Joel Peralta
Encyclopedia
Joel Peralta Gutiérrez ' onMouseout='HidePop("48025")' href="/topics/Bonao">Bonao
, Dominican Republic
) is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
for the Tampa Bay Rays
.
as an amateur free agent
in 1996. They released him in 1998. He signed with the then-Anaheim Angels
in 1999, and remained with the organization in the minor leagues, receiving a promotion to the major leagues in 2005.
Following the 2005 season, he was selected off waiver
s by the Kansas City Royals
from the Angels. He spent three seasons with the Royals, and then signed with the Rockies for the 2009 season.
At the end of the 2009 season, he became a free agent, and was signed to a minor league contract by the Nationals. He had an outstanding 2010 for AAA Syracuse, saving 20 games without any blown saves, compiling a 1.08 ERA. On June 21, he was called up to join the Nationals as an eighth reliever, and the next night made his 2010 debut, pitching to one batter and inducing a double play. Peralta was non-tendered following the 2010 season, to avoid giving him a raise in arbitration.
During the 2010 off-season, Peralta signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays
, receiving $900,000.
Bonao
Bonao is the capital of Monseñor Nouel province, Dominican Republic. It is located in the center of the country, to the northwest of the national capital Santo Domingo.The city is known as "Villa De Las Hortensias" - the town of hortensias...
, 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...
) is a 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...
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...
for 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...
.
Career
Peralta signed with 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
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....
in 1996. They released him in 1998. He signed with the then-Anaheim 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...
in 1999, and remained with the organization in the minor leagues, receiving a promotion to the major leagues in 2005.
Following the 2005 season, he was selected off waiver
Waiver
A waiver is the voluntary relinquishment or surrender of some known right or privilege.While a waiver is often in writing, sometimes a person's actions can act as a waiver. An example of a written waiver is a disclaimer, which becomes a waiver when accepted...
s by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
from the Angels. He spent three seasons with the Royals, and then signed with the Rockies for the 2009 season.
At the end of the 2009 season, he became a free agent, and was signed to a minor league contract by the Nationals. He had an outstanding 2010 for AAA Syracuse, saving 20 games without any blown saves, compiling a 1.08 ERA. On June 21, he was called up to join the Nationals as an eighth reliever, and the next night made his 2010 debut, pitching to one batter and inducing a double play. Peralta was non-tendered following the 2010 season, to avoid giving him a raise in arbitration.
During the 2010 off-season, Peralta signed a one-year contract with 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...
, receiving $900,000.