Ricky Nolasco

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Ricky Nolasco
20160406-0046 Ricky Nolasco.jpg
Nolasco with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins – No. 47
Starting pitcher
Born: (1982-12-13) December 13, 1982 (age 41)
Corona, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 5, 2006, for the Florida Marlins
MLB statistics
(through May 29, 2016)
Win–loss record 102–92
Earned run average 4.57
Strikeouts 1,279
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Carlos Enrique "Ricky" Nolasco (born December 13, 1982) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball. He is listed as 6'2" and 220, and made his major league debut on April 5, 2006. He has also played for the Florida/Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers. He is of Mexican descent.

Early life

Nolasco attended Rialto High School in Rialto, California. He graduated in 2001 and was drafted out of high school in the fourth round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago Cubs.[1]

Professional career

Chicago Cubs

Nolasco began his professional career in the Rookie-level Arizona League with the Arizona League Cubs. In five games with the team, including four starts, he recorded a 1-0 win-loss record with an earned-run average (ERA) of 1.50. He spent the 2002 season with the Boise Hawks of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League, earning a record of 7-2 with an ERA of 2.48 in 15 starts. The next season, Nolasco was assigned to the Daytona Cubs of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, where he went 11-5 with a 2.96 ERA in 26 starts.

Nolasco started the 2004 season in the Double-A (AA) Southern League with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. A month into the season, on May 16, he was called up to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs of the Pacific Coast League. He made nine starts for Iowa, accumulating a record of 2-3 with an ERA of 9.30 before being sent back down to AA on June 28. Nolasco spent the rest of the season there; he finished the season with a record of 6-4 and an ERA of 3.70 in 19 starts throughout both stints with the Diamond Jaxx during the 2004 season. Nolasco then spent the entire 2005 season in AA as he achieved an impressive 14-3 record with an ERA of 2.89 in 27 starts.

Nolasco during his tenure with the Florida Marlins in 2009

Florida/Miami Marlins

The Florida Marlins acquired him, Sergio Mitre, and Renyel Pinto from the Cubs for Juan Pierre on December 7, 2005.

He made the opening day roster in 2006 and made his debut with 3 scoreless innings of relief on April 5 against the Houston Astros. He recorded his first win with 2 innings of relief against the Cubs on April 26. He made his first start on May 22, also against the Cubs, and allowed 1 run in 7 innings to get the win.

Nolasco missed most of the 2007 season with an injury and then started the 2008 season as a middle reliever, but quickly found his way to the top of the rotation as Florida's top starting pitcher. On August 19, 2008, he pitched a two-hitter against the San Francisco Giants. With one out in the 9th inning, he gave up a double; the only other hit given up by him was a ball deflected off the glove of first baseman Mike Jacobs. Nolasco also had a two-run double in the game. Nolasco won 15 games in 2008, putting him in the top 5 in wins in the National League.[2]

Nolasco was named the 2009 Opening Day starter, throwing in six innings and win against the Washington Nationals. On September 30, 2009, Nolasco struck out 16 batters, breaking A. J. Burnett's record for 14 strikeouts in a single game for the Florida Marlins.[3]

In December 2010, Nolasco agreed to a contract extension with the Marlins to remain with the team through 2013.

On August 23, 2011, Nolasco became the Marlins franchise leader in strikeouts, overtaking Dontrelle Willis. A year later on May 22, 2012 he won his 69th game, overtaking Willis' club record of 68 wins with the Marlins. He finished the season with a 4.48 ERA in 191 innings pitched, with 47 walks, 125 strikeouts, a 1.37 WHIP, and a 12-13 record.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Nolasco pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013

On July 6, 2013, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for minor league pitchers Josh Wall, Steven Ames, and Ángel Sánchez. He made 15 starts for the Dodgers and was 8-3 with a 3.52 ERA.

Minnesota Twins

On November 27, 2013, Nolasco agreed to terms with the Minnesota Twins on a 4-year, $49 million deal, pending completion of a physical examination. In his first year Nolasco posted a 5.38 ERA in a disappointing first season stint. The deal has largely been seen as a massive overpay for a limited National League player.[4] The deal became official on December 3, 2013.

Pitching style

Nolasco throws five pitches: a four-seam fastball, a sinker, a split-finger fastball, a slider, and a knuckle curve .[5]

References

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External links

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