Radhames Liz

Radhames Corey Liz Garcia (born October 6, 1983) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played for the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB), the LG Twins of the KBO League, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and the Lamigo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Liz and the second or maternal family name is Garcia.
Radhames Liz
Liz with the San Diego Padres
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1983-10-06) October 6, 1983
El Seibo, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: August 25, 2007, for the Baltimore Orioles
KBO: April 2, 2011, for the LG Twins
NPB: March 26, 2016, for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
MLB statistics
(through 2015 season)
Win–loss record7–12
Earned run average6.94
Strikeouts109
WHIP1.84
KBO statistics
(through 2013 season)
Win–loss record26–38
Earned run average3.51
Strikeouts454
WHIP1.31
NPB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Win–loss record0–3
Earned run average6.94
Strikeouts13
WHIP2.23
CPBL statistics
(through 2019 season)
Win–loss record16–6
Earned run average4.18
Strikeouts179
WHIP1.32
Teams
Career highlights and awards
CPBL

Biography

Liz, who is one of 8 children in his family, started playing baseball when he was 16 years old and learned how to pitch in 2003 and 2004 while playing in the Dominican Summer League.[1] He started pitching in the United States with the short-season Aberdeen IronBirds and Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds in 2005.

Professional career

Baltimore Orioles

In 2006, Liz started his first full professional season with the Frederick Keys, the highest of the Orioles' three Single-A teams. Liz began the season by striking out 33 batters in his first 15 innings pitched. Later in the year, he represented the Orioles on the World squad at the All-Star Futures Game. He also received a promotion to the Double-A Bowie Baysox; between the two teams, he struck out 149 batters in 133​1⁄3 innings before playing in the Dominican Winter League. However, he had difficulty with his control in the 2006 season, walking 75 batters. Baseball America named Liz the Orioles' fifth-best prospect going into the 2007 season, following Billy Rowell, Brandon Erbe, Nolan Reimold, and Pedro Beato.

Liz returned to Bowie for the 2007 season and was selected for the Eastern League's All-Star Game. He no-hit the Harrisburg Senators on June 1. His no-hitter was the first nine-inning no-hitter ever pitched at Prince George's Stadium, which has been open since 1994. On August 14, Liz took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Connecticut Defenders; he then allowed a single and a two-run home run, but struck out 14 batters in eight innings.[2]

For the 2007 season, Liz had an 11–4 record for the Baysox with a 3.22 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 137 innings pitched. In his 10 starts at the Baysox' Prince George's Stadium, he was 9–0 with a 2.02 ERA in 62​1⁄3 innings pitched.[3]

The Orioles recalled him from Bowie on August 24, 2007, to make a start against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards the following day.[4] He allowed five runs, including a three-run home run to Torii Hunter, in six innings. He consistently threw 97–98 miles per hour, with one pitch clocked at 100.[5] In 2008, he mostly played for the Norfolk Tides, the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk, Virginia.

San Diego Padres

On November 25, 2009, Liz was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres. He played the 2010 season with the Portland Beavers, Triple-A affiliate of the Padres and posted an 8–8 record with a 4.83 earned run average and 109 strikeouts.

On January 5, 2011, Liz was released by the San Diego Padres.

LG Twins

On January 7, 2011, he signed with the LG Twins of the KBO League. Liz enjoyed a tenure of success in the KBO, leading the league in strikeouts in 2013 with 188.[6] He would post a 26–38 record with a 3.51 ERA in 3 seasons with the Twins totalling 518​2⁄3 innings pitched.

Toronto Blue Jays

Liz signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on March 8, 2014,[6] and was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. After starting the season on the disabled list, he was assigned to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on May 25 for a start against the Portland Sea Dogs.[7]

Pittsburgh Pirates

On December 13, 2014, Liz signed a one-year Major League contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates for $1 million. Initially it was reported to be a two-year contract for $3 million. However, the deal was adjusted due to the Pirates being "uncomfortable" with Liz's physical results.[8] On May 25, Liz was designated for assignment.[9] He was re-added to the major league roster on September 1 and designated for assignment again on September 15.

Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles

Liz signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2016 season.

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 22, 2017, Liz signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[10] He was released on June 1, 2018.

Lamigo Monkeys

On February 1, 2019, Liz signed with the Lamigo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.[11] On January 5, 2020, he re-signed with the team (now named the Rakuten Monkeys) for the 2020 season.[12] However, on February 9, Liz opted out of his contract for unspecified reasons, though he later clarified that it was due to a herniated disc in his back that he wanted to address.[13]

Scouting report

Liz is known for his remarkably long arms; when he stands with his arms at his sides, his fingers reach below his knees.[14] Liz uses a straight overhand pitching motion and throws his fastball consistently in the mid- to upper-90s[15] and has been clocked at 99 mph.[16] His other pitches include an overhand curveball, a sinker, a slider, and two variations of a changeup.[17] Early in his professional career, Liz received attention because of a clicking sound which is sometimes loud enough to be heard in the stands and occurs whenever he throws a pitch. Some have thought it to be his thumb clicking against his index finger.[18] Orioles head athletic trainer Richie Bancells discovered that Liz's scapula caused the clicking; although rare, this condition does not hurt his pitching career. To treat this condition, Liz has been doing an exercise program to strengthen the muscles around his collarbone.[19]

Honours

Club

Lamigo Monkeys

Individual

Personal life

Liz is of Haitian descent.[20]

References
  1. Winston, Lisa (July 5, 2007). "Host family makes Liz feel at home in U.S." MiLB.com. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  2. "- theday.com - New London and southeastern Connecticut News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Video and Weather - The Day newspaper".
  4. "Liz makes big league debut vs. Twins". Baltimore Orioles.
  6. Liddell, Mackenzie (March 8, 2014). "Report: Jays sign Korean league K leader Liz". Sportsnet. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  7. "Bleier, Wilson Lead Fisher Cats Over Sea Dogs". New Hampshire Fisher Cats. May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  8. Adams, Steve (December 13, 2014). "Pirates To Sign Radhames Liz To Major League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  9. Gitlin, Marty (May 25, 2015). "Pirates SP Charlie Morton back; RP Radhames Liz designated". fantasynews.cbssports.com. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
  10. Adams, Steve (December 22, 2017). "Minor MLB Transactions: 12/22/17". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  11. "Lamigo Monkeys Sign Radhames Liz". February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  12. "Rakuten Monkeys Re-Sign Radhames Liz for 2020 Season". January 5, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  13. "Radhames Liz Diagnosed with Herniated Disc". February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  14. "BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: Daily Dish: Weekend Dish". baseballamerica.com. 15 May 2006.
  15. "Real Estate". hometownannapolis.com.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2007-08-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-08-17. Retrieved 2007-08-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Sporting News - NFL - NCAA - NBA - MLB - NASCAR - UFC - WWE". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 2007-10-01.
  19. "The Official Site of The Bowie Baysox – baysox.com Homepage". Bowie Baysox.
  20. Briceño, Pedro G., ed. (15 April 2007). "Muchos peloteros profesionales son de pura ascendencia haitiana" (in Spanish). Listin Diario. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
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