Yhency Brazobán
Encyclopedia
Yhency José "Belt-High" Brazobán (born June 11, 1980 in Santo Domingo
, Dominican Republic
) is a Dominican
professional baseball
pitcher
for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
of Nippon Professional Baseball. He throws and bats right-handed.
on July 10, 1997 and proceeded to hit .319 as an outfielder for the Yankees Dominican Summer League, earning a spot on the Dominican League All-Star Team.
In - he made the Gulf Coast League
All-Star team, hitting .320 and .303, earning a promotion to Single-A Greensboro in and playing there through .
The Yankees converted Brazobán from an outfielder to a pitcher in , sending him to three different minor league levels to work on his pitching: the Gulf Coast Yankees
, Tampa Yankees
and Trenton Thunder
. Combined he was 2-4 with 18 saves in 47 relief appearances.
from the Yankees on December 13, 2003 along with Jeff Weaver
and Brandon Weeden
in exchange for right-hander Kevin Brown. He earned a call-up to the Dodgers in after a sensational year at Class AA Jacksonville
and Class AAA Las Vegas
.
Brazobán made his Major League debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers
on August 5, 2004, working one scoreless inning of relief against the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
Primarily a setup man for Éric Gagné
during the season, he became the Dodgers closer for a brief time in after Gagné was lost for the season with an injury. He established new Dodgers rookie records by appearing in 75 games and recording 21 saves.
Brazoban entered the season as a member of a strong Dodgers bullpen. He and Danys Baez
, who was acquired for the 2006 season but was later traded, were slotted to work as setup men for closer Éric Gagné
. However, early in the year Brazoban went on the disabled list with an elbow injury that cost him the entire season. He underwent Tommy John surgery
to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow.
He worked his way back from the injury to rejoin the Dodgers' bullpen in May 2007, but after a few appearances he suffered another serious arm injury and was lost for the rest of the season. After two serious injuries in a row, he opened the 2008 season in the minors with the Jacksonville Suns
. He pitched well enough in the minors to earn a return to the Dodgers bullpen, and the Dodgers called him up on May 9. He appeared in two games with the Dodgers in 2008, allowing two earned runs in three innings while striking out three batters and walking three, before the Dodgers again optioned him to Las Vegas. On July 19, the Dodgers placed him on the disabled list for the rest of the season with another shoulder injury. He was released after the season but eventually resigned to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. However, he was released again on March 19, 2009.
, and was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo
. He was in 10 games with Buffalo, with a 6.10 ERA.
. He played in 16 games with the Round Rock Express
and was released on June 2, 2011 with a 3.42 ERA..
and was assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces
. After 8 games with the Aces, he had his contract purchased on June 28. He was outrighted to the minors on July 20.
in Japan on July 29, 2011.
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
) is a Dominican
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
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...
for 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 Nippon Professional Baseball. He throws and bats right-handed.
New York Yankees
Brazobán was signed as an undrafted free agent by 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...
on July 10, 1997 and proceeded to hit .319 as an outfielder for the Yankees Dominican Summer League, earning a spot on the Dominican League All-Star Team.
In - he made the Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
All-Star team, hitting .320 and .303, earning a promotion to Single-A Greensboro in and playing there through .
The Yankees converted Brazobán from an outfielder to a pitcher in , sending him to three different minor league levels to work on his pitching: the Gulf Coast Yankees
Gulf Coast Yankees
The Gulf Coast League Yankees are the Rookie League affiliate of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. The GCL Yankees play in Tampa, Florida at the Yankee Complex...
, Tampa Yankees
Tampa Yankees
The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
and Trenton Thunder
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are an American Minor League Baseball team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League, and are the two-time defending league champions...
. Combined he was 2-4 with 18 saves in 47 relief appearances.
Los Angeles Dodgers
He was acquired 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...
from the Yankees on December 13, 2003 along with Jeff Weaver
Jeff Weaver
Jeffrey Charles Weaver is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has pitched in the majors for the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, St. Louis Cardinals, and Seattle Mariners...
and Brandon Weeden
Brandon Weeden
Brandon Kyle Weeden , is the starting American football quarterback for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys...
in exchange for right-hander Kevin Brown. He earned a call-up to the Dodgers in after a sensational year at Class AA Jacksonville
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
and Class AAA Las Vegas
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
.
Brazobán made his Major League debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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...
on August 5, 2004, working one scoreless inning of relief against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
Primarily a setup man for Éric Gagné
Éric Gagné
Éric Serge Gagné is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 1995, Gagné began his career as a starting pitcher...
during the season, he became the Dodgers closer for a brief time in after Gagné was lost for the season with an injury. He established new Dodgers rookie records by appearing in 75 games and recording 21 saves.
Brazoban entered the season as a member of a strong Dodgers bullpen. He and Danys Baez
Danys Báez
Danys Báez González is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Báez has previously played for the Cleveland Indians , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , Los Angeles Dodgers , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles , and Philadelphia Phillies .-Cleveland Indians:Báez was signed by the Cleveland...
, who was acquired for the 2006 season but was later traded, were slotted to work as setup men for closer Éric Gagné
Éric Gagné
Éric Serge Gagné is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 1995, Gagné began his career as a starting pitcher...
. However, early in the year Brazoban went on the disabled list with an elbow injury that cost him the entire season. He underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow.
He worked his way back from the injury to rejoin the Dodgers' bullpen in May 2007, but after a few appearances he suffered another serious arm injury and was lost for the rest of the season. After two serious injuries in a row, he opened the 2008 season in the minors with the Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
. He pitched well enough in the minors to earn a return to the Dodgers bullpen, and the Dodgers called him up on May 9. He appeared in two games with the Dodgers in 2008, allowing two earned runs in three innings while striking out three batters and walking three, before the Dodgers again optioned him to Las Vegas. On July 19, the Dodgers placed him on the disabled list for the rest of the season with another shoulder injury. He was released after the season but eventually resigned to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. However, he was released again on March 19, 2009.
Mexican League / New York Mets
Brazoban began the 2010 season in the Mexican League, where he was 4-3 with a 2.22 ERA in 52 relief appearances for Minatitlan and Mexico City. On August 15, 2010, he was signed to a minor league deal 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...
, and was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
. He was in 10 games with Buffalo, with a 6.10 ERA.
Texas Rangers
On December 16, 2010, he was signed to a minor league contract with the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He played in 16 games with the Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
and was released on June 2, 2011 with a 3.42 ERA..
Arizona Diamondbacks
Later that day, he signed a minor league contract with the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
and was assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces
Reno Aces
The Reno Aces are a minor league baseball franchise based in Reno, Nevada, in the United States. The team is a member of the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks....
. After 8 games with the Aces, he had his contract purchased on June 28. He was outrighted to the minors on July 20.
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Brazoban was sold to the Fukuoka SoftBank HawksFukuoka 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...
in Japan on July 29, 2011.