) is a former 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...

 and Korea Baseball Organization

Korea Baseball Organization

The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...

 player. Rios's repertoire included a sharp slider

Slider

In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....

, change-up and fastball

Fastball

The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...

 around 90 mph.

Youth

Rios's parents were Cuban and he was born in Spain. At age 2, his family immigrated to the United States, where he grew up and went to college at the University of Miami

University of Miami

The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...

.

Yankees organization

Rios signed as an amateur free agent with 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...

 in 1993. He debuted with the GCL Yankees, going 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA and six saves in 24 games. He had the rare honor of being the closer on a team which briefly featured Mariano Rivera

Mariano Rivera

Mariano Rivera is a Panamanian right-handed baseball pitcher who has played 17 years in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Nicknamed "Mo", Rivera has served as a relief pitcher for most of his career, and since 1997, he has been the Yankees' closer...

 (then a starter). In 1994, Rios had his first year in full-season ball, going 3-2 with 17 saves and a 0.87 ERA in 37 games for the Greensboro Bats and allowing no earned runs (2 runs overall) in 10.1 IP for the Tampa Yankees

Tampa Yankees

The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...

 (2 saves in 9 games). Rios's composite ERA of 0.70 was presumably one of the lowest in all of the minor leagues that year.

Rios remained dazzling in 1995. With Tampa, he had a 2.00 ERA, 0-4 record, 24 saves and 72 strikeouts in 67.1 IP. He finished 53 games, most in the 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...

.

Rios moved to the cusp of the major leagues in 1996. He went 3-1 with 17 saves and a 2.09 ERA for the Norwich Navigators and 4-1 with a 1.95 ERA in 24 games for the Columbus Clippers

Columbus Clippers

The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....

. 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...

rated him as the #9 prospect in the Yankee system, one spot ahead of fellow right-hander Tony Armas, Jr.

Tony Armas, Jr.

Antonio José Armas , better known as Tony Armas, Jr., is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent. He last appeared in a Major League game in 2008...

.

Rios spent most of 1997 with Columbus, doing an effective job, if not as impressive as his prior three years. In 58 games, he went 7-4 with 3 saves and a 3.08 ERA. He was four games pitched behind teammate Dale Polley

Dale Polley

Ezra Dale Polley is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees. He bats right-handed and throws left-handed....

 for the International League

International League

The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...

 lead. He made his major league debut in rough form on May 30, relieving Ramiro Mendoza

Ramiro Mendoza

Ramiro Mendoza , nicknamed "El Brujo" , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Mendoza played with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed. Although Mendoza made 62 starts in his major league career, he was primarily known as a middle relief pitcher...

 with two on and one out against the Red Sox. He promptly served up back-to-back home runs to Wil Cordero

Wil Cordero

Wilfredo Cordero Nieva is a former first baseman/outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was best known as a member of the Montreal Expos . Cordero made his Major League Baseball debut in 1992 and last played in...

 and Mo Vaughn

Mo Vaughn

Maurice Samuel 'Mo' Vaughn , nicknamed "The Hit Dog", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played from 1991 to 2003...

, the first two batters he faced. An inning later, Scott Hatteberg

Scott Hatteberg

Scott Allen Hatteberg is a former American Major League Baseball first baseman and catcher.- Early life :...

 added another homer. He had allowed 3 runs in 1 2/3 IP, all on homers. He returned to Columbus but came back to the Yankees for a game late in the year, replacing Hideki Irabu

Hideki Irabu

was a professional baseball player of Okinawan and American mixed ancestry. He played professionally in both Japan and the United States.-Early life:...

 with one on and one out in the 7th inning on September 5. He allowed three straight singles, bringing in one inherited runner and one another score. After back-to-back singles to open the 8th, he was replaced by Graeme Lloyd

Graeme Lloyd

Graeme John Lloyd is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who had a ten year career from 1993 to 2003.-Playing career:...

, ending a horrible rookie year in the majors - 9 hits and 5 runs in 2 1/3 innings plus three inherited runners plated.

Royals system

The Yankees waived Rios in March 1998 and he was picked up by the Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...

. He threw in five games early in the year for Kansas City, but struggled. He went 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA and would never again pitch in the major leagues, though he was just 25. He went 6-7 with one save and a 5.63 ERA for the 1998 Omaha Royals

Omaha Royals

The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...

, being used regularly as a starting pitcher for the first time in his professional career.

Rios was moved back to the bullpen in 1999 but the results were not good. He went 10-4 with Omaha to tie for the team lead in wins and saved four games, but had a 6.07 ERA.

Independent leagues and Mexico

In 2000, Rios moved to the Newark Bears

Newark Bears

The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...

