Oswaldo Peraza
Encyclopedia
Oswald José Peraza [pay-RAH-za] (born October 19, 1962 in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela
) is a former starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Baltimore Orioles
(1988). He batted and threw right-handed.
Peraza was a hard thrower with a fastball
in the 94-95 range. He also had a good slider
and a fine change-up. On August 31, 1987, Peraza was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
for pitcher Mike Flanagan by the Toronto Blue Jays
and He debuted with Baltimore in 1988, then missed the following season with arm problems which were serious enough to affect the rest of his career. In his rookie season, Peraza posted a 10-14 record with 61 strikeout
s and a 5.55 of ERA
in 86 innings pitched
.
Peraza, who was once one of the more highly-touted prospects in the game, couldn't make it out of Triple-A ball and he retired for good after three injury riddled years (1990–92).
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
) is a former starting pitcher
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....
in 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...
who played for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1988). He batted and threw right-handed.
Peraza was a hard thrower with a 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...
in the 94-95 range. He also had a good 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....
and a fine change-up. On August 31, 1987, Peraza was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
for pitcher Mike Flanagan by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
and He debuted with Baltimore in 1988, then missed the following season with arm problems which were serious enough to affect the rest of his career. In his rookie season, Peraza posted a 10-14 record with 61 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 5.55 of 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...
in 86 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
Peraza, who was once one of the more highly-touted prospects in the game, couldn't make it out of Triple-A ball and he retired for good after three injury riddled years (1990–92).