Carlos Carrasco (baseball)

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

Carlos Carrasco
Carrasco with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians – No. 59
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 2019 season)
Win–loss record85–69
Earned run average3.82
Strikeouts1,223
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Early life

Carlos Luis Carrasco was born March 21, 1987, in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.[1]

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 1⁄3 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 2⁄3 innings pitched at Clearwater and a 4.86 ERA in ​70 1⁄3 innings pitched with Reading. Carrasco threw his first no-hitter on August 21, 2007. He was on the World roster of the 2006,[2] 2007,[3] and 2008[4] All-Star Futures Games.

Entering the 2007 season, Carrasco was ranked as the top prospect in the Phillies organization[5] and the 41st-best prospect in baseball.[6] He was still ranked as the top prospect in the Phillies system entering 2008,[7] 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.[8]

Carrasco made five starts with the Indians, resulting in an 0–4 record with 8.87 ERA.

During the 2010 season, Carrasco had a 2–2 record and 3.83 ERA in seven starts for Cleveland.

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. Carrasco made 21 starts for Cleveland, pitching to an 8–9 record with 4.62 ERA and striking out 86 batters in ​124 2⁄3 innings. In September 2011, Carrasco underwent Tommy John surgery and eventually missed the entire 2012 season as a result.

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.[9] On April 10, 2013, Carrasco was optioned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, and eventually suspended eight games for hitting Youkilis.[10] 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.[11] He was then optioned to Columbus on July 9. Carrasco's record for the 2013 season with Cleveland was 1–4 with a 6.75 ERA.

For the 2014 season, Carrasco appeared in 40 games for Cleveland (14 starts) and had an 8–7 record with 2.55 ERA while striking out 140 batters in 134 innings.

On April 7, 2015, Carrasco signed a 4-year extension worth $22 million that also includes club options for 2019 and 2020.[12] During a game against the Chicago White Sox on April 14, 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.[13][14] Carrasco had a bruise on his jaw while X-rays were negative.[15] On July 1, 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.[16] On July 19, Carrasco hit the first single of his major league career against the Cincinnati Reds' Johnny Cueto in the top of the second inning.[17] Carrasco went six innings giving up four hits and one earned run with a no decision.[17] 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.[18] Carrasco finished the 2016 season with an 11–8 record and 3.32 ERA in 25 starts, recording 150 strikeouts in ​146 1⁄3 innings.

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.[19] Carrasco struck out 14 Minnesota Twins batters on September 28, in a 5–2 game to give Cleveland their 100th win of the season.[20] For the 2017 season, Carrasco was 18–6 with a 3.29 ERA, striking out 226 in 200 innings.

During 2018, Carrasco struck out 231 batters in 192 innings, pitching to a record of 17–10 with a 3.38 ERA. On December 6, 2018, Carrasco signed a contract extension through the 2022 season with a club option for the 2023 season.[21]

On June 5, 2019, Carrasco was placed on the 10-day injured list, with the team stating that he had been "diagnosed with a blood condition."[22] He subsequently spent the remainder of June on the injured list.[23] On July 6, 2019, Carrasco revealed that he had been diagnosed with leukemia.[24] On August 28, 2019, Carrasco was activated from the IL. On September 1, he made his first appearance since his diagnosis, pitching an inning in relief against the Tampa Bay Rays.[25] Carrasco was named the 2019 AL Comeback Player of the Year.[26]

Personal life

Carrasco shared in a Players' Tribune article some rather unusual experiences during 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." Domino's awarded him 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.[27][28]

Carrasco is married to Karelis Carrasco. They have five children.[29] Carrasco and his daughter, 4 year old Camila, visited kids at the hospital in 2010. This inspired Camila to take a pair of scissors and started to cut her hair and want to give it to the cancer patients.[30]

Carrasco is heavily involved in community development and charity work; he has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars, time, and supplies to organizations in countries including Venezuela - his home country - Colombia, United States, Africa, and more in 2018-2019. He was the 2019 nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award that highlights MLB players making a profound difference in communities.[31][32]