, going 2-3 with a 4.26 ERA. He went to the Mexican League, where he was 6-3 with a 3.12 ERA for the Algodoneros de Union Laguna.

Dan was 18-5 with a 2.98 ERA for Union Laguna in 2001, finishing 9th in the Mexican League in ERA. He led the Liga in victories.

South Korea

Rios drew notice overseas and was picked up by the KIA Tigers

Kia Tigers

Kia Tigers Professional Baseball Club is a Korean professional baseball team founded in 1982. The Tigers are a member team of the Korean Baseball Organization and the most successful team in Korean baseball having won the national championship, the Korean Series, ten times, with a perfect 10-0...

. He helped the club finish second in his first season there, going 14-5 with 13 saves and a 3.14 ERA. He was 4th in the Korea Baseball Organization

Korea Baseball Organization

The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...

 in ERA. He fell to 10-13 in 2003, but his 3.82 ERA still ranked 9th in the KBO.

In 2004, Danny led the KBO with 223 innings pitched. He went 17-8 with a 2.87 ERA, finishing 4th in ERA behind Park Myung-hwan, Gary Rath

Gary Rath

Alfred Gary Rath is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent. Rath played in three games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in , and in five games for the Minnesota Twins in . He has also played professionally in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.Rath is a 1991 graduate of...

 and Bae Young-soo

Bae Young-Soo

Bae Young-Soo is a South Korean starting pitcher who plays for the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization...

. He tied Rath and Bae for the league lead in wins, though Bae had six fewer losses than Rios and Rath.

At age 32, the right-hander was traded mid-season to the Doosan Bears

Doosan Bears

The Doosan Bears are a professional baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. They are a member of the Korean Baseball Organization....

. Cumulatively, he was 15-12 with a 3.51 ERA, third in the KBO in ERA behind Son Min-han and Kim Won-hyung. He battled control problems, walking 147 in 205 1/3 IP, but also tied Bae for the KBO lead in strikeouts (also 147).

Rios was 12-16 with a 2.90 ERA in 2006 for Doosan.

The veteran started 2007 with a splash - through September 23, he is 20-5 with a 1.96 ERA, leading the league in wins and ERA. He became the sixth pitcher in KBO history to have won 10+ games in six consecutive seasons, following Kim Si-jin

Kim Si-Jin

Kim Si-Jin is a retired pitcher in the Korea Baseball Organization, and the current manager of the Heroes in the KBO.-Amateur career:...

 (1983–1988), Sun Dong-yeol

Sun Dong-Yeol

Sun Dong-Yeol is a retired pitcher in the Korea Professional Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball, and is New manager of Kia Tigers in the Korea Professional Baseball...

 (1986–1991), Lee Kang-chul (1989–1998), Jung Min-chul (1992–1999) and Chung Min-tae

Chung Min-Tae

Chung Min-Tae is a former pitcher in the Korea Baseball Organization and Nippon Professional Baseball, and the current pitching coach of the Heroes....

 (1996–2000). At that point, his career KBO record was 88-59, 3.00. He became the first 20-game winner in the KBO since Chung won that many in 1999; KBO schedules are only 126 games, making 20-game winners rarer than in the US. He was the first foreigner to win 20 games in a year (not counting Japanese natives of South Korean descent).

Rios finished 22-5 with a 2.07 ERA. He won five more games than runners-up Ryu Hyun-jin

Ryu Hyun-Jin

Ryu Hyun-Jin is a South Korean left-handed starting pitcher who plays for the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization.-Amateur career:...

 and Kenny Rayborn and his ERA was .77 was ahead of runner-up Chae Byung-ryong. He whiffed 147, second in the KBO to Ryu, to miss out on the pitching Triple Crown

Triple crown (baseball)

In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...

. It was the highest win total by a starter since Hiroaki Fukushi in 1983. Rios continued his dominance in the post-season. In game one of the 2007 Korean Series

2007 Korean Series

The 2007 Korean Series began on Monday, the 22nd of October, at the Munhak Baseball Stadium in Incheon. It featured the SK Wyverns, who had claimed home ground advantage by finishing in first place at the end of the season, and the Doosan Bears, who had finished second and had swept the Hanhwa...

, Danny threw a four-hit shutout

Shutout

In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....

 against the SK Wyverns

SK Wyverns

SK Wyverns Baseball Club is a South Korean professional baseball team founded in 2000. Based in Incheon, they play their home games at Munhak Baseball Stadium.Their current manager is Man Soo Lee .-History:...

.

Doping case

In June 2008, while playing for the Yakult Swallows in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), Rios tested positive for a metabolite of the anabolic steroid stanozolol and was subsequently banned from Japanese baseball for a year.

External links

• Rios's KBO page
• Rios caught doping (Dropped from Tokyo Yakult Swallows)
• BR page