Francisco Cruceta

Last updated

3+2⁄3 innings on September 26, 2004, in a 6–2 loss to the Minnesota Twins, where Cruceta received the loss. [6]

Cruceta returned to Buffalo for the 2005 season, but doubts developed about his role. He struggled as a starter, and attempts to convert him into a relief pitcher met with mixed results. Manager Marty Brown was open in his criticism of Cruceta's efforts to become a reliever, and acknowledged that, when he had Cruceta start a game in mid-August, "You could see he felt more comfortable in that starting role than out of the bullpen. That's a real positive for him." [7] Just a few days after that start, the Indians designated him for assignment. The Seattle Mariners claimed him off waivers and sent him to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.

Seattle Mariners

Cruceta spent time with the Mariners during 2006 spring training, but opened the year at Tacoma, where he started 28 games and compiled a 13–9 record with an ERA of 4.38 and led the Pacific Coast League (PCL) in strikeouts. In a start against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in late May, Cruceta pitched eight shutout innings, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out 11. [8] Cruceta continued to pitch strongly, but was passed over for the PCL All-Star team, a decision criticized by the Rainiers' manager, Dave Brundage, who called Cruceta "dominant" and said that he had been "snubbed." [9] The Mariners called Cruceta up in September to make a spot start, but he did not get out of the first inning against the Kansas City Royals, giving up five runs, including a grand slam, in one inning of work. Commented Mariners' manager Mike Hargrove: "It was one of those nights. He'll pitch again. Out of the bullpen." [10] Cruceta made three relief appearances, giving up three runs in five innings of work, but at the end of the year waived him. The Texas Rangers claimed Cruceta and assigned him to the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks.

Texas Rangers

In 2007, Cruceta was suspended for 50 games at the start of the season for violating the minor league ban on steroids. When he returned though, he performed well for the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks, going 3–0 in 25 games, with a 3.02 ERA, while striking out 60 batters in 65+2⁄3 innings. He also pitched well in a winter league stint in the Dominican Winter League for Gigantes del Cibao going 1–1 with a 1.08 ERA. These performances impressed the Detroit Tigers, who signed him on November 30, 2007. [11] [12]

Detroit Tigers

Cruceta was expected to compete for the vacant spots in the Tigers bullpen during spring training 2008, left by Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney after they suffered shoulder injuries. Cruceta's chances of making the Tigers bullpen was dealt a blow when his visa was withheld, allegedly due to his suspension in 2007. After two months of waiting, Cruceta was granted his visa on April 9, allowing for him to come to the U.S. from his native Dominican Republic. [13] After returning to the United States, Cruceta was brought up to the Tigers on April 30, 2008, when Jason Grilli was traded to the Colorado Rockies. Cruceta made 13 appearances for the Tigers, going 0–3 with an ERA of 5.40. On June 3, Cruceta was designated for assignment; after clearing waivers, he joined the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. He became a free agent at the end of the season.

Foreign career

Cruceta signed with the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization for the 2009 season. He showed fine performances in his first Korean pro league season, going 9–10 with a 4.36 ERA as a starting pitcher.

In June 2011, Crueta was found cheating again, this time by using an illegal substance on his glove. [14] It was discovered by home plate umpire Stephen Lockhart, who promptly tossed him out.

Francisco Cruceta signed a minor league contract with New York Yankees on June 28, 2011 & was waived thereafter. He spent the 2012 season with Rimini Baseball, in Italy, his last professional stop.

He signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican Baseball League for the 2016 season.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Bosio</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1963)

Christopher Louis Bosio is an American former professional baseball pitcher and pitching coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners from 1986 to 1996. As a player, he was listed at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and 225 pounds (102 kg); he threw and batted right-handed. Bosio has served as a pitching coach in MLB for the Brewers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Davis (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1980)

Jason Thomas Davis is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Denny M. Bautista Germán is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. Bautista is 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall and weighs 190 pounds (86 kg). He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Francisco Giants from 2004 to 2010. From 2011 through 2013, he played for the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League. He bats and throws right-handed. Bautista throws three pitches: a fastball, a curveball, and a changeup. He has struggled with control throughout his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Regan (baseball)</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1937)

Philip Ramond Regan is an American former professional baseball pitcher, scout, and manager, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox; he also managed the Baltimore Orioles. Regan served as the pitching coach for the New York Mets for part of the 2019 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roberto Hernández (starting pitcher)</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1980)

Roberto Heredia Hernández is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, and Atlanta Braves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Édgar González (pitcher)</span> Mexican baseball player (born 1983)

