Alfredo Aceves
Encyclopedia
Alfredo Aceves Martínez (born December 8, 1982, in San Luis Río Colorado
, Sonora
) is a Mexican
professional baseball
pitcher
with the Boston Red Sox
of Major League Baseball
. He uses a fastball
, which can reach the mid 90s, a curveball
, a changeup
, and a cut fastball
. He is known for his control and his ability to throw any pitch in any count. He previously pitched for the New York Yankees
.
as an amateur free agent in . He made ten starts in the Dominican Summer League
that year. However, Aceves felt isolated, and when the Blue Jays assigned him to stay in the DSL for , Aceves stayed in Mexico, and his contract was purchased by the Yucatán Leones of the Mexican League. Aceves pitched for Yucatán and Sultanes de Monterrey for the next six seasons.
, who Sigman had signed for the Milwaukee Brewers
. Feeling that he had developed well in the Mexican League, the Yankees purchased Aceves, along with Manny Banuelos
and two other players, for $450,000 during the 2007-08 offseason. He began with the Single-A Advanced Tampa Yankees
. He was quickly promoted to the Double-A Trenton Thunder
and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. He was named Eastern League pitcher of the week for the week ending May 25, 2008.
After going a combined 8-6 with a 2.62 ERA
on the three Yankee farm teams, Aceves was called up to the Yankees on August 28, . On August 31, Aceves made his Yankee and major league debut, becoming the 106th major-league player to have been born in México, pitching two scoreless innings in relief
.
After pitching effectively through his first few relief appearances, Aceves was moved to the rotation in replacement of Darrell Rasner
. In his first career start, he pitched seven innings of one-run ball with two strikeout
s against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
, earning the win
.
After starting the season in the minors, Aceves rejoined the Yankees on May 4.
Due to his ability to pitch effectively in any situation, Aceves has drawn comparisons to former Yankee reliever and spot starter Ramiro Mendoza
.
Aceves made ten relief appearances in 2010 before succumbing to a strained lower back that ended his season. He suffered a broken collarbone in an off-season bicycle accident. He was non-tendered after the season.
on February 8, 2011. On April 21, he was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Matt Albers
on the roster. On May 6 he was called back up, and on May 16 he won his first game with the Red Sox. Between then and September 1, Aceves has a 9-1 record out of the bullpen for Boston, making him one of the most effective relief pitchers in all of baseball in the 2011 season.
Aceves' father, Alfredo Aceves, was a first baseman
in the Mexican League and his older brother, Jonathan Aceves, was a catcher
in the Chicago White Sox
organization, currently playing for the Saraperos de Saltillo
of the Mexican League.
Aceves wears #91 to honor Dennis Rodman
, whom Aceves admires for his antics and championships. He was one of three players in Yankees history to wear a number in the 90s, with Charlie Keller
and Brian Bruney
each wearing #99. He is also the first (and, so far, only) player in Red Sox history to wear a number in the 90s.
San Luis Río Colorado
San Luis Río Colorado is a city and its surrounding municipality lying in the northwestern corner of the state of Sonora, Mexico.- Location :...
, Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
) is a Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
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...
with 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"...
of 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...
. He uses a fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, which can reach the mid 90s, a curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, a changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
, and a cut fastball
Cutter (baseball)
In baseball, a cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of fastball which breaks slightly toward the pitcher's glove side as it reaches home plate. This pitch is somewhere between a slider and a fastball, as it is usually thrown faster than a slider but with more motion than a typical fastball. Some...
. He is known for his control and his ability to throw any pitch in any count. He previously pitched for 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...
.
Early career
Aceves was signed by the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
as an amateur free agent in . He made ten starts 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...
that year. However, Aceves felt isolated, and when the Blue Jays assigned him to stay in the DSL for , Aceves stayed in Mexico, and his contract was purchased by the Yucatán Leones of the Mexican League. Aceves pitched for Yucatán and Sultanes de Monterrey for the next six seasons.
