Elmer Dessens
Encyclopedia
Elmer Dessens Jusaino [deh-SENZ] (born January 13, 1971) is a Mexican
professional baseball
player who is currently a free agent.
, Mexico. At age 10, he worked as a newspaper boy. Dessens graduated from Carrera Technical High School. He is married to Lorenia and has as a son, Elmer Jr. Dessens enjoys fishing and is a big Los Angeles Lakers
fan.
by the Pittsburgh Pirates
in . He made his major league debut with the Pirates in , and pitched with them until . The Pirates released him at the end of spring training in , and he pitched that season for the Yomiuri Giants
in Japan.
Dessens returned to the major leagues in with the Cincinnati Reds
and pitched for them for three seasons.
During the 2002-03 offseason, Dessens was involved in a four-team trade that sent him to the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
Dessens stayed with the Diamondbacks until August , when the Los Angeles Dodgers
acquired him for a minor leaguer to bolster their bullpen for the stretch run. That October, Dessens pitched in the postseason for the first and, to date, last time, appearing in one game during the Dodgers' Division Series
loss to the St. Louis Cardinals
.
Dessens pitched one more season for the Dodgers, then became a free agent in the offseason.
Prior to the 2006 season, Dessens signed with the Kansas City Royals
. In July, the Dodgers reacquired Dessens from the Royals for pitcher Odalis Pérez
and two minor leaguers, again to bolster their bullpen. While the Dodgers did win the wild card
that season, Dessens did not appear as the Dodgers were swept in the Division Series
to the New York Mets
.
In March 2007, Dessens was traded from the Dodgers to the Milwaukee Brewers
for reserve outfielder
Brady Clark
and cash. In early August he was released by the Brewers, but a few days later he signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies
. He started 5 games for the Rockies, going 1-1 with a 7.58 ERA
. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
In January 2008, Dessens signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
, but was released during spring training
. He then spent most of the 2008 season in the Mexican League
with the Diablos Rojos del México
. After pitching (and winning) the final game of the league championship against the Sultanes de Monterrey, he signed a major league contract with the Atlanta Braves in August. After the season, Dessens again became a free agent.
In February , Dessens signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. Dessens made his Mets debut on June 23, 2009 against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was designated for assignment on July 30. He had his contract purchased on August 6, 2009, when Jon Niese
was placed on the 60-Day disabled list
.
In December 2009, Dessens signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets for the 2010 season.
On February 8, 2011, it was reported that Dessens had signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants
that included an invitation to spring training. However, on February 14, it was reported that the deal fell through.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
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...
player who is currently a free agent.
Personal life
Elmer Dessens was born on January 13, 1971 in HermosilloHermosillo
Hermosillo is a city and municipality located centrally in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is the capital and main economic center for the state and region. It contains almost all of the state's manufacturing and has thirty percent of its population...
, Mexico. At age 10, he worked as a newspaper boy. Dessens graduated from Carrera Technical High School. He is married to Lorenia and has as a son, Elmer Jr. Dessens enjoys fishing and is a big Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
fan.
Baseball career
Dessens was signed as an amateur free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in . He made his major league debut with the Pirates in , and pitched with them until . The Pirates released him at the end of spring training in , and he pitched that season for the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
in Japan.
Dessens returned to the major leagues in with 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....
and pitched for them for three seasons.
During the 2002-03 offseason, Dessens was involved in a four-team trade that sent him to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
Dessens stayed with the Diamondbacks until August , when 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...
acquired him for a minor leaguer to bolster their bullpen for the stretch run. That October, Dessens pitched in the postseason for the first and, to date, last time, appearing in one game during the Dodgers' Division Series
2004 National League Division Series
-Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros:-Game 1, October 5:Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriOdalis Perez faced Woody Williams in Game 1. Albert Pujols got the Cardinals started with a solo homer to make it 1–0 in the first. Then in the third, Perez reached his limit after surrendering five two-out...
loss to the 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...
.
Dessens pitched one more season for the Dodgers, then became a free agent in the offseason.
Prior to the 2006 season, Dessens signed with 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...
. In July, the Dodgers reacquired Dessens from the Royals for pitcher Odalis Pérez
Odalis Pérez
Odalis Amadol Pérez is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He played with the Atlanta Braves , the Los Angeles Dodgers , the Kansas City Royals , and the Washington Nationals ....
and two minor leaguers, again to bolster their bullpen. While the Dodgers did win the wild card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
that season, Dessens did not appear as the Dodgers were swept in the Division Series
2006 National League Division Series
-San Diego Padres vs. St. Louis Cardinals:-New York vs. Los Angeles:The series seemed over for the Mets before it even started, first by losing ace Pedro Martínez for the postseason and then losing probable Game 1 starter Orlando Hernández. Despite having a potent offense, many people didn't seem...
to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
In March 2007, Dessens was traded from the Dodgers to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for reserve 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...
Brady Clark
Brady Clark
Brady William Clark is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Brady is a class of 1991 graduate of Sunset High School in Portland, Oregon and 1996 graduate of the University of San Diego...
and cash. In early August he was released by the Brewers, but a few days later he signed a minor league deal with 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...
. He started 5 games for the Rockies, going 1-1 with a 7.58 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...
. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
In January 2008, Dessens signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, but was released during 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...
. He then spent most of the 2008 season in the Mexican League
Liga Mexicana de Beisbol
The Mexican League is a summer minor league baseball league with teams based across Mexico. Along with the International League and the Pacific Coast League, it is one of three leagues playing at the triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It is the only Minor League...
with the Diablos Rojos del México
Diablos Rojos del México
Diablos Rojos del México is a professional baseball team in the Mexican League.This team is located in Mexico City. The team name, Diablos Rojos del México, means Mexico City Red Devils. It is often believed that they are named after the Cincinnati Reds. That is, however, not the case...
. After pitching (and winning) the final game of the league championship against the Sultanes de Monterrey, he signed a major league contract with the Atlanta Braves in August. After the season, Dessens again became a free agent.
In February , Dessens signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. Dessens made his Mets debut on June 23, 2009 against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was designated for assignment on July 30. He had his contract purchased on August 6, 2009, when Jon Niese
Jon Niese
Jonathon Joseph "Jon" Niese is an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, he currently plays for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
was placed on the 60-Day 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:...
.
In December 2009, Dessens signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets for the 2010 season.
On February 8, 2011, it was reported that Dessens had signed a minor league deal with 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....
that included an invitation to spring training. However, on February 14, it was reported that the deal fell through.