Marcos Mateo
Encyclopedia
Marcos Aurelio Mateo Lora (born April 18, 1984 in Sabana Grande de Palenque
, Dominican Republic
) is a right-handed pitcher
for the Chicago Cubs
.
. Upon joining the Reds, Mateo joined their Rookie level minor league affiliate, the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Reds. In one season with the GCL Reds, he pitched in 13 games, had a 4–3 win–loss record, a 4.30 Earned Run Average
(ERA), and a 1.46 WHIP
. For the 2006 season, he joined the Billings Mustangs
of the Pioneer League where in 18 games, he went 5–1 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Mateo joined the Class-A Dayton Dragons
in 2007 where he put together a 3.50 ERA, 63 strikeouts, and a 1.278 WHIP in 41 games.
as the player to be named later
from the trade that saw Buck Coats
be traded to the Reds on August 30.
To begin the 2008 season, Mateo joined the Cubs' Class-A affiliate in Peoria
. In eight games, he struck out 20 batters in just 15 innings pitched, which prompted a call-up to the Daytona Cubs
, the High-A affiliate of Chicago. Mateo pitched in 25 games for Daytona, recording a 3.57 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts. His performance with both Peoria and Daytona prompted the Cubs to add him to their 40-man roster on November 11 to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft
. MLB.com
, at the same time, considered Mateo to be a "top prospect" for the Cubs. Mateo started the 2009 season with Daytona again, but was quickly promoted after not allowing a run in nine innings. Reportedly, the Cubs wanted to test him out as a starting pitcher before calling him up to Double-A. On April 26, Mateo made his debut for the Tennessee Smokies
, the Cubs' Double-A affiliate. He pitched 3 2/3 innings for the Smokies, walked four and struck out one, but only allowed one run. In 34 total games for Tennessee, he would make a total of 13 other starts and finished the season with a 4.07 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and 70 strikeouts in 97.1 innings pitched.
Mateo began the 2010 season with Tennessee, recording a 2.18 ERA, a 1.258 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts, before being called up to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs
at the end of July. He pitched eight games for Iowa, before being called up to the Cubs on August 9, 2010, replacing Mitch Atkins
on the 25-man roster. In his major league debut, Mateo came into the game in the 11th inning and gave up a sacrifice fly
to Pat Burrell
of the San Francisco Giants
, which allowed the winning run to score for the Giants. Mateo had given up two hits and a walk to load the bases before Burrell drove in the winning run. He would go onto pitch in 20 more games for Chicago in 2010, recording a 5.82 ERA, a 1.338 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts in 21.2 innings of work.
During Spring Training
2011, Mateo was on the roster bubble for a spot in the bullpen and was in a race with veterans Carlos Silva and Braden Looper
for the final pitching spot on the team. However, on March 26, Mateo ended up winning the battle as both Looper and Silva were released by the team.
Sabana Grande de Palenque
Sabana Grande de Palenque is a municipality of the San Cristóbal province in the Dominican Republic.-History:It was elevated to the category of municipal district of the San Cristóbal municipality on January 1, 1945 and to the category of municipality in 1997 by the Dominican...
, 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 right-handed 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 Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
Cincinnati Reds
In 2004, Mateo was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Upon joining the Reds, Mateo joined their Rookie level minor league affiliate, the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Reds. In one season with the GCL Reds, he pitched in 13 games, had a 4–3 win–loss record, a 4.30 Earned Run Average
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...
(ERA), and a 1.46 WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
. For the 2006 season, he joined the Billings Mustangs
Billings Mustangs
The Billings Mustangs are a minor league baseball team based in Billings, Montana. The Mustangs are the Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of the Major League Cincinnati Reds. The team has been a part of the Pioneer League since 1948 with a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, and has been affiliated...
of the Pioneer League where in 18 games, he went 5–1 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Mateo joined the Class-A Dayton Dragons
Dayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
in 2007 where he put together a 3.50 ERA, 63 strikeouts, and a 1.278 WHIP in 41 games.
Chicago Cubs
On September 12, 2007, after Dayton's season was over, Mateo was traded to the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
as the player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
from the trade that saw Buck Coats
Buck Coats
Buck Coats is a Major League Baseball outfielder in the Washington Nationals organization. Coats was drafted in the 2000 MLB Draft in the 18th round by the Chicago Cubs.-2006:...
be traded to the Reds on August 30.
To begin the 2008 season, Mateo joined the Cubs' Class-A affiliate in Peoria
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, from Peoria, Illinois. They play in the Midwest League....
. In eight games, he struck out 20 batters in just 15 innings pitched, which prompted a call-up to the Daytona Cubs
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs are a minor league baseball team based in Daytona Beach, Florida. The team plays in the Florida State League , and is the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs major league club. The Cubs play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in 1914, the park seats 5,100 fans.The...
, the High-A affiliate of Chicago. Mateo pitched in 25 games for Daytona, recording a 3.57 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts. His performance with both Peoria and Daytona prompted the Cubs to add him to their 40-man roster on November 11 to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft
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...
. MLB.com
MLB.com
MLB.com is the official site of Major League Baseball and is overseen by Major League Baseball Advanced Media, L.P. . MLB.com is a source of baseball-related information, including baseball news, statistics, and sports columns...
, at the same time, considered Mateo to be a "top prospect" for the Cubs. Mateo started the 2009 season with Daytona again, but was quickly promoted after not allowing a run in nine innings. Reportedly, the Cubs wanted to test him out as a starting pitcher before calling him up to Double-A. On April 26, Mateo made his debut for the Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2011 season...
, the Cubs' Double-A affiliate. He pitched 3 2/3 innings for the Smokies, walked four and struck out one, but only allowed one run. In 34 total games for Tennessee, he would make a total of 13 other starts and finished the season with a 4.07 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and 70 strikeouts in 97.1 innings pitched.
Mateo began the 2010 season with Tennessee, recording a 2.18 ERA, a 1.258 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts, before being called up to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
at the end of July. He pitched eight games for Iowa, before being called up to the Cubs on August 9, 2010, replacing Mitch Atkins
Mitch Atkins
Mitchell Shane Atkins is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.Atkins played high school baseball at Northeast Guilford High School in McLeansville, NC...
on the 25-man roster. In his major league debut, Mateo came into the game in the 11th inning and gave up a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
to Pat Burrell
Pat Burrell
Patrick Brian "Pat" Burrell , nicknamed "Pat the Bat," is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He stands tall and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed...
of the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, which allowed the winning run to score for the Giants. Mateo had given up two hits and a walk to load the bases before Burrell drove in the winning run. He would go onto pitch in 20 more games for Chicago in 2010, recording a 5.82 ERA, a 1.338 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts in 21.2 innings of work.
During Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
2011, Mateo was on the roster bubble for a spot in the bullpen and was in a race with veterans Carlos Silva and Braden Looper
Braden Looper
Braden LaVerne Looper is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-High school:Looper was a scholar athlete while a student at Mangum High School in Mangum, Oklahoma...
for the final pitching spot on the team. However, on March 26, Mateo ended up winning the battle as both Looper and Silva were released by the team.