Luis Mendoza (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Luis Alonso Mendoza Rodríguez (born October 31, 1983, in Veracruz, Veracruz
, México
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Kansas City Royals
organization.
as an undrafted free agent
on July 12, 2000.
Mendoza was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres
on July 8, 2005. He was assigned to the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm
. He made two starts
for the Storm going 0-1 with 9.28 ERA
. He was placed on waivers by the Padres and on July 28, 2005, was reclaimed by the Boston Red Sox. He finished the 2005 season struggling for the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks
in which he had a 6.34 ERA and a 4-9 record in 23 games (22 starts).
He began the season for the Blue Rocks. After 13 starts in which he went 5-4 with a 2.86 ERA, he was promoted to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs
on June 12, 2006. He made 9 starts for the Sea Dogs going 1-5 with a 6.38 ERA. On July 30, 2006, he was traded to the Texas Rangers for relief pitcher
Bryan Corey
. He finished the 2006 season with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders
. He struggled with the Roughriders as he had a 7.75 ERA with a 2-4 record in 7 starts.
Mendoza began the season with the RoughRiders. He finished the minor league season with the Roughriders going 15-4 with a 3.93 ERA in 26 games (25 starts). He was second in the Texas League
with his 15 wins
, tenth in the league with a 3.93 ERA, and led the league in complete game
s (3). He was also a Texas League Mid-Season All-Star and Post-Season All-Star.
Mendoza's strong performance earned him a callup on September 5, . Mendoza made his debut on September 8 when he started the game against the Oakland Athletics
, becoming the 101st major-league player to have been born in México
. His start was cut short, however. In the second inning with Nick Swisher
batting, Swisher hit a line drive which hit him in the left knee cap and he dropped to the ground. He got back up and finished the second inning. When he went in to the dugout, his knee began to stiffen up on him and he left the game.
On August 14, 2009, Mendoza threw a no-hitter
for the Oklahoma City RedHawks aganist the Salt Lake Bees
.
On April 2, 2010, Mendoza was traded to the Kansas City Royals
for cash considerations.
On July 18, 2011, Menoza threw a no-hitter
for the Omaha Storm Chasers against the Memphis Redbirds
.
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
, México
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...
) 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...
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...
for 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...
organization.
Baseball career
Mendoza was signed 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"...
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....
on July 12, 2000.
Mendoza was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
on July 8, 2005. He was assigned to the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
. He made two starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Storm going 0-1 with 9.28 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...
. He was placed on waivers by the Padres and on July 28, 2005, was reclaimed by the Boston Red Sox. He finished the 2005 season struggling for the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks
Wilmington Blue Rocks
The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team located in Wilmington, Delaware. The Blue Rocks play in the Northern Division of the Carolina League.-Franchise history:...
in which he had a 6.34 ERA and a 4-9 record in 23 games (22 starts).
He began the season for the Blue Rocks. After 13 starts in which he went 5-4 with a 2.86 ERA, he was promoted to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs
Portland Sea Dogs
The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....
on June 12, 2006. He made 9 starts for the Sea Dogs going 1-5 with a 6.38 ERA. On July 30, 2006, he was traded to the Texas Rangers for 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...
Bryan Corey
Bryan Corey
Bryan Scott Corey is a Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He is currently a free agent.-Biography:...
. He finished the 2006 season with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders
Frisco RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are currently the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball club. The team plays in the Texas League, assigned to the South Division. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport, Louisiana, and were known as the Shreveport Captains...
. He struggled with the Roughriders as he had a 7.75 ERA with a 2-4 record in 7 starts.
Mendoza began the season with the RoughRiders. He finished the minor league season with the Roughriders going 15-4 with a 3.93 ERA in 26 games (25 starts). He was second in the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
with his 15 wins
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...
, tenth in the league with a 3.93 ERA, and led the league in complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s (3). He was also a Texas League Mid-Season All-Star and Post-Season All-Star.
Mendoza's strong performance earned him a callup on September 5, . Mendoza made his debut on September 8 when he started the game against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland 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....
, becoming the 101st major-league player to have been born in México
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...
. His start was cut short, however. In the second inning with Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher is an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Swisher is a switch hitter who throws left-handed....
batting, Swisher hit a line drive which hit him in the left knee cap and he dropped to the ground. He got back up and finished the second inning. When he went in to the dugout, his knee began to stiffen up on him and he left the game.
On August 14, 2009, Mendoza threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
for the Oklahoma City RedHawks aganist the Salt Lake Bees
Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are a Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bees serve as the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They play their home games at Spring Mobile Ballpark, known to fans as the Apiary, which was...
.
On April 2, 2010, Mendoza was traded to 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...
for cash considerations.
On July 18, 2011, Menoza threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
for the Omaha Storm Chasers against the Memphis Redbirds
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
.