Steve Torrealba
Encyclopedia
Steven Alexander Torrealba [tor-ray-AHL-bah] (born February 24, 1978 in Barquisimeto
, Venezuela
) is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
. He is a right-handed batter who played in the majors for the Atlanta Braves
(2001–2002). Torrealba's father, Pablo Torrealba
, also pitched for the Braves, along with the Athletics
and White Sox
from 1975-1979.
Torrealba was signed as an undrafted free agent
by the Atlanta Braves in 1995, working his way up the system until he made his major league debut on October 6, 2001. In his only at-bat of the postseason in 2001, Torrealba hit a double
in Game 1 of the NLDS
against the Houston Astros
. He appeared in only 2 games for the Braves in 2001 and 13 in 2002 and became a free agent after the 2002 season. On February 13, 2003, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals
and played 46 games for Triple-A Memphis
, becoming a free agent after the season. On February 4, 2004, he signed with the New York Yankees
. Torrealba played only 4 games for Triple-A Columbus
before being released on April 28.
In 2005, he signed with the Long Island Ducks
of the independent Atlantic League
. He played 98 games, batting
.263 with 8 home run
s. In 2006, he played with the Atlantic City Surf
, after being signed by the Cincinnati Reds
in January, but not playing any games for them. On January 10, 2007, Torrealba signed with the Detroit Tigers
and played for their Double-A affiliate in Erie
. He spent 2008 and 2009 in the Baltimore Orioles
organization before becoming a free agent at the end of the 2009 season.
In a two-season career, Torrealba has hit .105 with one RBI
in 17 games played
.
Barquisimeto
Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara located in west central Venezuela, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio River.-Overview:...
, 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 former 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...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. He is a right-handed batter who played in the majors for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(2001–2002). Torrealba's father, Pablo Torrealba
Pablo Torrealba
Pablo Arnoldo Torrealba Torrealba [tor-ray-AHL-bah] is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves , Oakland Athletics and Chicago White Sox . Torrealba batted and threw left-handed...
, also pitched for the Braves, along with the Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
and White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
from 1975-1979.
Torrealba was signed as an undrafted free agent
Free 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 Atlanta Braves in 1995, working his way up the system until he made his major league debut on October 6, 2001. In his only at-bat of the postseason in 2001, Torrealba hit a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in Game 1 of the NLDS
National League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series...
against 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...
. He appeared in only 2 games for the Braves in 2001 and 13 in 2002 and became a free agent after the 2002 season. On February 13, 2003, he signed with 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...
and played 46 games for Triple-A Memphis
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
, becoming a free agent after the season. On February 4, 2004, he signed with 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...
. Torrealba played only 4 games for Triple-A Columbus
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
before being released on April 28.
In 2005, he signed with the Long Island Ducks
Long Island Ducks
The Long Island Ducks is an American professional baseball team based in Central Islip, New York. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the independent Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
. He played 98 games, batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.263 with 8 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...
s. In 2006, he played with the Atlantic City Surf
Atlantic City Surf
The Atlantic City Surf were a professional baseball team based in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Surf was most recently a member of the Can-Am League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, after being signed by 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....
in January, but not playing any games for them. On January 10, 2007, Torrealba signed with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
and played for their Double-A affiliate in Erie
Erie SeaWolves
The Erie SeaWolves are a minor league baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball club....
. He spent 2008 and 2009 in the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
organization before becoming a free agent at the end of the 2009 season.
In a two-season career, Torrealba has hit .105 with one RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 17 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.