Alfredo Simón
Encyclopedia
Alfredo Simón Cabrera is a Dominican
professional baseball
pitcher
with the Baltimore Orioles
of Major League Baseball
. From 2001 through part of 2004 he pitched under the name Carlos Cabrera.
. He originally signed under the name Carlos Cabrera, and he pretended to be 21 months younger than he really was. He made his professional debut in 2000 for the La Vega Phillies in the Dominican Summer League
. In 2004, the Phillies found out his real name and age. Shortly after that, he was traded with Ricky Ledee
to the San Francisco Giants
for Felix Rodriguez
.
Simón was assigned to the A Advanced San Jose Giants
. He got off to a bad start, posting a 5.68 ERA in 6 starts while going 1-2. His next season, he was promoted to the AA Norwich Navigators. He started for only part of the year, and closed for most of the season, posting a 5.03 ERA in 43 games (9 starts). In 2006, he started the season at San Jose but was promoted to the AAA Fresno Grizzlies
. Following the season he filed for free agency.
On November 3, 2006, Simón signed with the Texas Rangers
. In December, the Baltimore Orioles
drafted him in the Rule 5 Draft
. On the same day, the Orioles traded him back to the Philadelphia Phillies
for Adam Donachie and cash.
On March 17, 2007, the Phillies returned Simón to the Texas Rangers
. Simón pitched as a starter for the AAA Oklahoma RedHawks
. He had a bad year, going 5-10 with a 6.43 ERA in 22 starts. Following the season, he filed for free agency.
On January 10, 2008, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers
. He was released on March 30, before the season started.
After being released, Simón signed with the independent Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. He pitched very well with them, going 7-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 15 games (11 starts). During the season, he was signed by the Baltimore Orioles
.
, but they called him up very quickly. On September 6, he finally made his major league debut. He finished 2008 having posted a 6.23 ERA in four games (1 start), but he earned no decisions. In 2009, after a strong spring training
performance, he was named to the Orioles' starting rotation. However, he was injured in only his second start of the year, and wound up having to miss the rest of the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery
.
Simón failed to make the Orioles out of spring training in 2010, but on April 27, the Orioles promoted Simón from AAA Norfolk. The very same day, he became the Orioles' closer (due to bad pitching and a subsequent injury to Mike Gonzalez), and he notched his first save against the New York Yankees
. He pitched an inning and gave up 2 unearned runs. Coincidentally, the Yankees were the same team Simón earned his first decision against. Simón converted his first 5 save opportunities before blowing one against the Cleveland Indians
on May 15. Through the 2010 season, Simón converted 17 of 21 save opportunities. After blowing a save on August 9, 2010, Simón did not receive another save opportunity that season as Koji Uehara
was used most regularly in the role.
On May 21, 2011, Simón was activated from the restricted list. Jason Berken
was sent down to make room.
In March 2011, Alfredo posted bail. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles AAA minor league affiliate. On November 8, 2011, Simon was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter.
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...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
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...
with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
of Major League Baseball
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...
. From 2001 through part of 2004 he pitched under the name Carlos Cabrera.
Minor leagues
Simón was signed on July 9, 1999, by the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He originally signed under the name Carlos Cabrera, and he pretended to be 21 months younger than he really was. He made his professional debut in 2000 for the La Vega Phillies 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...
. In 2004, the Phillies found out his real name and age. Shortly after that, he was traded with Ricky Ledee
Ricky Ledée
Ricardo Alberto "Ricky" Ledée is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets in his decade long professional career. He won two World Series...
to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for Felix Rodriguez
Félix Rodríguez (baseball)
Félix Antonio Rodríguez is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Camden Riversharks....
.
Simón was assigned to the A Advanced San Jose Giants
San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants are a minor league baseball team in San Jose, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the Northern Division of the California League, and have been a farm team of the San Francisco Giants since 1988. Home games are played at San Jose Municipal Stadium...
. He got off to a bad start, posting a 5.68 ERA in 6 starts while going 1-2. His next season, he was promoted to the AA Norwich Navigators. He started for only part of the year, and closed for most of the season, posting a 5.03 ERA in 43 games (9 starts). In 2006, he started the season at San Jose but was promoted to the AAA Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
. Following the season he filed for free agency.
On November 3, 2006, Simón signed with 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...
. In December, the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
drafted him in the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 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...
. On the same day, the Orioles traded him back to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Adam Donachie and cash.
On March 17, 2007, the Phillies returned Simón to 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...
. Simón pitched as a starter for the AAA Oklahoma RedHawks
Oklahoma RedHawks
The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
. He had a bad year, going 5-10 with a 6.43 ERA in 22 starts. Following the season, he filed for free agency.
On January 10, 2008, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. He was released on March 30, before the season started.
After being released, Simón signed with the independent Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. He pitched very well with them, going 7-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 15 games (11 starts). During the season, he was signed by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
Baltimore Orioles (2008-present)
The Orioles originally assigned Simón to the AAA Norfolk TidesNorfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
, but they called him up very quickly. On September 6, he finally made his major league debut. He finished 2008 having posted a 6.23 ERA in four games (1 start), but he earned no decisions. In 2009, after a strong spring training
Spring 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...
performance, he was named to the Orioles' starting rotation. However, he was injured in only his second start of the year, and wound up having to miss the rest of the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
.
Simón failed to make the Orioles out of spring training in 2010, but on April 27, the Orioles promoted Simón from AAA Norfolk. The very same day, he became the Orioles' closer (due to bad pitching and a subsequent injury to Mike Gonzalez), and he notched his first save against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He pitched an inning and gave up 2 unearned runs. Coincidentally, the Yankees were the same team Simón earned his first decision against. Simón converted his first 5 save opportunities before blowing one against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
on May 15. Through the 2010 season, Simón converted 17 of 21 save opportunities. After blowing a save on August 9, 2010, Simón did not receive another save opportunity that season as Koji Uehara
Koji Uehara
is a Major League Baseball Japanese right-handed relief pitcher. He is currently a relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers.Uehara throws a high-80s four-seam fastball and a solid forkball as his primary pitches...
was used most regularly in the role.
On May 21, 2011, Simón was activated from the restricted list. Jason Berken
Jason Berken
Jason Thomas Berken is a Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.-Baseball career:Berken graduated from West De Pere High School. He played for Clemson's baseball team...
was sent down to make room.
Involuntary manslaughter allegations
In January 2011, Simón allegedly shot and killed Michel Castillo Almonte and wounded his 17-year-old brother during a New Year's Eve celebration in Luperon, Dominican Republic. Simón denied the allegations. Police have announced their intention to file involuntary manslaughter charges.In March 2011, Alfredo posted bail. He pitched for the Baltimore Orioles AAA minor league affiliate. On November 8, 2011, Simon was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter.