Carlos Carrasco (baseball)

Carlos Carrasco
Carrasco with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians – No. 59
Starting pitcher
Born: (1987-03-21) March 21, 1987
Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 2009, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record 79–62
Earned run average 3.71
Strikeouts 1,127
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Carlos Luis Carrasco (born March 21, 1987) is a Venezuelan-born American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Career

Philadelphia Phillies

Carrasco was signed as an undrafted free agent on November 25, 2003 by the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2006, Carrasco spent the entire season at the Single-A level with the Lakewood BlueClaws, compiling a 2.26 ERA in 159.1 innings pitched. He split time in 2007 between the Single-A Clearwater Threshers and the Double-A Reading Phillies. Carrasco compiled a 2.84 ERA in 69.2 innings pitched at Clearwater and a 4.86 ERA in 70.1 innings pitched with Reading. Carrasco threw his first no-hitter on August 21, 2007. He was on the World roster of the 2006,[1] 2007,[2] and 2008[3] All-Star Futures Games.

Entering the 2007 season, Carrasco was ranked as the top prospect in the Phillies organization[4] and the 41st-best prospect in baseball.[5] He was still ranked as the top prospect in the Phillies system entering 2008,[6] and was listed as having the organization's best fastball and changeup.

Cleveland Indians

On July 29, 2009 the Phillies traded Carrasco, along with Jason Donald, Lou Marson, and Jason Knapp to the Cleveland Indians for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco.[7]

On July 29, 2011, Carrasco was ejected from the game after throwing a pitch over the head of Kansas City Royals' designated hitter Billy Butler right after allowing outfielder Melky Cabrera the Royals' first grand slam of the season. During September 2011, Carrasco underwent Tommy John surgery and was eventually eliminated for the entire 2012 season.

On April 9, 2013, Carrasco made his first start since his Tommy John surgery and suspension. His season began with a rather poor outing against the New York Yankees during which he surrendered seven runs in 3​2⁄3 innings and hit batter Kevin Youkilis resulting in his ejection by home plate umpire Jordan Baker. This was Carrasco's first start since August 2011 after having Tommy John surgery.[8] On April 10, 2013, Carrasco was optioned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, and eventually suspended 8 games for hitting Youkilis.[9] He was recalled to the majors on June 8, and then sent back down to Triple-A on June 24. He was recalled on July 6, and then designated for assignment on July 7.[10] He was then optioned to Columbus on July 9.

On April 7, 2015, Carrasco signed a 4-year extension worth $22 million that also includes club options for 2019 and 2020.[11] During a game against the Chicago White Sox on April 14, 2015, Carrasco was struck in the face by a line drive off the bat of Melky Cabrera. He left the game as he was carted off on a motor stretcher.[12][13] Carrasco had a bruise on his jaw while X-rays were negative.[14]

On July 1, 2015, Carrasco took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, only to surrender a two-out, two-strike single to Joey Butler before retiring the side. It would have been the first no-hitter by an Indians pitcher since Len Barker's perfect game on May 15, 1981.[15] On July 19, 2015, Carrasco hit the first single of his major league career against the Cincinnati Reds' Johnny Cueto in the top of the 2nd inning.[16] Carrasco went 6 innings giving up 4 hits and one earned run with a no decision.[16] In 30 starts during the 2015 season, Carrasco compiled a 14–12 record with a 3.63 ERA, and struck out 216 batters in ​183 2⁄3 innings.

Carrasco made two trips to the disabled list in 2016, the second of which resulted from a line drive to his right hand on September 17 that fractured the fifth metacarpal bone. This injury forced Carrasco to miss the entire postseason.[17] Carrasco finished the 2016 season with an 11–8 record and 3.32 ERA in 25 starts.

In the fifth inning of a July 7, 2017 game against the Detroit Tigers, Carrasco pitched an immaculate inning, striking out the side on the minimum nine pitches. He became only the second pitcher in Indians history to do so, following Justin Masterson in 2014, and the 84th in Major League history.[18] Carrasco struck out 14 Minnesota Twins batters on September 28, 2017, in a 5−2 score to give Cleveland their 100th win of the season.[19]

Personal life

Carrasco shared in a Players' Tribune article some rather unusual experiences his early time in the United States. In his first spring training, he ate Domino's Pizza every day for 90 consecutive days, because "it was the only thing I knew how to order." He was awarded one month of free pizza for being their "best customer." He added, he did little outside of baseball in his first few years in the U.S., including not speaking with his teammates. "Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t know how." After being traded to the Indians, he dedicated his efforts to learning English. In August 2016, he became a US citizen.[20][21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2006 Futures Game Rosters". Baseball America. 2006-06-21.
  2. ↑ "Futures Game World Roster". Baseball America. 2007-07-03.
  3. ↑ "World Futures Game Roster". "Baseball America". 2008-07-11.
  4. ↑ "Top 10 Prospects: Philadelphia Phillies". Baseball America. 2007-01-10.
  5. ↑ "2007 Top 100 Prospects". Baseball America. 2007-02-28.
  6. ↑ "Top 10 Prospects: Philadelphia Phillies". Baseball America. 2007-11-13.
  7. ↑ http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090729&content_id=6127566&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle
  8. ↑ Bastian, Jordan (9 April 2013). "After homer, Indians starter Carlos Carrasco ejected for plunking Kevin Youkilis". MLB.com: News. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "Indians manager Terry Francona hoping RHP Carrasco's avoids suspension after hitting Youkilis". The Washington Post. Associated Press. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  10. ↑ Emery, Mark (July 7, 2013). "Indians designate Carrasco, promote Guilmet". mlb.com. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  11. ↑ Miesel, Zack. "Carrasco signs 4-year extension worth $22 million feat. club options for 2019 and 2020". cleveland.com. cleveland.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  12. ↑ Associated Press (April 14, 2015). "Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco hit in face with liner". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  13. ↑ Hoynes, Paul. "Carrasco struck by line drive, leaves game". cleveland.com. cleveland.com. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  14. ↑ Sargent, Scott. "Carrasco treated for bruised jaw, X-rays negative". abcnews.go.com. ABC News. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  15. ↑ Gatto, Tom (July 1, 2015). "One strike away, Indians' Carlos Carrasco loses no-hitter in ninth inning vs. Rays". Sporting News. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Cleveland vs Cincinnati". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. (The Walt Disney Company, 80% Hearst Corporation, 20%). July 19, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Indians' Carlos Carrasco out for season with fractured bone in hand". Sports Illustrated. September 17, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  18. ↑ Stats AP (July 7, 2017). "Carrasco has 'immaculate inning' as Indians roll Tigers 11−2". CBSsports.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  19. ↑ Withers, Tom (September 28, 2017). "Carrasco strikes out 14; Indians beat Twins for 100th win". The News-Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  20. ↑ Carrasco, Carlos (March 21, 2017). "The American dream". The Players' Tribune. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  21. ↑ Tsuji, Alysha (March 21, 2017). "Carlos Carrasco explains why he ate pizza for 90 days straight during his first spring training". USA Today For the Win. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
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