Alexi Ogando
Encyclopedia
Alexi Ogando is a Major League Baseball
starting pitcher
for the Texas Rangers
.
, Dominican Republic
, and originally signed with the Oakland Athletics
as an outfielder
in . After playing his rookie season in the Dominican Summer League
, Ogando batted .342 with thirteen doubles
, seven home runs (second in the Arizona League
) and 36 runs batted in for the AZL Athletics in . He began the campaign with the Vancouver Canadians
, but after starting the season 0 for 13 and batting .150 in six games, he was demoted back to Arizona. Despite not joining the Arizona League until July 1, he finished second in the league with six home runs, and had twenty extra base hit
s.
in ; however, when he went to the U.S. embassy to pick up his work visa that January, consulate officials were waiting. They had noticed that an inordinate number of young minor league ballplayers had been married in a short period of time to women who had previously been denied visas, and it raised a red flag.
Ogando immediately admitted guilt to his involvement in a human trafficking ring, and was assured that he would likely only receive a one year exclusion, and that he would be able to reapply the following year. As it turned out, he was banned from entering the United States for five years, limiting him to winter ball, the Dominican Summer League and international tournaments.
in December 2005 and converted him into a pitcher
. Ogando was dominant in that role, going 11–3 with a 1.11 earned run average
and 114 strikeouts and holding batters to a .209 batting average
over three seasons out of the DSL Rangers' bullpen
.
On February 12, 2010, he and Omar Beltre
, who was also involved in the human trafficking ring out of the Dominican Republic, were granted visas, and allowed to attend Spring training, arriving in the U.S. on February 16. After Spring training, he was assigned to the double A Frisco RoughRiders
, and soon earned a promotion to triple A after dominating the Texas League
with a 1.15 ERA in 15.2 innings.
Although he made three starts with Frisco, he pitched exclusively in relief
with the Oklahoma City RedHawks. He appeared in eleven games with Oklahoma City, before earning a trip to the major leagues. He replaced starting pitcher
Rich Harden
on the 25 man roster when Harden was placed on the fifteen day disabled list with a left gluteal muscle strain. He made his major league debut on June 15, pitching one inning and earning the win against the Florida Marlins
. Playing in an NL park, Ogando also got his first hit
as a batter. Ogando became just the third relief pitcher since 1900 to win his first three major league appearances. Ogando finished the season with a 4–1 record and an impressive 1.30 ERA.
Ogando started the 2011 season as the Texas Rangers' fifth starter following an injury to Tommy Hunter
in spring training. He made his first start on April 5, pitching six scoreless innings against the Seattle Mariners
. He started the season 7–0 with a 2.20 ERA and one of the lowest WHIPs in the major leagues. He lost his first game as a starter in a blowout against the Yankees. On July 10, 2011 Alexi Ogando was named to the American League All Star team for the first time in his career. Ogando replaced CC Sabathia who was replacing James Shields because both was starting against each other on Sunday before the All-Star break.
His pitching performance saw a dramatic decline in the second-half of the season as his total innings far surpassed his 2010 totals. He finished 2011 with 13–8 record and a 3.51 ERA.
In the playoffs, Ogando was converted back to a reliever and has since pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings this postseason including a win in game 1 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers. Of Ogando's versatility as a starter and reliever, manager Ron Washington remarked, "what a weapon to have". In game 7 of the 2011 World Series Ogando through exactly 1 pitch and earned a strikeout. This happened because Mike Gonzalez was injured and left the game with a 3-2 count on the batter.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.
Oakland Athletics
Ogando was born in San Pedro de MacorisSan Pedro de Macorís
San Pedro de Macorís is a municipality and the capital of the San Pedro de Macorís province in the Dominican Republic.-Demographics:...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, and originally signed with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in . After playing his rookie season in the Dominican Summer League
Dominican Summer League
The Dominican Summer League is a branch of affiliated minor league baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. The 2011 72-game season begins May 28 and ends August 20...
