Jose Veras
Encyclopedia
José Enger Veras Romero (born October 20, 1980) is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in . He rose through the Tampa Bay minor league system, mostly as a starter. Veras struggled when he reached AAA, and was converted to a relief pitcher. He was released after the season, and pitched in for the Texas Rangers
' AAA affiliate.
Veras signed with the Yankees before the season, which he spent most of in AAA, though he also made his major league debut, pitching 11 innings with a 4.09 ERA
. Veras was injured early in , but rehabbed and returned to the major leagues as a September call up.
After being called up to the majors early in the 2008 season, he emerged as a dominant force out of the bullpen and became the set-up reliever after the Yankees traded Kyle Farnsworth
.
Veras was designated for assignment by the Yankees on June 16, 2009. On June 24, 2009, Veras was acquired by the Cleveland Indians
for cash considerations. On August 5, 2009, he was designated for assignment and on August 11, 2009, he was outrighted to AAA. He was called up again in September toward the end of the 2009 season.
He was non-tendered by the Indians making him a free agent.
On January 29, 2010, Veras signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins
with an invite to spring training, and was added to the Major League roster on April 3.
On April 14 Veras was designated for assignment to bring up Chris Leroux to take his spot.
Veras was called up on June 25, 2010. James Houser
was designated for assignment to make room.
On January 16, 2011, Veras signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
with an invitation to Spring Training worth $1mil plus incentives.
and a low 80's deep slider
. The fastball has hit as high as 98, but usually sits in the 93-96 range. The slider is usually thrown between 79-83 mph with a break between 6 and 9 inches. Veras throws with a low 3/4 arm motion.
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 Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
Playing career
Veras was signed as an undrafted free agentFree 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....
by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in . He rose through the Tampa Bay minor league system, mostly as a starter. Veras struggled when he reached AAA, and was converted to a relief pitcher. He was released after the season, and pitched in for the Texas Rangers
Texas 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...
' AAA affiliate.
Veras signed with the Yankees before the season, which he spent most of in AAA, though he also made his major league debut, pitching 11 innings with a 4.09 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...
. Veras was injured early in , but rehabbed and returned to the major leagues as a September call up.
After being called up to the majors early in the 2008 season, he emerged as a dominant force out of the bullpen and became the set-up reliever after the Yankees traded Kyle Farnsworth
Kyle Farnsworth
Kyle Lynn Farnsworth is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently the closer for the Tampa Bay Rays.-High school and college:...
.
Veras was designated for assignment by the Yankees on June 16, 2009. On June 24, 2009, Veras was acquired by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for cash considerations. On August 5, 2009, he was designated for assignment and on August 11, 2009, he was outrighted to AAA. He was called up again in September toward the end of the 2009 season.
He was non-tendered by the Indians making him a free agent.
On January 29, 2010, Veras signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
with an invite to spring training, and was added to the Major League roster on April 3.
On April 14 Veras was designated for assignment to bring up Chris Leroux to take his spot.
Veras was called up on June 25, 2010. James Houser
James Houser
James Robert Houser, Jr. is a left-handed starting pitcher.-High school:Houser was an outstanding pitcher for Sarasota High School in Sarasota, Florida. During his senior year, he had an 11-1 record with a 1.40 ERA, striking out 118. He was named Florida's "Mr...
was designated for assignment to make room.
On January 16, 2011, Veras signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
with an invitation to Spring Training worth $1mil plus incentives.
Pitching style
He has a mid to high 90's mph 4-seam fastballFastball
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...
and a low 80's deep slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
. The fastball has hit as high as 98, but usually sits in the 93-96 range. The slider is usually thrown between 79-83 mph with a break between 6 and 9 inches. Veras throws with a low 3/4 arm motion.