Len Picota
Encyclopedia
Lenin Alberto Picota (Born: July 23, 1966 in Panama
) is a former professional baseball
pitcher
. He played two seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization
for the Hanwha Eagles in 2002-03. During his career, Picota has gone by multiple names, his full name (Lenin) as well as two shortened versions (Len or Leny).
Picota — a 6'1", 185 pound right-hander — was a starting pitching prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals
farm system who got as high as AAA but never reached the majors. He was signed as a free-agent on December 18, 1983.
Perhaps his best season in the minors was 1986, with the Savannah Cardinals. That year, he went 6-2 with a 2.00 ERA in 85 innings. Although he walked 67 and struck out only 45, the fact that he gave up only 55 hits attributed to his success.
1988 was also a good season for him. With the St. Petersburg Cardinals, he went 11-10 with a 2.89 ERA in 143 innings. He only gave up 130 hits that year, but he only struck out 65 batters. Apparently, he was not a strikeout pitcher.
In 2006 Picota represented Panama in the World Baseball Classic
. He has played a lot of international ball, whether it be in Korea, Mexico or Chinese Taipei
. He has also played independent baseball with the Nashua Pride
.
In 2007, he pitched three innings in the Pan-American Games, striking out two batters and allowing two runs.
Picota was signed by the Montreal Expos
at one point in his career after playing foreign ball for seven years. He was released before Opening Day
.
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
) is a former professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
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...
. He played two seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
for the Hanwha Eagles in 2002-03. During his career, Picota has gone by multiple names, his full name (Lenin) as well as two shortened versions (Len or Leny).
Picota — a 6'1", 185 pound right-hander — was a starting pitching prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
farm system who got as high as AAA but never reached the majors. He was signed as a free-agent on December 18, 1983.
Perhaps his best season in the minors was 1986, with the Savannah Cardinals. That year, he went 6-2 with a 2.00 ERA in 85 innings. Although he walked 67 and struck out only 45, the fact that he gave up only 55 hits attributed to his success.
1988 was also a good season for him. With the St. Petersburg Cardinals, he went 11-10 with a 2.89 ERA in 143 innings. He only gave up 130 hits that year, but he only struck out 65 batters. Apparently, he was not a strikeout pitcher.
In 2006 Picota represented Panama in the World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
. He has played a lot of international ball, whether it be in Korea, Mexico or Chinese Taipei
Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003...
. He has also played independent baseball with the Nashua Pride
Nashua Pride
The Nashua Pride were a professional baseball team based in Nashua, New Hampshire, in the United States, not affiliated with Major League Baseball. They played home games at Holman Stadium from 1998 through 2008, when they were sold and renamed the American Defenders of New Hampshire. In 2010 that...
.
In 2007, he pitched three innings in the Pan-American Games, striking out two batters and allowing two runs.
Picota was signed by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
at one point in his career after playing foreign ball for seven years. He was released before Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
.