D. J. Carrasco
Encyclopedia
Daniel J. "D. J." Carrasco (born April 12, 1977 in Safford
, Arizona
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
currently with the New York Mets
.
by the Baltimore Orioles
, but did not pitch a minor league game for them as he was released in 1998. He played for the Cleveland Indians
' farm system in and for the Pittsburgh Pirates
' farm system from 1999 through 2002.
Carrasco was drafted by the Kansas City Royals
from the Pirates in the 2002 Rule 5 Draft
. He spent all of the 2003 season in the majors for the Royals. He split 2004 and 2005 between the Royals and their minor league affiliates. He pitched three games in Japan
for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks
in 2006.
Carrasco then pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks
' Triple-A affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders
, in . While with the Diamondbacks he encountered a bullpen catcher that would change his career. The catcher taught Carrasco the finer points of ping pong, and the art of pong can translate to pitching. On January 11, , Carrasco signed a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training
with the Chicago White Sox.
On July 9, 2008, Carrasco was recalled by the Chicago White Sox to replace injured closer Bobby Jenks
. Carrasco posted a 2.38 ERA in 7 appearances with Triple-A Charlotte before being recalled. On December 12, 2009, Carrasco was non-tendered by the White Sox, making him a free agent.
On January 13, 2010, Carrasco signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
with an invite to spring training.
On July 31, 2010, Carrasco, Bobby Crosby
and Ryan Church were traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks
for Chris Snyder
and Pedro Ciriaco
.
In December 2010, the New York Mets signed Carrasco to a two-year contract.
On June 11,2011 he returned to the club as Dale Thayer
was sent down.
On June 16th, 2011, in a game versus the Atlanta Braves, Carrasco balked in the final run of the ball game in the 10th inning, giving the Braves a 9-8 victory. It was just the second balk off in the Mets history.
Safford, Arizona
- History :Safford was founded by Joshua Eaton Bailey, Hiram Kennedy and Edward Tuttle, who came from Gila Bend, in southwestern Arizona. They left Gila Bend in the winter of 1873-74; their work on canals and dams having been destroyed by high water the previous summer...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
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...
currently with the New York Mets
New 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...
.
Career
Carrasco was drafted in the 26th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft1997 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1997...
by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, but did not pitch a minor league game for them as he was released in 1998. He played for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
' farm system in and for 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...
' farm system from 1999 through 2002.
Carrasco was drafted by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
from the Pirates in the 2002 Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. He spent all of the 2003 season in the majors for the Royals. He split 2004 and 2005 between the Royals and their minor league affiliates. He pitched three games in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
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...
in 2006.
Carrasco then pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona 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...
' Triple-A affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders
Tucson Sidewinders
The Tucson Sidewinders were a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which played in the Pacific Coast League, was the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club....
, in . While with the Diamondbacks he encountered a bullpen catcher that would change his career. The catcher taught Carrasco the finer points of ping pong, and the art of pong can translate to pitching. On January 11, , Carrasco signed a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
with the Chicago White Sox.
On July 9, 2008, Carrasco was recalled by the Chicago White Sox to replace injured closer Bobby Jenks
Bobby Jenks
Robert Scott "Bobby" Jenks is an American professional baseball relief pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
. Carrasco posted a 2.38 ERA in 7 appearances with Triple-A Charlotte before being recalled. On December 12, 2009, Carrasco was non-tendered by the White Sox, making him a free agent.
On January 13, 2010, Carrasco signed a minor league contract with 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...
with an invite to spring training.
On July 31, 2010, Carrasco, Bobby Crosby
Bobby Crosby
Robert Edward Crosby is an infielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. The son of former major league infielder Ed Crosby, he bats and throws right-handed...
and Ryan Church were traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona 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...
for Chris Snyder
Chris Snyder
Christopher Cornelius Snyder is a catcher in Major League Baseball who is a Free Agent. He has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He bats and throws right-handed.-High school and college:...
and Pedro Ciriaco
Pedro Ciriaco
Pedro Ciriaco is a right-handed baseball shortstop. He is a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates...
.
In December 2010, the New York Mets signed Carrasco to a two-year contract.
On June 11,2011 he returned to the club as Dale Thayer
Dale Thayer
Dale Scott Thayer is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Draft:...
was sent down.
On June 16th, 2011, in a game versus the Atlanta Braves, Carrasco balked in the final run of the ball game in the 10th inning, giving the Braves a 9-8 victory. It was just the second balk off in the Mets history.