Alexander Torres
Encyclopedia
Alexander Jesus Torres Matos (born December 8, 1987) is a Venezuela
n professional baseball
pitcher
in the Tampa Bay Rays
organization.
Torres was signed on January 12, 2005, by Los Angeles Angels
scout
Carlos Porte, as an international free agent, and was assigned to the Angels' Dominican Summer League
affiliate
that season. He spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons with the Angels' rookie-level Arizona League
affiliate, as well as the beginning of the 2008 season before earning a promotion to Rancho Cucamonga
in the Class A-Advanced California League
.
In 2009, Torres was again assigned to Rancho Cucamonga
, where he earned minor league
Pitcher of the Month honors for the Angels organization in both June and July. He held a stretch of 19 consecutive scoreless innings
pitched (June 9–29, 2008) and won his final 5 starts before being promoted again to Arkansas
in the Double-A Texas League
on July 31, 2009.
On August 28, 2009, Torres was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays
(as part of a package with infielders
Sean Rodriguez
and Matthew Sweeney for pitcher
Scott Kazmir
) and was assigned to Montgomery
in the Double-A Southern League
. Following the season, the Rays added Torres to the 40-man roster on November 9, 2009 to protect him from the Rule 5 draft
. He spent all of the 2010 season with Montgomery.
For the 2011 season, Torres was promoted to Durham
in the Triple-A International League
. He was promoted to the majors for the first time on July 18, 2011.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n 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...
in the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
organization.
Torres was signed on January 12, 2005, by Los Angeles 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...
scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
Carlos Porte, as an international free agent, and was assigned to the Angels' 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...
affiliate
Dominican Summer Angels
The Dominican Summer Angels are a minor league baseball team in the Dominican Summer League. The team plays in the San Pedro de Macorís division and is affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-External links:*...
that season. He spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons with the Angels' rookie-level Arizona League
Arizona League
The Arizona League is a minor league baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona. It is a rookie-level professional baseball league run by Major League Baseball since 1989. Games are played at the spring training complexes of the team's parent organizations from mid-June until the...
affiliate, as well as the beginning of the 2008 season before earning a promotion to Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a minor league baseball team in Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, their third major league affiliate in team history....
in the Class A-Advanced California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
.
In 2009, Torres was again assigned to Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a minor league baseball team in Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, their third major league affiliate in team history....
, where he earned minor league
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...
Pitcher of the Month honors for the Angels organization in both June and July. He held a stretch of 19 consecutive scoreless innings
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
pitched (June 9–29, 2008) and won his final 5 starts before being promoted again to Arkansas
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
in the Double-A Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
on July 31, 2009.
On August 28, 2009, Torres was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
(as part of a package with infielders
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...
Sean Rodriguez
Sean Rodriguez
Sean John Rodriguez is a Cuban American Major League Baseball short stop for the Tampa Bay Rays.-High school career:...
and Matthew Sweeney 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...
Scott Kazmir
Scott Kazmir
Scott Edward Kazmir is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Kazmir made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2004 when he was only 20 years old and at one time held many of the franchise's career pitching records...
) and was assigned to Montgomery
Montgomery Biscuits
The Montgomery Biscuits are a minor league baseball team based in Montgomery, Alabama. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and plays in the Southern League. The 2004 season was the team's first in Montgomery...
in the Double-A Southern League
Southern League
Southern League may mean:*Southern League , a United States minor league baseball league**Southern Association, a United States minor league baseball league, was known as the Southern League from 1901–1919...
. Following the season, the Rays added Torres to the 40-man roster on November 9, 2009 to protect him from the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. He spent all of the 2010 season with Montgomery.
For the 2011 season, Torres was promoted to Durham
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
in the Triple-A International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. He was promoted to the majors for the first time on July 18, 2011.