 | 9 | | 1995 | 33 | 4 | | 1997 | 34 | 3 | | | Year | W | Rank | | 1994 | 15 | 9 | | 1995 | 20 | 1 | | | | Year | Winning % | Rank | | 1987 | .609 | 9 | | 1995 | .800 | 2 | | 1997 | .625 | 10 | |
| | | Year | BF | Rank | | 1990 | 1033 | 6 | | 1995 | 897 | 7 | | 1997 | 954 | 3 | | | Year | HRA | Rank | | 1987 | 26 | 7 | | 1994 | 34 | 1 | | 1995 | 34 | 4 | | 1996 | 41 | 2 | | 1997 | 39 | 1 | | | Year | BB | Rank | | 1989 | 127 | 4 | | 1990 | 161 | 2 | | 1991 | 132 | 1 | | 1993 | 119 | 6 | | 1994 | 102 | 7 | | 1996 | 91 | 9 | | 1997 | 100 | 3 | | | Year | K | Rank | | 1985 | 182 | 5 | | 1986 | 166 | 9 | | 1987 | 174 | 4 | | 1989 | 179 | 5 | | 1990 | 212 | 2 | | 1991 | 178 | 10 | | 1993 | 206 | 8 | | 1994 | 194 | 7 | | 1995 | 214 | 3 | |
| Year | WP | Rank | | 1985 | 7 | 7 | | 1996 | 11 | 5 | | | | Year | BABIP | Rank | | 1989 | .275 | 7 | | 1995 | .264 | 9 | | | Year | K/BB | Rank | | 1985 | 2.60 | 7 | | 1986 | 2.91 | 8 | | |
| Year | H/9 | Rank | | 1987 | 8.67 | 9 | | 1989 | 7.68 | 5 | | 1990 | 7.55 | 6 | | 1995 | 7.43 | 8 | | | Year | K/9 | Rank | | 1985 | 7.80 | 3 | | 1986 | 8.02 | 4 | | 1987 | 7.74 | 4 | | 1989 | 8.08 | 4 | | 1990 | 8.33 | 2 | | 1991 | 7.41 | 8 | | 1993 | 8.47 | 6 | | 1994 | 8.82 | 6 | | 1995 | 8.99 | 6 | | | | Year | CG | Rank | | 1989 | 6 | 3 | | 1991 | 5 | 7 | | 1995 | 2 | 9 | | | Year | CGP | Rank | | 1987 | .143 | 10 | | 1989 | .194 | 3 | | 1991 | .156 | 8 | |
| Year | SHO | Rank | | 1986 | 1 | 7 | | 1989 | 1 | 7 | | 1990 | 1 | 5 | | 1994 | 0 | 10 | | 1995 | 1 | 4 | | | | | |