Luis Vizcaíno
Encyclopedia
Luis Vizcaíno Arias is a Dominican Republic
professional baseball
pitcher
who is a free agent. He has played for the Oakland Athletics
, Milwaukee Brewers
, Chicago White Sox
, Arizona Diamondbacks
, New York Yankees
, Colorado Rockies
, Chicago Cubs
, and Cleveland Indians
in his career.
as an amateur free agent in . After gradually working his way through the Athletics minor league system, he made one relief appearance for the A's in , 12 in , and 36 in , but continued to spend significant time in Triple-A. In , he was traded to the Texas Rangers
for pitcher
Justin Duchscherer
, and the Rangers in turn traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers
for Jesús Peña
.
In his three years with the Brewers, Vizcaíno was a workhorse. After an outstanding 2002 (5-3, 2.99 ERA
, 76 appearances), he slumped badly in (4-3, 6.39 ERA, 75 appearances) before having a bounce-back campaign (4-4, 3.75 ERA, 73 appearances). Milwaukee then sent him to the Chicago White Sox
along with Scott Podsednik
and Travis Hinton for Carlos Lee
.
With the White Sox, Vizcaíno had another solid year, going 6-5 with a 3.73 ERA in 65 appearances for the World Champions (he pitched one scoreless inning during the World Series
in his only playoff appearance). After the season, Chicago traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks
. In , Vizcaíno went 4-6 and posted a 3.75 ERA in 70 games for the Diamondbacks.
On January 9, , Vizcaíno was traded to the New York Yankees
with three prospects for Randy Johnson
. He achieved a rare feat on July 21, 2007, when he was credited with both wins
in relief in a day-night doubleheader for the Yankees, joining about 30 other pitchers.
In 2007, he pitched in 74 games, which was 4th-most in the AL
. On December 21, 2007, he signed with the Colorado Rockies
. On January 6, 2009, Vizcaíno was traded to the Chicago Cubs
for Jason Marquis
. Vizcaíno was designated for assignment
and released by the Cubs on April 22, 2009.
On May 8, 2009, Vizcaíno signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians
. He then was signed to a major league deal on May 14. He was designated for assignment on June 23, and released on June 30 after clearing waivers.
Vizcaíno performed well in the Dominican Winter League following the 2010 season. On December 19, 2010, Vizcaíno signed a minor league contract to return with New York Yankees
with an invitation to spring training. His contract was voided on February 9, 2011 because of a tear to his achilles tendon
.
On June 29, 2011, he was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for testing positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug stanozolol
.
Despite pitching more than 500 career innings in the major leagues, Vizcaino has never committed an error
.
, Dominican Republic
.
Vizcaino's second cousin, José Vizcaíno
, was a long-time MLB infielder
.
On October 27, 2008, Vizcaíno was arrested for DUI
after being pulled over for driving 71 MPH in a 45 MPH zone.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
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...
who is a free agent. He has played for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, and 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...
in his career.
Career
Vizcaíno was signed by the Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
as an amateur free agent in . After gradually working his way through the Athletics minor league system, he made one relief appearance for the A's in , 12 in , and 36 in , but continued to spend significant time in Triple-A. In , he was traded to the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for 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...
Justin Duchscherer
Justin Duchscherer
Justin Craig Duchscherer [DUKE-shur] is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Early career:...
, and the Rangers in turn traded him to the 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...
for Jesús Peña
Jesús Peña
Jesús Peña [peh-nya] is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox...
.
In his three years with the Brewers, Vizcaíno was a workhorse. After an outstanding 2002 (5-3, 2.99 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...
, 76 appearances), he slumped badly in (4-3, 6.39 ERA, 75 appearances) before having a bounce-back campaign (4-4, 3.75 ERA, 73 appearances). Milwaukee then sent him to 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...
along with Scott Podsednik
Scott Podsednik
Scott Eric Podsednik is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Podsednik led the major leagues in stolen bases in with 70.-Minor leagues:...
and Travis Hinton for Carlos Lee
Carlos Lee
Carlos Noriel Lee is a first basemen in Major League Baseball who plays for the Houston Astros. He bats and throws right-handed....
.
With the White Sox, Vizcaíno had another solid year, going 6-5 with a 3.73 ERA in 65 appearances for the World Champions (he pitched one scoreless inning during the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
in his only playoff appearance). After the season, Chicago traded him 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...
. In , Vizcaíno went 4-6 and posted a 3.75 ERA in 70 games for the Diamondbacks.
On January 9, , Vizcaíno was traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
with three prospects for Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
. He achieved a rare feat on July 21, 2007, when he was credited with both wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
in relief in a day-night doubleheader for the Yankees, joining about 30 other pitchers.
In 2007, he pitched in 74 games, which was 4th-most in the AL
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. On December 21, 2007, he signed with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. On January 6, 2009, Vizcaíno was traded to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for Jason Marquis
Jason Marquis
Jason Scott Marquis is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously pitched for the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks....
. Vizcaíno was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
and released by the Cubs on April 22, 2009.
On May 8, 2009, Vizcaíno signed a minor league deal with 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...
. He then was signed to a major league deal on May 14. He was designated for assignment on June 23, and released on June 30 after clearing waivers.
Vizcaíno performed well in the Dominican Winter League following the 2010 season. On December 19, 2010, Vizcaíno signed a minor league contract to return with New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
with an invitation to spring training. His contract was voided on February 9, 2011 because of a tear to his achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
.
On June 29, 2011, he was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for testing positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug stanozolol
Stanozolol
Stanozolol, commonly sold under the name Winstrol , Tenabol and Winstrol Depot , was developed by Winthrop Laboratories in 1962...
.
Despite pitching more than 500 career innings in the major leagues, Vizcaino has never committed an error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
.
Personal life
Vizcaino was born in BaníBaní
Baní is a capital town of the Peravia Province, Dominican Republic. It is the commercial and manufacturing center in a region producing bananas and coffee.- Overview :...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
.
Vizcaino's second cousin, José Vizcaíno
José Vizcaíno
José Luis Vizcaíno Pimental is a former Major League Baseball player. He was a backup infielder for most of his MLB career. In , he played a significant role with the Chicago Cubs, having 551 at-bats and being 9th in the National League with 131 singles as well as second in the NL with 9 sacrifice...
, was a long-time MLB infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
.
On October 27, 2008, Vizcaíno was arrested for DUI
DUI
DUI is a three letter acronym that may stand for:* Driving under the influence * Democratic Union for Integration — the largest ethnic Albanian party in the Republic of Macedonia* Data Use Identifier...
after being pulled over for driving 71 MPH in a 45 MPH zone.