Joe Roa
Encyclopedia
Joseph Rodger Roa nicknamed "The Roa Constrictor", is former Major League Baseball
right-handed pitcher
. Roa is a graduate of Hazel Park High School and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves
in the 18th round of the 1989 amateur draft
. Roa was frequently called "The Roa Constrictor" by Twin Cities radio personality Dark Star.
pitcher, Roa played in twelve Major League organizations during his career. In the minors, Roa played for the Atlanta Braves
(-), New York Mets
(-), Cleveland Indians
(1994-), San Francisco Giants
(-), Florida Marlins
, Philadelphia Phillies
, Milwaukee Brewers
, and Pittsburgh Pirates
.
From 1989 to 1995, Roa amassed an impressive 67-35 record within the Braves, Mets, and Indians organizations. Roa continued to pitch well in the minors, garnering a 122-67 career record with a 3.49 ERA
. His final minor league season came in 2005 with the Indianapolis Indians
, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roa appeared in 256 minor league games in his career.
. His performance earned him a September call-up against the Chicago White Sox
in 1995. Roa appeared in 28 games for the San Francisco Giants in 1997 after only appearing in two games since being drafted. Roa appeared in 120 major league games during his career. His best season came in , when he appeared in 48 games for the Minnesota Twins
, going 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA. He was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training
on February 14, .
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...
right-handed 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...
. Roa is a graduate of Hazel Park High School and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the 18th round of the 1989 amateur draft
1989 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1989 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental first round selections:-External links:*...
. Roa was frequently called "The Roa Constrictor" by Twin Cities radio personality Dark Star.
Minor league career
As a journeymanJourneyman
A journeyman is someone who completed an apprenticeship and was fully educated in a trade or craft, but not yet a master. To become a master, a journeyman had to submit a master work piece to a guild for evaluation and be admitted to the guild as a master....
pitcher, Roa played in twelve Major League organizations during his career. In the minors, Roa played for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(-), 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...
(-), 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...
(1994-), San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(-), Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and 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...
.
From 1989 to 1995, Roa amassed an impressive 67-35 record within the Braves, Mets, and Indians organizations. Roa continued to pitch well in the minors, garnering a 122-67 career record with a 3.49 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. His final minor league season came in 2005 with the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roa appeared in 256 minor league games in his career.
Major league career
In 1995, Joe Roa went 17-3 for the Cleveland Indians Triple-A affiliate in BuffaloBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. His performance earned him a September call-up against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in 1995. Roa appeared in 28 games for the San Francisco Giants in 1997 after only appearing in two games since being drafted. Roa appeared in 120 major league games during his career. His best season came in , when he appeared in 48 games for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, going 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA. He was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates during 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...
on February 14, .