See also

References
  1. Jackson, Felesia M. (March 31, 2013). "Carlos Carrasco: Cleveland Indians pitcher 2013". Cleveland.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  2. "2006 Futures Game Rosters". Baseball America. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America Enterprises. June 21, 2006. Retrieved June 21, 2006.
  3. "Futures Game World Roster". Baseball America. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America Enterprises. July 3, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2007.
  4. "World Futures Game Roster". Baseball America. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America Enterprises. July 11, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
  5. "Top 10 Prospects: Philadelphia Phillies". 2007-01-10.
  6. "1007 Top 100 Prospects". Baseball America. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America Enterprises. February 28, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2007.
  7. "Top 10 Prospects: Philadelphia Phillies". Baseball America. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America Enterprises. November 13, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2007.
  8. Hoynes, Paul (July 29, 2009). "Cleveland Indians trade Cliff Lee, Ben Francisco to Philadelphia Phillies for four prospects". Cleveand.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  9. Bastian, Jordan (April 9, 2013). "After homer, Indians starter Carlos Carrasco ejected for plunking Kevin Youkilis". MLB.com. Manhattan: MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  10. Associated Press (April 10, 2013). "Apologetic Indians pitcher ejected for hitting Kevin Youkilis". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Gannett Company. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  11. Emery, Mark (July 7, 2013). "Indians designate Carrasco, promote Guilmet". MLB.com. Manhattan: MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  12. Miesel, Zack (April 7, 2015). "Carrasco signs 4-year extension worth $22 million feat. club options for 2019 and 2020". Cleveand.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  13. Associated Press (April 14, 2015). "Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco hit in face with liner". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Gannett Company. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  14. Hoynes, Paul. "Carrasco struck by line drive, leaves game". Cleveand.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  15. Sargent, Scott. "Carrasco treated for bruised jaw, X-rays negative". ABC News. New York City: ABC. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  16. 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.
  17. "Cleveland vs Cincinnati". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. (The Walt Disney Company, 80% Hearst Corporation, 20%). July 19, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  18. "Indians' Carlos Carrasco out for season with fractured bone in hand". Sports Illustrated. United States: Meredith Corporation. September 17, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  19. Stats AP (July 7, 2017). "Carrasco has 'immaculate inning' as Indians roll Tigers 11−2". CBSsports.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  20. Withers, Tom (September 28, 2017). "Carrasco strikes out 14; Indians beat Twins for 100th win". The News-Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  21. "Indians & RHP Carlos Carrasco agree to contract extension". Indians.com. December 6, 2018.
  22. "Indians Place RHP Carlos Carrasco on 10-Day Injured List". ESPN.com. United States: ESPN Internet Ventures. June 5, 2019.
  23. Noga, Joe (June 5, 2019). "Cleveland Indians place Carlos Carrasco on injured list after discovery of blood condition". Cleveand.com. Advance Publications. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  24. Noga, Joe (July 6, 2019). "Carlos Carrasco reveals leukemia diagnosis to Dominican television station". Cleveand.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  25. Klemish, Dawn (September 1, 2019). "Carrasco receives standing ovation at Tropicana". MLB.com. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  26. "Carrasco, Donaldson win MLB Comeback Player of Year awards". USA Today. December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  27. Carrasco, Carlos (March 21, 2017). "The American dream". The Players' Tribune. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  28. Tsuji, Alysha (March 21, 2017). "Carlos Carrasco explains why he ate pizza for 90 days straight during his first spring training". USA Today. McLean, Virginia: Gannett Company. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  29. Glasier, David (June 5, 2019). "Wishing only the best for Carlos Carrasco, the man – Opinion". The News-Herald. Willoughby, Ohio: Digital First Media. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  30. Meisel, Zack (October 25, 2019). "The inspirational tale behind Carlos Carrasco's humanitarian efforts". The Athletic. San Francisco: The Athletic Media Company. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  31. Cross, Ian (October 25, 2019). "Indians pitcher Carlos 'Cookie' Carrasco wins Roberto Clemente award". WEWS. Cleveland: E. W. Scripps Company. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  32. Fox 8 Central (October 25, 2019). "Indians' Carlos Carrasco wins MLB's Roberto Clemente Award". WJW. Cleveland: Nexstar Media Group. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
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