Édgar Gerardo González Elizondo is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher for the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays and in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) for the LG Twins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Lowe</span> American baseball player (born 1983)

Mark Christopher Lowe is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers. His fastball has been clocked as high as 101 mph. He also throws a slider and a circle changeup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jair Jurrjens</span> Dutch-Curaçaoan baseball player (born 1986)

Jair Francoise Jurrjens is a Dutch-Curaçaoan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, and Colorado Rockies, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions. He pitched for Team Netherlands in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neftalí Feliz</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1988)

Neftalí Feliz Antonio is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Feliz won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfredo Fígaro</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1984)

Alfredo Fígaro is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers. He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes, the KBO League for the Samsung Lions, and the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Uni-President Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Baldwin (baseball)</span> Baseball player

Andrew Scott Baldwin is a former professional baseball pitcher. He was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth Round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. Baldwin's uncle, John Hiller, was a relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Alburquerque</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1986)

Alberto Jose Alburquerque is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago White Sox.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hector Santiago (baseball)</span> American baseball pitcher

Hector Felipe Santiago is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. He has played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox from 2011 to 2013 and in 2018 and 2019, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2014 to 2016, Minnesota Twins from 2016 to 2017, New York Mets in 2019, and Seattle Mariners in 2021. He plays for the Puerto Rico national baseball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Milone</span> American baseball player (born 1987)

Tomaso Anthony Milone is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, and Toronto Blue Jays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Wisler</span> American baseball player (born 1992)

Matthew Robert Wisler is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres out of high school in the seventh round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, and Tampa Bay Rays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominic Leone</span> American baseball player (born 1991)

Dominic Joseph Leone, nicknamed "Dominator", is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Los Angeles Angels. Leone played college baseball for the Clemson Tigers. The Mariners selected Leone in the 16th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Greene</span> American baseball pitcher (born 1988)

Shane Greene is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization. He has previously played in MLB for the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. The Yankees selected Greene in the 15th round of the 2009 MLB draft. After Greene made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2014, he was traded to the Tigers before the 2015 season. Greene was an All-Star in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Boyd (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1991)

Matthew Robert Boyd is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers.

Nicholas Randolph Ramirez is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees.

Aneurys Zabala is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins.

References

  1. ↑ "Francisco Cruceta". Toledo Mud Hens . Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Dodgers acquire RHP Shuey from Indians". United Press International . July 22, 2002.
  3. ↑ Hoynes, Paul (November 21, 2002). "Indians single out the best for top 40". The Plain Dealer . p. D1.
  4. ↑ Hoynes, Paul (February 20, 2003). "Prospect watch". The Plain Dealer . p. D5.
  5. ↑ "Third time's a charm for Herd's Tyner". Buffalo News . September 18, 2004. p. B3.
  6. ↑ Priestle, Scott (September 27, 2004). "Youth movement hits speed bump in loss". Columbus Dispatch . p. 09E.
  7. ↑ Harrington, Mike (August 15, 2005). "Cruceta all smiles after surprise start". Buffalo News . p. C7.
  8. ↑ "Cruceta cuts down Sky Sox for Rainiers". Seattle Times . May 30, 2006. p. D8.
  9. ↑ Milles, Todd (July 1, 2006). "Star-like Cruceta rules: Snubbed Rainiers pitcher wins like All-Star". The News Tribune .
  10. ↑ Larue, Larry (September 16, 2006). "Bad start goes good: M's overcome poor start, beat Royals, 11–8". The News Tribune .
  11. ↑ "Tigers well-armed with Rogers; Veteran pitcher signs one-year deal after ditching agent". Grand Rapids Press . December 1, 2007. p. D1.
  12. ↑ Morosi, Jon Paul (December 1, 2007). "Tigers roster virtually set after signing reliever Cruceta, optioning Perez, Shelton". Detroit Free Press .
  13. ↑ Beck, Jason (April 9, 2008). "News: Visa application approved for Cruceta". Detroit Tigers . Retrieved July 6, 2008.
  14. ↑ "SAN ANGELO COLTS: Pitcher Williamson earns second win in victory over Thunder » San Angelo Standard Times Mobile". Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Francisco Cruceta
Francisco Cruceta (Rimini) 2012 cropped.jpg
Cruceta playing for Rimini, Italy, in 2012
Starting pitcher
Born: (1981-07-04) July 4, 1981 (age 43)
La Vega, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: September 21, 2004, for the Cleveland Indians
KBO: April 7, 2009, for the Samsung Lions
Last appearance
MLB: June 2, 2008, for the Detroit Tigers
KBO: October 8, 2010, for the Samsung Lions