Kelvim Escobar
Encyclopedia
Kelvim Jose Escobar Bolivar (born April 11, 1976 in La Guaira
, Venezuela
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
, who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. He has previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays
(1997–2003) and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
(2004–2009).
In March 2008, Escobar revealed a tear in his right shoulder
that required season-ending surgery.
He only made one start in 2009 because of another shoulder injury and did not pitch in 2010.
Kansas City Royals
shortstop Alcides Escobar
is his first cousin.
in 1992. He was rated the 2nd best prospect in the Florida State League in 1996. He was also rated the 4th best prospect in the Blue Jays organization in 1996.
Escobar made his major league debut on June 29, 1997 coming up as a reliever. He was able to save 14 games. For the next five seasons, he was being switched in and out of the bullpen
. Over that period he had a record of 42–44 with 40 saves. In 2001, he became second on the Blue Jays all-time single season saves list with 38 saves. The Blue Jays finally established him as a starter in 2003. He started off 4–5 before the All-Star
and 8–3 after the All Star break. He finished the season with a 12–8 record with 159 strikeout
s and a 3.92 ERA
.
before the 2004 season. He was slotted in as the Angels' second starter in 2004 going 11–12 with a 3.93 ERA. In 2005, he was hampered by injuries that allowed him to only start 7 games in 16 appearances. He went 3–2. In 2006, he went 11–14, with a 3.61 ERA. He was resigned to a three-year 28.5 million dollar deal with the Angels. In 2007. his breakout year with the Angels, he went 18–7 with a 3.40 ERA. During spring training of 2008, it was discovered that, Escobar had a right shoulder
injury that required season-ending surgery. He was only able to make one start in 2008 and 2009.
. This gave him a $1.25M dollar base salary, with up to $3M total in incentives based on games pitched. Escobar tore his capsule in his right shoulder before he even threw a pitch for the Mets. He missed the entire 2010 season.
fastball
, an 90–92 MPH two-seamer
, and a deceptive 83–85 MPH changeup
. He has good command of a wide variety of other pitches, including an 79–83 MPH curve
, and the occasional 86–88 slider
or 85–87 MPH splitter
.
La Guaira
La Guaira is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Vargas and the country's chief port. It was founded in 1577 as an outlet for Caracas, to the southeast. The town and the port were badly damaged during the December 1999 floods and mudslides that affected much of the region...
, Venezuela
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...
) is a 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...
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 currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. He has previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
(1997–2003) and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(2004–2009).
In March 2008, Escobar revealed a tear in his right 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...
that required season-ending surgery.
He only made one start in 2009 because of another shoulder injury and did not pitch in 2010.
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...
shortstop Alcides Escobar
Alcides Escobar
Alcides Escobar is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Kansas City Royals. He was considered the best-fielding infielder in the Brewers' organization and was previously one of the top prospects in the organization...
is his first cousin.
Toronto Blue Jays
Escobar signed as an amateur free agent with the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in 1992. He was rated the 2nd best prospect in the Florida State League in 1996. He was also rated the 4th best prospect in the Blue Jays organization in 1996.
Escobar made his major league debut on June 29, 1997 coming up as a reliever. He was able to save 14 games. For the next five seasons, he was being switched in and out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
. Over that period he had a record of 42–44 with 40 saves. In 2001, he became second on the Blue Jays all-time single season saves list with 38 saves. The Blue Jays finally established him as a starter in 2003. He started off 4–5 before the All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
and 8–3 after the All Star break. He finished the season with a 12–8 record with 159 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.92 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...
.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Escobar signed a three-year $18.75 million dollar contract with the Angels as 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....
before the 2004 season. He was slotted in as the Angels' second starter in 2004 going 11–12 with a 3.93 ERA. In 2005, he was hampered by injuries that allowed him to only start 7 games in 16 appearances. He went 3–2. In 2006, he went 11–14, with a 3.61 ERA. He was resigned to a three-year 28.5 million dollar deal with the Angels. In 2007. his breakout year with the Angels, he went 18–7 with a 3.40 ERA. During spring training of 2008, it was discovered that, Escobar had a right 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 required season-ending surgery. He was only able to make one start in 2008 and 2009.
New York Mets
On December 28, 2009, Escobar signed a 1 year contact with the New York MetsNew 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...
. This gave him a $1.25M dollar base salary, with up to $3M total in incentives based on games pitched. Escobar tore his capsule in his right shoulder before he even threw a pitch for the Mets. He missed the entire 2010 season.
Pitching Style
Escobar throws an 93–95 MPH four-seamFour-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
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...
, an 90–92 MPH two-seamer
Two-seam fastball
A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball, but the general movement of a screwball...
, and a deceptive 83–85 MPH changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
. He has good command of a wide variety of other pitches, including an 79–83 MPH curve
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, and the occasional 86–88 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....
or 85–87 MPH splitter
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
.