New York Yankees
Yankees scout Lee Sigman followed Aceves in the Mexican League, feeling he could achieve similar success as Teddy HigueraTeddy Higuera
Teodoro Higuera Valenzuela is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for nine years for the Milwaukee Brewers of the American League.-Early career:...
, who Sigman had signed for 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...
. Feeling that he had developed well in the Mexican League, the Yankees purchased Aceves, along with Manny Banuelos
Manny Banuelos
Manuel Banuelos is a minor league baseball pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He currently plays for the Yankees Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.-Career:...
and two other players, for $450,000 during the 2007-08 offseason. He began with the Single-A Advanced Tampa Yankees
Tampa Yankees
The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
. He was quickly promoted to the Double-A Trenton Thunder
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are an American Minor League Baseball team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League, and are the two-time defending league champions...
and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. He was named Eastern League pitcher of the week for the week ending May 25, 2008.
After going a combined 8-6 with a 2.62 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...
on the three Yankee farm teams, Aceves was called up to the Yankees on August 28, . On August 31, Aceves made his Yankee and major league debut, becoming the 106th major-league player to have been born in México, pitching two scoreless innings in 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...
.
After pitching effectively through his first few relief appearances, Aceves was moved to the rotation in replacement of Darrell Rasner
Darrell Rasner
Darrell Wayne Rasner is a starting pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Japanese Pacific League.Rasner attended the University of Nevada, where he was a health ecology major...
. In his first career start, he pitched seven innings of one-run ball with two 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 against the Los Angeles Angels of 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...
, earning the win
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...
.
After starting the season in the minors, Aceves rejoined the Yankees on May 4.
Due to his ability to pitch effectively in any situation, Aceves has drawn comparisons to former Yankee reliever and spot starter Ramiro Mendoza
Ramiro Mendoza
Ramiro Mendoza , nicknamed "El Brujo" , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Mendoza played with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed. Although Mendoza made 62 starts in his major league career, he was primarily known as a middle relief pitcher...
.
Aceves made ten relief appearances in 2010 before succumbing to a strained lower back that ended his season. He suffered a broken collarbone in an off-season bicycle accident. He was non-tendered after the season.
Boston Red Sox
Aceves was signed to a major league deal by the Boston Red SoxBoston 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"...
on February 8, 2011. On April 21, he was optioned to Triple-A to make room for Matt Albers
Matt Albers
Matthew James Albers is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-High school:In 2001, Albers graduated William P. Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas...
on the roster. On May 6 he was called back up, and on May 16 he won his first game with the Red Sox. Between then and September 1, Aceves has a 9-1 record out of the bullpen for Boston, making him one of the most effective relief pitchers in all of baseball in the 2011 season.
Personal life
He married his wife Arley in November, 2008, proposing to her during a Trenton Thunder game during the 2008 season.Aceves' father, Alfredo Aceves, was a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in the Mexican League and his older brother, Jonathan Aceves, was a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in 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...
organization, currently playing for the Saraperos de Saltillo
Saraperos de Saltillo
The Saraperos de Saltillo are a AAA-level baseball team playing in the Mexican League. They have won 3 championships in 1980, 2009, and 2010. Their homefield is the Estadio De Béisbol Francisco I. Madero in Saltillo, Coahuila. Juan Jose Pacho is the team manager....
of the Mexican League.
Aceves wears #91 to honor Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player of the National Basketball Association's Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, he was nicknamed "Dennis the Menace" and "The...
, whom Aceves admires for his antics and championships. He was one of three players in Yankees history to wear a number in the 90s, with Charlie Keller
Charlie Keller
Charles Ernest "Charlie" Keller was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1952, Keller played for the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers...
and Brian Bruney
Brian Bruney
Brian Anthony Bruney is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals, and Chicago White Sox....
each wearing #99. He is also the first (and, so far, only) player in Red Sox history to wear a number in the 90s.