Derek Botelho
Encyclopedia
Derek Wayne Botelho is a former right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
for the Kansas City Royals
and Chicago Cubs
, who is currently the pitching coach for the Class A-Advanced Lynchburg Hillcats
.
, as a high schooler out of Boca Raton Community High School in Florida
, but he did not sign, electing to play for Miami-Dade South Community College
. He was then drafted in the fourth round (76th overall) of the secondary phase of the 1975 draft by the California Angels, but again did not sign. After his sophomore year of college, the Phillies again drafted him, this time in the second round (42nd overall) of the 1976 draft
, after which he signed.
After he had a solid 1978 season at AA Reading, the Phillies traded Botelho in an eight-player deal, sending him, along with Henry Mack, Jerry Martin
, Ted Sizemore
, and Barry Foote
to the Cubs in exchange for Manny Trillo
, Greg Gross
, and Dave Rader
. He pitched four games for the Cubs' AAA team in Wichita
before being released. After being out of baseball for about a year, Botelho signed as a free agent with the Royals organization. In one and one-half years, he worked his way from high-A ball to the majors, debuting with Kansas City on July 18, 1982.
Botelho's first major league game was an impressive one. Starting against the Boston Red Sox
at Fenway Park
, Botelho pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits as the Royals blanked the Sox 9-0. His first strikeout victim was Jerry Remy
. He made three more starts and one relief appearance before returning to AAA, but his career seemed to be heading in the right direction. He went 2-1 with a 4.13 ERA all told with the Royals. Unfortunately, 1983 didn't go as well for Botelho, as he stumbled to a 10-14 record and 5.42 ERA for AAA Omaha. The Royals decided to unload Botelho, trading him with Don Werner
to the Cubs in exchange for Alan Hargesheimer
just before the start of the 1984 season.
Botelho spent the balance of the Cubs' 1984 division title season with their AAA team in Iowa, posting a solid season of a 10-11 record and 3.81 ERA
, perhaps the best showing of any of the I-Cubs' starting pitchers. After going 11-7 in 20 starts for Iowa in 1985, Botelho was called up to the Cubs to join their injury-decimated starting rotation. He lost his first two starts on August 5 and 11 but remained in the rotation, finally winning his first game as a Cub on September 1 against the Atlanta Braves
, when he pitched his only major league complete game
. However, after a disastrous September 6 start (1 2/3 innings, 5 earned runs), Botelho was moved to the bullpen. His appearance on September 24, 1985 would prove to be his last in the major leagues.
Botelho spent three next three seasons pitching for the AAA teams of the Cincinnati Reds
, Royals, and St. Louis Cardinals
before retiring as a player at age 32.
Botelho resurfaced in 1998 as a minor league pitching coach for the Burlington Bees
. He has also served in that capacity for the Rockford Reds, Dayton Dragons
, GCL Braves, Danville Braves
, Richmond Braves
, the Mississippi Braves
, the Gwinnett Braves
and currently, the Lynchburg Hillcats
.
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...
in 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...
for 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...
and Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, who is currently the pitching coach for the Class A-Advanced Lynchburg Hillcats
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
.
Career
Botelho was drafted three times before signing with a major league team, the first time as a 26th-round selection (555th overall) in 1974 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...
, as a high schooler out of Boca Raton Community High School in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, but he did not sign, electing to play for Miami-Dade South Community College
Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College, or simply Miami Dade or MDC, is a state college with eight campuses and twenty-one outreach centers located throughout Miami-Dade County, Florida in the United States. It is part of the Florida College System. Miami Dade College is the largest school in the Florida College...
. He was then drafted in the fourth round (76th overall) of the secondary phase of the 1975 draft by the California Angels, but again did not sign. After his sophomore year of college, the Phillies again drafted him, this time in the second round (42nd overall) of the 1976 draft
1976 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The 1976 Arizona State University team, considered by many to be the best collegiate team ever, played a major role in the draft. Floyd Bannister was picked number one...
, after which he signed.
After he had a solid 1978 season at AA Reading, the Phillies traded Botelho in an eight-player deal, sending him, along with Henry Mack, Jerry Martin
Jerry Martin
Jerry Lindsey Martin is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is the son of major league pitcher Barney Martin....
