Robinson Checo
Encyclopedia
Robinson Checo Pérez is a former pitcher
who played in Major League Baseball
from through . He batted and threw right-handed.
A well-traveled pitcher, Checo never was able to fulfill the potential that he showed in the minor leagues
. He played for at least 13 teams in four different countries during his 12-year career.
In 1989, Checo pitched for the California Angels
organization in the Dominican Summer League
. After that, he played for the Japan
's Hiroshima Toyo Carp
minor league system (1990–92) and with the China Times Eagles
in the Chinese Professional Baseball League
(1993–94), before returning to Hiroshima in 1995. That season, he went 15-8 with 166 strikeout
s and a 2.74 ERA
with the Toyo Carp and also became the first foreign pitcher to toss a shutout
in his first Central League
appearance, over the Hanshin Tigers
. He declined in 1996, going 4-1 with a 4.80 ERA in only nine games, but barely missed spinning a no-hitter
against Hanshin with two outs in the ninth inning.
Checo joined the Boston Red Sox
as a free agent
before the 1997 season under a handsome seven figure contract which proved to be among GM Dan Duquette's poorest decisions. Between 1997 and 1998 he played for five different Red Sox teams, including two trips to the big club, but showed precious little drive to achieve and was routinely described in the Boston print media as the "mystery man." His departure from that organization was barely noted and entirely unlamented. A year later, he played for the Detroit
, Anaheim
and Los Angeles
minor league organizations, appearing with the Dodgers late in the season. In 2000 he finished 8-3 with a 3.63 ERA for Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes
, but this time he did not get another chance at extending his baseball career.
In 16 major league games, Checo posted a 3-5 record with 30 strikeouts and a 7.61 ERA in 32 23 innings. In nine minor league seasons, he went 43-27 with 588 SO and a 3.78 ERA in 109 appearances.
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 played in 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...
from through . He batted and threw right-handed.
A well-traveled pitcher, Checo never was able to fulfill the potential that he showed in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. He played for at least 13 teams in four different countries during his 12-year career.
In 1989, Checo pitched for the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
organization in the Dominican Summer League
Dominican Summer League
The Dominican Summer League is a branch of affiliated minor league baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. The 2011 72-game season begins May 28 and ends August 20...
. After that, he played for the 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...
's Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. Mazda is the largest single shareholder , which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family . Because of that,...
minor league system (1990–92) and with the China Times Eagles
China Times Eagles
The China Times Eagles was a defunct professional baseball team belonging to the Chinese Professional Baseball League that existed between 1993 and 1997.-History:...
in the Chinese Professional Baseball League
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...
(1993–94), before returning to Hiroshima in 1995. That season, he went 15-8 with 166 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 2.74 ERA
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...
with the Toyo Carp and also became the first foreign pitcher to toss a shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
in his first Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
appearance, over the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
. He declined in 1996, going 4-1 with a 4.80 ERA in only nine games, but barely missed spinning a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against Hanshin with two outs in the ninth inning.
Checo joined the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
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....
before the 1997 season under a handsome seven figure contract which proved to be among GM Dan Duquette's poorest decisions. Between 1997 and 1998 he played for five different Red Sox teams, including two trips to the big club, but showed precious little drive to achieve and was routinely described in the Boston print media as the "mystery man." His departure from that organization was barely noted and entirely unlamented. A year later, he played for the Detroit
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...
, Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
and Los Angeles
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
minor league organizations, appearing with the Dodgers late in the season. In 2000 he finished 8-3 with a 3.63 ERA for Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
, but this time he did not get another chance at extending his baseball career.
In 16 major league games, Checo posted a 3-5 record with 30 strikeouts and a 7.61 ERA in 32 23 innings. In nine minor league seasons, he went 43-27 with 588 SO and a 3.78 ERA in 109 appearances.