Antonio Bastardo
Encyclopedia
Antonio Francisco Bastardo (born September 21, 1985 in Hato Mayor del Rey
, Dominican Republic
) is a relief pitcher
with the Philadelphia Phillies
of Major League Baseball
.
in 2007 and assigned to the Lakewood BlueClaws
of the "Low A" South Atlantic League
. In Lakewood, Bastardo went 9–0, with a 1.87 earned run average
in 15 games, all of which he started. He had 98 strikeouts and 42 walks in 91.2 innings of work.
At the end of the 2007 season, Bastardo was promoted to the Clearwater Threshers
of the "High A" Florida State League
. For the Threshers in 2007, Bastardo appeared in one game, in which he gave up four earned runs but struck out twelve in five innings.
of the Double-A Eastern League.
In Reading, Bastardo went 2–5 with a 3.76 earned run average in 14 starts. He pitched 67 innings, striking out 62, walking 37, and allowing 56 hits.
to a relief pitcher
, but was converted right back to a starter after only a handful of outings. Current Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee
said that Bastardo had a chance to be in the major leagues at some point in 2009. He was also invited to the Phillies' training camp as a non-roster invitee but was sent to minor league camp on March 16, 2009.
After he was sent down, Bastardo joined the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
for the rest of spring training before being sent down to the Reading Phillies
.
Baseball America
ranked him as the 11th-best prospect in the Phillies organization in 2009.
After posting a 2–2 record, 1.82 ERA in nine games, Bastardo was called up to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. On May 30, 2009, the Phillies announced that Bastardo would make his major league debut in a start at San Diego on Tuesday, June 2.
tore his labrum and placed on the 15 day disabled list, the Philadelphia Phillies
called up Bastardo on June 2, 2009. He won in his first start against the Dodgers, allowing only one earned run during his six innings pitched. After his Phillies' debut, Bastardo recorded a 2–3 record with a 6.75 ERA and 19 strikeouts. On June 25, during a start against the Tampa Bay Rays
he suffered a shoulder
injury that forced him to go on the disabled list
. He returned to the Phillies roster for the postseason, where he made a relief appearance in the second game of the National League Division Series
against the Colorado Rockies
, striking out Jason Giambi
with two outs and the bases loaded.
after innings, inducing one San Diego Padres
batter to pop out and completing the game.
Bastardo was chosen as interim closer for the Phillies when Ryan Madson
went on the disabled list.
Bastardo once pitched a 17-inning scoreless streak, lowering his ERA to 0.78 in the process.
On November 14, 2011, it was announced that Jonathan Papelbon
would wear Bastardo's former number 58. It was not announced at that time what number Bastardo would wear for the 2012 Phillies.
Hato Mayor del Rey
Hato Mayor del Rey is the capital of Hato Mayor province, Dominican Republic. It is bordered on the North by the municipalities of El Valle and Sabana de la Mar, on the South by the province San Pedro de Macoris, on the East by the province El Seibo and on the West by the municipality of Bayaguana,...
, 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...
) is a relief pitcher
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 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...
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...
.
2007
Bastardo was signed 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...
in 2007 and assigned to the Lakewood BlueClaws
Lakewood BlueClaws
The Lakewood BlueClaws are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the South Atlantic League, a Class Single-A baseball league. The team plays their home games at FirstEnergy Park located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey...
of the "Low A" South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
. In Lakewood, Bastardo went 9–0, with a 1.87 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...
in 15 games, all of which he started. He had 98 strikeouts and 42 walks in 91.2 innings of work.
At the end of the 2007 season, Bastardo was promoted to the Clearwater Threshers
Clearwater Threshers
The Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the Florida State League. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division....
of the "High A" Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. For the Threshers in 2007, Bastardo appeared in one game, in which he gave up four earned runs but struck out twelve in five innings.
2008
Bastardo began the 2008 season in Clearwater, where he went 2–0 with a 1.17 earned run average and struck out 47 batters in his 30.2 innings of work. He was then called up to the Reading PhilliesReading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
of the Double-A Eastern League.
In Reading, Bastardo went 2–5 with a 3.76 earned run average in 14 starts. He pitched 67 innings, striking out 62, walking 37, and allowing 56 hits.
2009
Before the 2009 season, Bastardo was converted from a starting pitcherStarting 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....
to a relief pitcher
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...
, but was converted right back to a starter after only a handful of outings. Current Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee
Rich Dubee
Richard Peter Dubee, Jr. is the current Philadelphia Phillies' pitching coach.The 2011 season is Dubee's eleventh season in the Phillies organization, and seventh at his current job. Dubee began his coaching career with the Kansas City Royals in 1982. He has since coached the Florida Marlins and...
said that Bastardo had a chance to be in the major leagues at some point in 2009. He was also invited to the Phillies' training camp as a non-roster invitee but was sent to minor league camp on March 16, 2009.
After he was sent down, Bastardo joined the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
for the rest of spring training before being sent down to the Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
.
Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
ranked him as the 11th-best prospect in the Phillies organization in 2009.
After posting a 2–2 record, 1.82 ERA in nine games, Bastardo was called up to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. On May 30, 2009, the Phillies announced that Bastardo would make his major league debut in a start at San Diego on Tuesday, June 2.
2009
After Brett MyersBrett Myers
Brett Allen Myers is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who is currently playing for the Houston Astros.-High school career:...
tore his labrum and placed on the 15 day disabled list, 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...
called up Bastardo on June 2, 2009. He won in his first start against the Dodgers, allowing only one earned run during his six innings pitched. After his Phillies' debut, Bastardo recorded a 2–3 record with a 6.75 ERA and 19 strikeouts. On June 25, during a start against the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
he suffered a shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
injury that forced him to go on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. He returned to the Phillies roster for the postseason, where he made a relief appearance in the second game of the National League Division Series
National League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series...
against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, striking out Jason Giambi
Jason Giambi
Jason Gilbert Giambi is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball.He was the American League MVP in 2000 while with the Oakland Athletics, and is a five-time All-Star who has led the American League in walks four times, in on base percentage...
with two outs and the bases loaded.
2010
Bastardo was placed on the 15 day disabled list on June 17, 2010.2011
On April 24, Bastardo earned his first save in the major leagues when he relieved Roy HalladayRoy Halladay
Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
after innings, inducing one San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
batter to pop out and completing the game.
Bastardo was chosen as interim closer for the Phillies when Ryan Madson
Ryan Madson
Ryan Michael Madson , nicknamed "Mad Dog", is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher, who is a currently a free agent...
went on the disabled list.
Bastardo once pitched a 17-inning scoreless streak, lowering his ERA to 0.78 in the process.
On November 14, 2011, it was announced that Jonathan Papelbon
Jonathan Papelbon
Jonathan Robert Papelbon is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. Before joining the Phillies, Papelbon played with the Boston Red Sox from 2005-2011....
would wear Bastardo's former number 58. It was not announced at that time what number Bastardo would wear for the 2012 Phillies.