Radhames Liz
Encyclopedia
Radhames Corey Liz is a starting pitcher
for the LG Twins
of Korean Baseball Organization
.
when he was 16 years old and learned how to pitch in and while playing in the Dominican Summer League
. He started pitching in the United States
with the short-season Aberdeen IronBirds
and Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds
in .
, the highest of the Orioles' three Single-A teams. Liz began the season by striking out
33 batters in his first 15 innings pitched. Later in the year, he represented the Orioles on the World squad at the All-Star Futures Game
. He also received a promotion to the Double-A Bowie Baysox
; between the two teams, he struck out 149 batters in 133 innings before playing in the Dominican Winter League. However, he had difficulty with his control in the 2006 season, walking
75 batters. Baseball America
named Liz the Orioles' fifth-best prospect going into the season, following Billy Rowell, Brandon Erbe
, Nolan Reimold
, and Pedro Beato
.
on June 1. His no-hitter was the first nine-inning no-hitter ever pitched at Prince George's Stadium
, which has been open since . On August 14, Liz took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Connecticut Defenders
; he then allowed a single
and a two-run home run
, but struck out 14 batters in eight innings.
For the 2007 season, Liz had an 11–4 record for the Baysox with a 3.22 ERA
and 161 strikeouts in 137 innings pitched. In his 10 starts at the Baysox' Prince George's Stadium
, he was 9–0 with a 2.02 ERA in 62 innings pitched.
The Orioles recalled him from Bowie on August 24, , to make a start against the Minnesota Twins
at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
the following day. He allowed five runs, including a three-run home run to Torii Hunter
, in six innings. He consistently threw 97–98 miles per hour, with one pitch clocked at 100.
, the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk, Virginia
.
, January 7, 2011, signed by the LG Twins
.
consistently in the mid- to upper-90s and has been clocked at 99 mph. His other pitches include an overhand curveball
, a sinker
, a slider
, and two variations of a changeup
.
Early in his professional career, Liz received attention because of a clicking sound which is sometimes loud enough to be heard in the stands and occurs whenever he throws a pitch. Some have thought it to be his thumb clicking against his index finger. Orioles head athletic trainer Richie Bancells discovered that Liz's scapula
caused the clicking; although rare, this condition does not hurt his pitching career. To treat this condition, Liz has been doing an exercise program to strengthen the muscles around his collarbone.
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....
for the LG Twins
LG Twins
LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
of Korean Baseball Organization
Korean Baseball Organization
Korea Professional Baseball is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The Korean romanization is Hanguk Peuro Yagu , a league title which mirrors Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Korea Professional Baseball was originally founded with six teams in 1982 and currently has eight...
.
Biography
Liz, who is one of 8 children in his family, started playing baseballBaseball
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...
when he was 16 years old and learned how to pitch in and while playing in the Dominican Summer League
Dominican Summer League
The Dominican Summer League is a branch of affiliated minor league baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. The 2011 72-game season begins May 28 and ends August 20...
. He started pitching in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with the short-season Aberdeen IronBirds
Aberdeen IronBirds
The Aberdeen IronBirds are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The IronBirds play in the New York - Penn League and are based in Aberdeen, Maryland, which is in Harford County....
and Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds
Delmarva Shorebirds
The Delmarva Shorebirds are a minor league baseball team based in Salisbury, Maryland. They are one of three Single-A affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and a member of the South Atlantic League. The Shorebirds play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.The "Shorebirds" name refers to the marine waterfowl...
in .
2006
In , Liz started his first full professional season with the Frederick KeysFrederick Keys
The Frederick Keys minor league baseball team is the "High-A" class A baseball affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Keys are based in Frederick, Maryland. The franchise is named for Star Spangled Banner poet Francis Scott Key, a native of Frederick County. The team mascot is a coyote known as...
, the highest of the Orioles' three Single-A teams. Liz began the season by striking out
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....