, Ted Sizemore
Ted Sizemore
Ted Crawford Sizemore was a second baseman for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers , St...
, and Barry Foote
Barry Foote
Barry Clifton Foote is a former American professional baseball player, scout, coach and minor league manager. Foote played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Montreal Expos , Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Cubs , and New York Yankees...
to the Cubs in exchange for Manny Trillo
Manny Trillo
Jesús Manuel Marcano Trillo , also nicknamed "Indio", is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from to...
, Greg Gross
Greg Gross
Gregory Eugene Gross , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from 1973-1989, playing for the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, and Philadelphia Phillies...
, and Dave Rader
Dave Rader (baseball)
David Martin Rader is a former professional baseball player. From through , he was a catcher in Major League Baseball, playing for the San Francisco Giants , St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox...
. He pitched four games for the Cubs' AAA team in Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
before being released. After being out of baseball for about a year, Botelho signed as a free agent with the Royals organization. In one and one-half years, he worked his way from high-A ball to the majors, debuting with Kansas City on July 18, 1982.
Botelho's first major league game was an impressive one. Starting against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
, Botelho pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits as the Royals blanked the Sox 9-0. His first strikeout victim was Jerry Remy
Jerry Remy
Gerald Peter "Rem Dawg" Remy is a Major League Baseball broadcaster and former Major League Baseball second baseman. Remy grew up in Somerset, Massachusetts.-Playing career:...
. He made three more starts and one relief appearance before returning to AAA, but his career seemed to be heading in the right direction. He went 2-1 with a 4.13 ERA all told with the Royals. Unfortunately, 1983 didn't go as well for Botelho, as he stumbled to a 10-14 record and 5.42 ERA for AAA Omaha. The Royals decided to unload Botelho, trading him with Don Werner
Don Werner
Donald Paul Werner is a retired Major League Baseball catcher. He played during seven seasons at the major league level, playing for the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers . In 1978, the Reds starting catcher, Johnny Bench, sat out 20 plus games with an injury which gave Don a starting role...
to the Cubs in exchange for Alan Hargesheimer
Alan Hargesheimer
Alan Robert Hargesheimer is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched in parts of four seasons between and for three different teams. Since his retirement, Hargesheimer has worked as a scout for several teams, including the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres.-Sources:...
just before the start of the 1984 season.
Botelho spent the balance of the Cubs' 1984 division title season with their AAA team in Iowa, posting a solid season of a 10-11 record and 3.81 ERA
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...
, perhaps the best showing of any of the I-Cubs' starting pitchers. After going 11-7 in 20 starts for Iowa in 1985, Botelho was called up to the Cubs to join their injury-decimated starting rotation. He lost his first two starts on August 5 and 11 but remained in the rotation, finally winning his first game as a Cub on September 1 against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, when he pitched his only major league complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
. However, after a disastrous September 6 start (1 2/3 innings, 5 earned runs), Botelho was moved to the bullpen. His appearance on September 24, 1985 would prove to be his last in the major leagues.
Botelho spent three next three seasons pitching for the AAA teams of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Royals, and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
before retiring as a player at age 32.
Botelho resurfaced in 1998 as a minor league pitching coach for the Burlington Bees
Burlington Bees
The Burlington Bees are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Oakland Athletics, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home is in Burlington, Iowa.-History:...
. He has also served in that capacity for the Rockford Reds, Dayton Dragons
Dayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
, GCL Braves, Danville Braves
Danville Braves
The Danville Braves are a minor league baseball team in Danville, Virginia, USA. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League and have been a farm team of the Atlanta Braves since 1993. The Braves play home games at American Legion Post 325 Field...
, Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
, the Mississippi Braves
Mississippi Braves
The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they are referred to locally, are a minor league baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and plays in the Southern League. The team is owned and operated by Liberty Media, which...
, the Gwinnett Braves
Gwinnett Braves
The Gwinnett Braves are a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Atlanta Braves. The team was previously the Richmond Braves for 43 seasons . On January 14, 2008, it was announced that the Richmond Braves would move from Richmond,...
and currently, the Lynchburg Hillcats
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
.