, Ogando batted .342 with thirteen doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, seven home runs (second in the Arizona League
Arizona League
The Arizona League is a minor league baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona. It is a rookie-level professional baseball league run by Major League Baseball since 1989. Games are played at the spring training complexes of the team's parent organizations from mid-June until the...
) and 36 runs batted in for the AZL Athletics in . He began the campaign with the Vancouver Canadians
Vancouver Canadians
The Vancouver Canadians are a minor league baseball team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Canadians are the Northwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The C's have previously affiliated with the Oakland Athletics between 2000-2010. They are the only Canadian team in the...
, but after starting the season 0 for 13 and batting .150 in six games, he was demoted back to Arizona. Despite not joining the Arizona League until July 1, he finished second in the league with six home runs, and had twenty extra base hit
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
s.
Human trafficking ring
He earned an invitation to Spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in ; however, when he went to the U.S. embassy to pick up his work visa that January, consulate officials were waiting. They had noticed that an inordinate number of young minor league ballplayers had been married in a short period of time to women who had previously been denied visas, and it raised a red flag.
Ogando immediately admitted guilt to his involvement in a human trafficking ring, and was assured that he would likely only receive a one year exclusion, and that he would be able to reapply the following year. As it turned out, he was banned from entering the United States for five years, limiting him to winter ball, the Dominican Summer League and international tournaments.
Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers acquired him in the rule 5 draftRule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
in December 2005 and converted him into a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. Ogando was dominant in that role, going 11–3 with a 1.11 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 114 strikeouts and holding batters to a .209 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
over three seasons out of the DSL Rangers' bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
.
On February 12, 2010, he and Omar Beltre
Omar Beltré
Omar Beltre is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Early years:...
, who was also involved in the human trafficking ring out of the Dominican Republic, were granted visas, and allowed to attend Spring training, arriving in the U.S. on February 16. After Spring training, he was assigned to the double A Frisco RoughRiders
Frisco RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are currently the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball club. The team plays in the Texas League, assigned to the South Division. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport, Louisiana, and were known as the Shreveport Captains...
, and soon earned a promotion to triple A after dominating the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
with a 1.15 ERA in 15.2 innings.
Although he made three starts with Frisco, he pitched exclusively in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
with the Oklahoma City RedHawks. He appeared in eleven games with Oklahoma City, before earning a trip to the major leagues. He replaced starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Rich Harden
Rich Harden
James Richard Harden is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher.-Early years:Harden attended Claremont Secondary School in Victoria, British Columbia. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 38th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft...
on the 25 man roster when Harden was placed on the fifteen day disabled list with a left gluteal muscle strain. He made his major league debut on June 15, pitching one inning and earning the win against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. Playing in an NL park, Ogando also got his first hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
as a batter. Ogando became just the third relief pitcher since 1900 to win his first three major league appearances. Ogando finished the season with a 4–1 record and an impressive 1.30 ERA.
Ogando started the 2011 season as the Texas Rangers' fifth starter following an injury to Tommy Hunter
Tommy Hunter (baseball)
Raymond Thomas "Tommy" Hunter is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles....
in spring training. He made his first start on April 5, pitching six scoreless innings against the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He started the season 7–0 with a 2.20 ERA and one of the lowest WHIPs in the major leagues. He lost his first game as a starter in a blowout against the Yankees. On July 10, 2011 Alexi Ogando was named to the American League All Star team for the first time in his career. Ogando replaced CC Sabathia who was replacing James Shields because both was starting against each other on Sunday before the All-Star break.
His pitching performance saw a dramatic decline in the second-half of the season as his total innings far surpassed his 2010 totals. He finished 2011 with 13–8 record and a 3.51 ERA.
In the playoffs, Ogando was converted back to a reliever and has since pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings this postseason including a win in game 1 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers. Of Ogando's versatility as a starter and reliever, manager Ron Washington remarked, "what a weapon to have". In game 7 of the 2011 World Series Ogando through exactly 1 pitch and earned a strikeout. This happened because Mike Gonzalez was injured and left the game with a 3-2 count on the batter.