33 batters in his first 15 innings pitched. Later in the year, he represented the Orioles on the World squad at the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
. He also received a promotion to the Double-A Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
; between the two teams, he struck out 149 batters in 133 innings before playing in the Dominican Winter League. However, he had difficulty with his control in the 2006 season, walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
75 batters. Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
named Liz the Orioles' fifth-best prospect going into the season, following Billy Rowell, Brandon Erbe
Brandon Erbe
Brandon Edward Erbe is a baseball pitcher who was once on the Baltimore Orioles 40-man roster.-External links:...
, Nolan Reimold
Nolan Reimold
Nolan Gallagher Reimold is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles.-Early life:Reimold was born to John and Mary Reimold on October 12, 1983 in Greenville, Pennsylvania. He attended Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage, Pennsylvania...
, and Pedro Beato
Pedro Beato
Pedro Beato is a relief pitcher for the New York Mets.Beato attended Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, New York. He was drafted by the New York Mets in the 17th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign. He opted to attend St. Petersburg College...
.
2007
Liz returned to Bowie for the 2007 season and was selected for the Eastern League's All-Star Game. He no-hit the Harrisburg SenatorsHarrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
on June 1. His no-hitter was the first nine-inning no-hitter ever pitched at Prince George's Stadium
Prince George's Stadium
Prince George's Stadium is a multipurpose sports venue located in Bowie, Maryland primarily used for baseball. It is home of the Baltimore Orioles' AA affiliate in the Eastern League, the Bowie Baysox...
, which has been open since . On August 14, Liz took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Connecticut Defenders
Connecticut Defenders
The Connecticut Defenders were a minor league baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which played in the Eastern League, was the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to Richmond,...
; he then allowed a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
and a two-run home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, but struck out 14 batters in eight innings.
For the 2007 season, Liz had an 11–4 record for the Baysox with a 3.22 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...
and 161 strikeouts in 137 innings pitched. In his 10 starts at the Baysox' Prince George's Stadium
Prince George's Stadium
Prince George's Stadium is a multipurpose sports venue located in Bowie, Maryland primarily used for baseball. It is home of the Baltimore Orioles' AA affiliate in the Eastern League, the Bowie Baysox...
, he was 9–0 with a 2.02 ERA in 62 innings pitched.
The Orioles recalled him from Bowie on August 24, , to make a start against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was...
the following day. He allowed five runs, including a three-run home run to Torii Hunter
Torii Hunter
Torii Kedar Hunter is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.Hunter has taken away many home runs throughout his 13-year major league career by "climbing the fence" in the outfield. He has won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards as an outfielder.Hunter resides...
, in six innings. He consistently threw 97–98 miles per hour, with one pitch clocked at 100.
2008
Since 2008, he has mostly played for the Norfolk TidesNorfolk 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...
, the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
2011
On January 5, 2011, Liz was released by the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, January 7, 2011, signed by the LG Twins
LG Twins
LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
.
Scouting report
Liz is known for his remarkably long arms; when he stands with his arms at his sides, his fingers reach below his knees. Liz uses a straight overhand pitching motion and throws his fastballFastball
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...
consistently in the mid- to upper-90s and has been clocked at 99 mph. His other pitches include an overhand curveball
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...
, a sinker
Sinker (baseball)
In baseball, a sinker , is a type of fastball pitch which has significant downward and horizontal movement. The sinker is known for inducing a lot of ground balls...
, a 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....
, and two variations of a 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...
.
Early in his professional career, Liz received attention because of a clicking sound which is sometimes loud enough to be heard in the stands and occurs whenever he throws a pitch. Some have thought it to be his thumb clicking against his index finger. Orioles head athletic trainer Richie Bancells discovered that Liz's scapula
Scapula
In anatomy, the scapula , omo, or shoulder blade, is the bone that connects the humerus with the clavicle ....
caused the clicking; although rare, this condition does not hurt his pitching career. To treat this condition, Liz has been doing an exercise program to strengthen the muscles around his collarbone.