Juan Gutiérrez (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Juan Carlos Gutiérrez nicknamed the goot is a Venezuela
n professional baseball
pitcher
who is a free agent.
by the Houston Astros
on December 14, 2000. He played for Venezuelan Summer League in 2001 and 2002 before playing for their Rookie League teams in 2003 and 2004.
Gutiérrez has been a starter
in the minor leagues. In the 2006 AA Texas League
, Gutiérrez helped lead the Corpus Christi Hooks
(Houston) to their lone Texas League championship. On August 17, 2007, he was recalled by the Houston Astros when Stephen Randolph
was placed on the disabled list. On August 23, Gutierrez made his major league starting debut against the Washington Nationals, filling in for injured starting pitcher Roy Oswalt
. He was sent back down to Round Rock on August 25 to make room for left-handed pitcher Troy Patton
.
On December 14, 2007, Gutierrez was traded in a three-player deal which included pitcher Chad Qualls
, infielder Chris Burke to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Jose Valverde
.
He had a stint as the Diamondbacks closer in 2009 after Qualls was injured. He had 10 saves and was 8 for 8 after replacing Qualls.
Gutierrez was released on October 13, 2011.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n 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...
who is a free agent.
Baseball career
Gutiérrez was signed as an undrafted 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 Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
on December 14, 2000. He played for Venezuelan Summer League in 2001 and 2002 before playing for their Rookie League teams in 2003 and 2004.
Gutiérrez has been a starter
Starting 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....
in the minor leagues. In the 2006 AA Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, Gutiérrez helped lead the Corpus Christi Hooks
Corpus Christi Hooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a minor league baseball team of the Texas League, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan...
(Houston) to their lone Texas League championship. On August 17, 2007, he was recalled by the Houston Astros when Stephen Randolph
Stephen Randolph
Stephen LeCharles Randolph is an American left-handed pitcher formerly in Major League Baseball but now for the Yokohama BayStars of NPB....
was placed on the disabled list. On August 23, Gutierrez made his major league starting debut against the Washington Nationals, filling in for injured starting pitcher Roy Oswalt
Roy Oswalt
Roy Edward Oswalt is an American Major League Baseball pitcher and Olympic gold medalist who is currently a free agent. Oswalt, a slender six-foot right-handed starting pitcher, is currently in his eleventh major league season...
. He was sent back down to Round Rock on August 25 to make room for left-handed pitcher Troy Patton
Troy Patton
Troy Jamieson Patton is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Patton attended Tomball High School in Tomball, Texas.-Baseball career:...
.
On December 14, 2007, Gutierrez was traded in a three-player deal which included pitcher Chad Qualls
Chad Qualls
Chadford Michael Qualls is a relief pitcher.-Astros:Qualls was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros. He began his career as a starting pitcher with the Michigan Battle Cats in...
, infielder Chris Burke to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Jose Valverde
José Valverde
José Rafael Valverde is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. His nickname is Papa Grande...
.
He had a stint as the Diamondbacks closer in 2009 after Qualls was injured. He had 10 saves and was 8 for 8 after replacing Qualls.
Gutierrez was released on October 13, 2011.