Rudy Seanez
Encyclopedia
Rudy Caballero Seánez [SEE-ah-nez] (born October 20, 1968 in Brawley
, California
) is a former relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He was the prototypical major league journeyman
.
Seanez, who is of Mexican American descent, was originally drafted by the Cleveland Indians
in . He has made major league appearances for many teams between and , including the Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres
(four separate stints), Los Angeles Dodgers
(twice), Atlanta Braves
(twice), Texas Rangers
, Boston Red Sox
(twice), Kansas City Royals
, Florida Marlins
, and Philadelphia Phillies
. He bats and throws right-handed.
in Brawley
, California
, and was a letterman in football
and baseball
. He was drafted out of high school by the Cleveland Indians in the 4th round of the 1986 MLB draft.
. He worked 2 scoreless innings in relief during the Indians 17-9 loss to the Blue Jays.
Seánez' best season came in with the San Diego Padres. He posted a 7-1 record with a 2.69 ERA
, setting career highs in wins
(7), games pitched
(57), innings
(60.1) and strikeout
s (84), while his 2.69 ERA was his lowest since posting a 2.66 mark with the Dodgers in . With only 22 walks
issued, Seánez averaged nearly four strikeouts per walk. He limited opponents to a .222 batting average
, including a .212 mark against right-handed hitters, and compiled a WHIP
of 1.18. He also ranked second among National League
relievers with 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings and tied for second in the league with seven relief wins.
In a 16-season career, Seánez is 41-30 with 12 saves and a 4.12 ERA in 515 appearances, all in relief. Beyond the numbers, Seánez has shown the ability to overcome numerous injuries, combining weightlifting
with some mixed martial arts
during his off-season workout regimen. Seánez has also trained with professional Ultimate Fighting Championship
fighters, but denies he will fight once he retires because of his family. He is also heavily tattooed.
Seánez is an aggressive pitcher who will challenge a hitter with his 96-MPH fastball
. His slider
is one of the best in the game and he also has an effective changeup
, being able against batters from both sides of the plate. He also does a better job than most middle relievers at controlling the running game, and is a competent fielder, despite a history of back problems.
In 2008, after 20 years in the big leagues he earned his first World Series ring as part of the Philadelphia Phillies.
On May 18, 2009, he passed a physical and signed a minor league deal to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
. He was released on July 18.
Brawley, California
Brawley is a city in Imperial County, California, United States. Brawley is located north of El Centro. The population was 24,953 at the 2010 census, up from 22,052 at the 2000 census. The town has a significant cattle and feed industry, and hosts the annual Cattle Call Rodeo. Year-round...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) is a former 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...
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...
. He was the prototypical major league journeyman
Journeyman (sports)
A journeyman or journeywoman is an athlete or professional sports player who is technically competent, but unable to excel. In certain parts of the world the term has less negative connotations and the inability to excel is not needed for a player to be labelled thus.-Definitions:Alexandra Allred...
.
Seanez, who is of Mexican American descent, was originally drafted by 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...
in . He has made major league appearances for many teams between and , including the Cleveland Indians, 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...
(four separate stints), Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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...
(twice), 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....
(twice), Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Boston Red Sox
Boston 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"...
(twice), 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...
, Florida Marlins
Florida 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...
, and Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He bats and throws right-handed.
High school years
Seanez attended Brawley Union High SchoolBrawley Union High School
Brawley Union High School is a high school in Brawley, California.-Clubs:*Environmental Club*Campus Life*Theatre/Drama*Rotary Interact*Friday Night Live*S Club*California Scholastic Federation*AVID* American Field Service*Travel...
in Brawley
Brawley, California
Brawley is a city in Imperial County, California, United States. Brawley is located north of El Centro. The population was 24,953 at the 2010 census, up from 22,052 at the 2000 census. The town has a significant cattle and feed industry, and hosts the annual Cattle Call Rodeo. Year-round...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and was a letterman in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. He was drafted out of high school by the Cleveland Indians in the 4th round of the 1986 MLB draft.
Career
Seánez made his major league debut on September 7, 1989, for the Indians against the Toronto Blue JaysToronto 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 ....
. He worked 2 scoreless innings in relief during the Indians 17-9 loss to the Blue Jays.
Seánez' best season came in with the San Diego Padres. He posted a 7-1 record with a 2.69 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...
, setting career highs in 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...
(7), games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
(57), innings
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...
(60.1) and 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 (84), while his 2.69 ERA was his lowest since posting a 2.66 mark with the Dodgers in . With only 22 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
issued, Seánez averaged nearly four strikeouts per walk. He limited opponents to a .222 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, including a .212 mark against right-handed hitters, and compiled a 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...
of 1.18. He also ranked second among 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...
relievers with 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings and tied for second in the league with seven relief wins.
In a 16-season career, Seánez is 41-30 with 12 saves and a 4.12 ERA in 515 appearances, all in relief. Beyond the numbers, Seánez has shown the ability to overcome numerous injuries, combining weightlifting
Weight training
Weight training is a common type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It uses the weight force of gravity to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction...
with some mixed martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
during his off-season workout regimen. Seánez has also trained with professional Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
fighters, but denies he will fight once he retires because of his family. He is also heavily tattooed.
Seánez is an aggressive pitcher who will challenge a hitter with his 96-MPH 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...
. His 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....
is one of the best in the game and he also has an effective changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
, being able against batters from both sides of the plate. He also does a better job than most middle relievers at controlling the running game, and is a competent fielder, despite a history of back problems.
In 2008, after 20 years in the big leagues he earned his first World Series ring as part of the Philadelphia Phillies.
On May 18, 2009, he passed a physical and signed a minor league deal to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. He was released on July 18.