Juan Rincón
Encyclopedia
Juan Manuel Rincón is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
who is with the Bridgeport Bluefish
in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
. Rincón bats and throws right-handed. He throws a low 90s fastball
and a mid low 80s slider
. In his career, Rincón has posted a .208 BAA against left-handed
hitters and a .248 BAA against right-handed hitters.
as an amateur free agent in 1996. He worked his way up through the Twins farm system, and was selected as a Midwest League
All-Star in 1999 after he was 14-8 with a 2.92 ERA in 28 starts with the Quad Cities River Bandits.
Rincón made his Major League debut on June 7, 2001 for the Twins against the Cleveland Indians
, working one scoreless inning in relief. He spent eight seasons with the Twins, appearing in 386 games, ending with a 30-26 record and 3.69 ERA, mostly working in relief.
On May 2, 2005, Rincón became the fifth baseball player to be suspended for testing positive for illegal performance-enhancing drugs under Major League Baseball's drug policy. He was suspended for ten days without pay as the policy dictates for a first offense.
On June 12, 2008 the Twins cut ties with him and after rejecting a minor league assignment, he became a free agent
. On June 24, 2008, the Cleveland Indians signed Rincon to a minor league contract.
on June 24, 2008 and was 1-1 with a 5.60 ERA in 23 appearances for the Indians in 2008.
to a minor league contract. He made the major league roster after spring training but was designated for assignment
on May 13, 2009, to make room on the 25 man active roster for Dontrelle Willis
. Rincón had three days to accept an outright assignment to AAA Toledo Mudhens or become a free agent. On May 17, 2009, Rincon rejected an assignment to AAA Toledo,thus hitting the free agent market. Rincon posted a 5.23 ERA and was 1-0 in 10 appearances with the Tigers.
.
On May 1, 2010, he was designated for assignment to make room for spot starter Esmil Rogers
. On May 3, he was assigned to Triple-A affiliate Colorado Springs
. He became a free agent on October 15, after he refused an assignment to the minor leagues.
. He was released at the conclusion of spring training and signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish
of the Atlantic League of Professional 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...
who is with the Bridgeport Bluefish
Bridgeport Bluefish
The Bridgeport Bluefish is an American professional baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
. Rincón bats and throws right-handed. He throws a low 90s 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...
and a mid low 80s 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....
. In his career, Rincón has posted a .208 BAA against left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
hitters and a .248 BAA against right-handed hitters.
Minnesota Twins
He was originally signed by the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
as an amateur free agent in 1996. He worked his way up through the Twins farm system, and was selected as a Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
All-Star in 1999 after he was 14-8 with a 2.92 ERA in 28 starts with the Quad Cities River Bandits.
Rincón made his Major League debut on June 7, 2001 for the Twins against 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...
, working one scoreless inning in relief. He spent eight seasons with the Twins, appearing in 386 games, ending with a 30-26 record and 3.69 ERA, mostly working in relief.
On May 2, 2005, Rincón became the fifth baseball player to be suspended for testing positive for illegal performance-enhancing drugs under Major League Baseball's drug policy. He was suspended for ten days without pay as the policy dictates for a first offense.
On June 12, 2008 the Twins cut ties with him and after rejecting a minor league assignment, he became 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....
. On June 24, 2008, the Cleveland Indians signed Rincon to a minor league contract.
Cleveland Indians
He signed as a free agent with the Cleveland IndiansCleveland 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...
on June 24, 2008 and was 1-1 with a 5.60 ERA in 23 appearances for the Indians in 2008.
Detroit Tigers
On January 20, 2009, Rincón was signed by the Detroit TigersDetroit 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...
to a minor league contract. He made the major league roster after spring training but was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
on May 13, 2009, to make room on the 25 man active roster for Dontrelle Willis
Dontrelle Willis
Dontrelle Wayne Willis , nicknamed "The D-Train", is an American professional baseball pitcher. Willis is notable for his success during his first few years in the league and for his unconventional pitching style, which includes a high leg kick and exaggerated twisting away from the batter...
. Rincón had three days to accept an outright assignment to AAA Toledo Mudhens or become a free agent. On May 17, 2009, Rincon rejected an assignment to AAA Toledo,thus hitting the free agent market. Rincon posted a 5.23 ERA and was 1-0 in 10 appearances with the Tigers.
Colorado Rockies
On May 25, 2009 Rincon signed a Minor League deal with the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
On May 1, 2010, he was designated for assignment to make room for spot starter Esmil Rogers
Esmil Rogers
Esmil Antonio Rogers is a Dominican baseball player with the Colorado Rockies in Major League Baseball.-Baseball career:...
. On May 3, he was assigned to Triple-A affiliate Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
. He became a free agent on October 15, after he refused an assignment to the minor leagues.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On February 11, 2011 he was signed to a minor league contract with the Los Angeles DodgersLos 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...
. He was released at the conclusion of spring training and signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish
Bridgeport Bluefish
The Bridgeport Bluefish is an American professional baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
.