Luis Ayala
Encyclopedia
Luis Ignacio Ayala is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
who is a free agent
. He is 6' 2" and weighs 190 lbs. and bats and throws right-handed.
. He spent five years with Saltillo
, where he was 10-3 with a 2.92 E.R.A. in 65 games. He was signed as an undrafted free agent
by the Colorado Rockies
in 1999 and spent time with their A ball team before the Rockies sold him back to Saltillo in 2001.
In 2002 he was purchased from Saltillo by the Montreal Expos
. He played with the AAA Ottawa Lynx
in 2002. At the end of the season, he was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks
, but two months later returned to the Expos as a Rule 5 pick
.
He made his major league debut on March 31, 2003 for the Expos against the Atlanta Braves
, working two innings of relief and allowing one run and four hits. His 10 relief wins that season were tied for 2nd in baseball and
Ayala pitched well for the Expos/Nationals
from through . Over the three years, he averaged 70 appearances per year, and compiled an ERA
of 2.75, and led the National League
with 62 hold
s. In he ranked eighth in appearances with 81.
He injured his elbow on the last pitch of a 2006 World Baseball Classic
game. As a result, he underwent Tommy John surgery
on March 30, . He missed the entire 2006 season, and was placed on the 60-day disabled list
during the season.
After working eight re-hab games in the minors, in which he allowed one run in 9-2/3 innings, on June 20, he was called up to the Nationals. He made his return to the mound on June 22, 2007, pitching 2/3 of an inning and giving up no runs
and only one hit
. For the season, he went 2-2 with 6 holds, one save, and a 3.19 ERA in 44 appearances.
In 2008, Ayala pitched in 62 games for the Nationals, going 1-8 with a 5.77 ERA.
to the Nats to complete the deal.
On August 22, 2008, Ayala recorded his first save as a Met in a 3-0 victory over the Houston Astros
.
In 19 games for the Mets, Ayala had a 5.50 ERA.
. On June 22, Ayala was designated for assignment, and was released on July 2. According to Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, Ayala was released because he was unhappy with his role on the team. Gardenhire said of Ayala: "When you walk into my office and tell me you don't like your role, and he talked about his contract for next year, you lose me right there. I don't deal with that. We're talking about winning now. That's why he's out the door and another guy's in there to pitch. And it's not because he's a bad guy. His theories are a little different."
. He was added to the major league roster on July 12. Ayala was designated for assignment on August 31. In 10 appearances, Ayala went 0-3 with an 11.74 ERA. After being DFA, Ayala said of the Marlins: “It was terrible what they did. I don’t know why they called me up if they were going to do this. I think it’s a lack of respect. I know it’s a business, but for me, it’s something they’ve handled poorly.”
on December 16, 2009. He was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
to start the season. He pitched in 14 games for the Isotopes, mostly as a closer
. He was 1-3 with a 4.50 E.R.A. and 4 saves. He was released by the Dodgers on May 17 after he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract.
. On July 16, 2010, Ayala was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
. On November 22, 2010 Ayala became a minor league free agent.
. On March 30 it was announced that Ayala had been added to the opening day roster.
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...
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...
who is 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....
. He is 6' 2" and weighs 190 lbs. and bats and throws right-handed.
Mexican League
In , as a 19 year old, Ayala started playing in the Mexican Baseball League as a relief pitcherRelief 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...
. He spent five years with 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....
, where he was 10-3 with a 2.92 E.R.A. in 65 games. He was signed as an undrafted 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....
by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado 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...
in 1999 and spent time with their A ball team before the Rockies sold him back to Saltillo in 2001.
Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. He played with the AAA Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
in 2002. At the end of the season, he was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, but two months later returned to the Expos as a Rule 5 pick
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 made his major league debut on March 31, 2003 for the Expos against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, working two innings of relief and allowing one run and four hits. His 10 relief wins that season were tied for 2nd in baseball and
Ayala pitched well for the Expos/Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
from through . Over the three years, he averaged 70 appearances per year, and compiled an 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...
of 2.75, and led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
with 62 hold
Hold (baseball)
A hold is awarded to a relief pitcher who meets the following three conditions:Unlike saves, wins, and losses, more than one pitcher per team can earn a hold for a game, though it is not possible for a pitcher to receive more than one hold in a given game...
s. In he ranked eighth in appearances with 81.
He injured his elbow on the last pitch of a 2006 World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
game. As a result, he underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
on March 30, . He missed the entire 2006 season, and was placed on the 60-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
during the season.
After working eight re-hab games in the minors, in which he allowed one run in 9-2/3 innings, on June 20, he was called up to the Nationals. He made his return to the mound on June 22, 2007, pitching 2/3 of an inning and giving up no runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and only one hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. For the season, he went 2-2 with 6 holds, one save, and a 3.19 ERA in 44 appearances.
In 2008, Ayala pitched in 62 games for the Nationals, going 1-8 with a 5.77 ERA.
New York Mets
On August 17, , Ayala was traded to the New York Mets for a player to be named later. Ayala had requested the trade weeks earlier because he wanted a change of scenery, due to personal problems. The Mets sent Anderson HernandezAnderson Hernández
Anderson Hernández is a middle infielder in Anderson Hernández is a middle [[infielder]] in Anderson Hernández is a middle [[infielder]] in [[Major League Baseball]...
to the Nats to complete the deal.
On August 22, 2008, Ayala recorded his first save as a Met in a 3-0 victory over the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
In 19 games for the Mets, Ayala had a 5.50 ERA.
Minnesota Twins
On February 18, , Ayala signed a one-year deal with 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...
. On June 22, Ayala was designated for assignment, and was released on July 2. According to Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, Ayala was released because he was unhappy with his role on the team. Gardenhire said of Ayala: "When you walk into my office and tell me you don't like your role, and he talked about his contract for next year, you lose me right there. I don't deal with that. We're talking about winning now. That's why he's out the door and another guy's in there to pitch. And it's not because he's a bad guy. His theories are a little different."
Florida Marlins
On July 3, 2009, he signed a minor league deal with the Florida MarlinsFlorida 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...
. He was added to the major league roster on July 12. Ayala was designated for assignment on August 31. In 10 appearances, Ayala went 0-3 with an 11.74 ERA. After being DFA, Ayala said of the Marlins: “It was terrible what they did. I don’t know why they called me up if they were going to do this. I think it’s a lack of respect. I know it’s a business, but for me, it’s something they’ve handled poorly.”
Los Angeles Dodgers
Ayala signed 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...
on December 16, 2009. He was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
to start the season. He pitched in 14 games for the Isotopes, mostly as a closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
. He was 1-3 with a 4.50 E.R.A. and 4 saves. He was released by the Dodgers on May 17 after he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract.
Arizona Diamondbacks
On May 20, 2010, Ayala signed a minor league contract with the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. On July 16, 2010, Ayala was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Colorado Rockies
On August 27, 2010, Ayala signed a minor league contract 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 November 22, 2010 Ayala became a minor league free agent.
New York Yankees
On February 9, 2011, Ayala signed a minor league contract with the New York YankeesNew 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...
. On March 30 it was announced that Ayala had been added to the opening day roster.