Randy Flores
Encyclopedia
Randy Alan Flores is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
who is currently a free agent
. Flores is a career left-handed
relief
specialist.
. Flores played college baseball
at the University of Southern California
. At the University of Southern California from '94 to '97, he set several pitching records that still stand as of October 2006. He also earned a BS in Finance from USC.
Flores' July 31 birthdate (which puts him one day before the cutoff date for youth baseball leagues) guaranteed that he was always the youngest player at each level. Flores said that it was so disheartening that he actually quit baseball for a couple years around age 11.
and Colorado Rockies
before signing as a free agent
with the Cardinals on November 20, .
Flores won a championship ring when the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series
, defeating the Detroit Tigers
four games to one. Flores appeared in seven games in the 2006 postseason, throwing 5 innings without giving up an earned run
.
On February 10, , Flores signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Colorado Rockies. Flores and his wife, Lindsey, reside in Scottsdale, Arizona
.
He made the Opening day roster, and gave the Rockies a season in which he pitched 27.1 innings, striking out 18 batters for a 2.96 ERA, having a record of 2-0, and a 1.28 WHIP before being designated for assignment on August 20, 2010. Jonathan Herrera
was called up to replace him.
He was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins
on August 25, 2010. On February 10, 2011, he was signed to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training by the San Diego Padres
. He opted out of his contract on May 15. Flores signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on May 17.
He was released by the Yankees on August 2, 2011 and immediately signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers
. He was released by the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, August 30, 2011, after asking for his release.
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...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Flores is a career left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
specialist.
Early life and career
He attended El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, CaliforniaPico Rivera, California
Pico Rivera is a city located in southeastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city is situated approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, on the eastern edge of the Los Angeles basin, and on the southern edge of the area known as the San Gabriel Valley...
. Flores played college 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...
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. At the University of Southern California from '94 to '97, he set several pitching records that still stand as of October 2006. He also earned a BS in Finance from USC.
Flores' July 31 birthdate (which puts him one day before the cutoff date for youth baseball leagues) guaranteed that he was always the youngest player at each level. Flores said that it was so disheartening that he actually quit baseball for a couple years around age 11.
Professional career
He made his major league debut on April 23, . He played for the Texas RangersTexas 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...
and 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...
before signing as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Cardinals on November 20, .
Flores won a championship ring when the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series
2006 World Series
The 2006 World Series, the 102nd edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, began on October 21 and ended on October 27, and matched the American League champion Detroit Tigers against the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals won the Series in five games, taking...
, defeating the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
four games to one. Flores appeared in seven games in the 2006 postseason, throwing 5 innings without giving up an earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
.
On February 10, , Flores signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Colorado Rockies. Flores and his wife, Lindsey, reside in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
.
He made the Opening day roster, and gave the Rockies a season in which he pitched 27.1 innings, striking out 18 batters for a 2.96 ERA, having a record of 2-0, and a 1.28 WHIP before being designated for assignment on August 20, 2010. Jonathan Herrera
Jonathan Herrera
Jonathan Alejandro Herrera is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Colorado Rockies. He has played full time in the minor leagues as a shortstop and second baseman for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox....
was called up to replace him.
He was claimed off waivers by 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...
on August 25, 2010. On February 10, 2011, he was signed to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. He opted out of his contract on May 15. Flores signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on May 17.
He was released by the Yankees on August 2, 2011 and immediately signed a minor league contract with 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...
. He was released by the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday, August 30, 2011, after asking for his release.