Pedro Feliciano
Encyclopedia
Pedro Juan Feliciano Molina (born August 25, 1976 in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
) is a Major League Baseball
left-handed
pitcher
for the New York Yankees
.
in the 31st round of the amateur draft
and began his professional career with the Great Falls Dodgers in the Pioneer League. His progress through the minor leagues was slow and marred by injuries. After four years in the Rookie and Class A leagues, he suffered a shoulder injury in which prevented him from playing all season. He returned in , pitching at the AA level, with one inning for the AAA Albuquerque Dukes
. In , he struggled in AAA after pitching well in AA. After six years of service in the minor leagues without promotion to the Majors, he became a free agent.
for the season, but was traded to the New York Mets
in August along with Brady Clark
for Shawn Estes
. On September 4, 2002, Feliciano made his Major League debut pitching two scoreless innings of relief against the Florida Marlins
. In the three years following, he had mixed success with the Mets, being recalled from and optioned to the AAA Norfolk Tides
several times in and . In , he spent the season with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks
of the Japanese Pacific League
, but returned to the Mets as a left-handed specialist
for the and seasons. In 2008 and 2009, he operated as a full-fledged member of the bullpen ensemble and the Mets' primary situational left-hander, often appearing in the seventh or eighth innings to pitch to one or two left-handed batters. In 2010, Feliciano has been also used as a set-up man
.
In 2007, he recorded his first career big-league save against the Philadelphia Phillies
.
In 2008, he led the majors in games pitched, with 86.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-reliever-pitching.shtml In 58 of those games, the greatest number in the majors, he recorded fewer than three outs.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-reliever-pitching.shtml He also led the majors in days pitched on zero days rest, with 36.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-reliever-pitching.shtml
Due to his large number of appearances, he has been nicknamed "Perpetual Pedro" by Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen
.
In 2010, he passed Hall of Famer Tom Seaver
in games pitched for the Mets with 459 and is now second all time to John Franco.
Pedro lead the majors in appearances in 2008, 2009, and 2010. He has had the most appearances from 2007-2010. His 344 relief appearances over those four years, is a Major League Baseball record.
. He has since been placed on the Disabled List because of soreness in his left shoulder. On April 25, orthopedist James Andrews recommended a six-week strengthening program for the pitcher. Pedro was shut down for the 2011 season. The Yankees front office said the reason behind Feliciano's injury was that the Mets overused him. The reason for Feliciano's trip to the disabled list was due to rotator cuff surgery. Because of it, he is expected to not make one pitch over his entire contract of $8 million over 2 years.
Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Río Piedras is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of Ciudad Universitaria...
) 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...
left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
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...
for 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...
.
Early career
In 1995 he was selected by the Los Angeles DodgersLos 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...
in the 31st round of the amateur draft
1995 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign-Background:Outfielder Darin Erstad of the University of Nebraska was the first pick in the 1995 Rule 4 Draft. Erstad compiled a career .356 average in three seasons with the...
and began his professional career with the Great Falls Dodgers in the Pioneer League. His progress through the minor leagues was slow and marred by injuries. After four years in the Rookie and Class A leagues, he suffered a shoulder injury in which prevented him from playing all season. He returned in , pitching at the AA level, with one inning for the AAA Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
. In , he struggled in AAA after pitching well in AA. After six years of service in the minor leagues without promotion to the Majors, he became a free agent.
New York Mets
Feliciano signed with the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati 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....
for the season, but was traded 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 August along with 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...
for Shawn Estes
Shawn Estes
Aaron Shawn Estes is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. After he attended Douglas High School in Minden, Nevada, he was offered a scholarship by Stanford University...
. On September 4, 2002, Feliciano made his Major League debut pitching two scoreless innings of relief against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. In the three years following, he had mixed success with the Mets, being recalled from and optioned to the AAA Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
several times in and . In , he spent the season with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
of the Japanese Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
, but returned to the Mets as a left-handed specialist
Left-handed specialist
In baseball, a left-handed specialist is a left-handed relief pitcher who specializes in pitching to left-handed batters, or to switch-hitters who bat poorly right-handed...
for the and seasons. In 2008 and 2009, he operated as a full-fledged member of the bullpen ensemble and the Mets' primary situational left-hander, often appearing in the seventh or eighth innings to pitch to one or two left-handed batters. In 2010, Feliciano has been also used as a set-up man
Setup pitcher
In baseball, a setup pitcher is a relief pitcher who regularly pitches before the closer. They commonly pitch the 7th and/or 8th innings, with the closer pitching the 9th....
.
In 2007, he recorded his first career big-league save against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia 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...
.
In 2008, he led the majors in games pitched, with 86.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-reliever-pitching.shtml In 58 of those games, the greatest number in the majors, he recorded fewer than three outs.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-reliever-pitching.shtml He also led the majors in days pitched on zero days rest, with 36.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-reliever-pitching.shtml
Due to his large number of appearances, he has been nicknamed "Perpetual Pedro" by Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen
Gary Cohen
Gary Cohen is an American sportscaster, best known as a radio and television play-by-play announcer for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball....
.
In 2010, he passed Hall of Famer Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
in games pitched for the Mets with 459 and is now second all time to John Franco.
Pedro lead the majors in appearances in 2008, 2009, and 2010. He has had the most appearances from 2007-2010. His 344 relief appearances over those four years, is a Major League Baseball record.
New York Yankees
Feliciano signed a two-year contract with the New York YankeesNew 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...
. He has since been placed on the Disabled List because of soreness in his left shoulder. On April 25, orthopedist James Andrews recommended a six-week strengthening program for the pitcher. Pedro was shut down for the 2011 season. The Yankees front office said the reason behind Feliciano's injury was that the Mets overused him. The reason for Feliciano's trip to the disabled list was due to rotator cuff surgery. Because of it, he is expected to not make one pitch over his entire contract of $8 million over 2 years.