Sergio Mitre
Encyclopedia
Sergio Armando Mitre is a American
professional baseball
pitcher
.
descent. He grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, where he trained in the arts of kenpo
, boxing
and wrestling
due to frequent street fights.
Mitre graduated from Montgomery High School in San Diego, California
in June 1999. He and his wife, Tonya, have a son named Sam (Sergio Armando Mitre III), who was born on December 29, 2006.
7th-round selection in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
out of San Diego City College
. He was the second player out of the 2001 draft to make it to the majors with the Cubs, the first being Mark Prior
. Mitre made his major league debut for the Cubs in after being called up from the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
(at the time, West Tenn was the Cubs' Double-A affiliate). He played in 3 games in 2003 (2 starts) and had an 0-1 record with an 8.31 ERA
.
In , Mitre started out the season on the Opening Day
roster, filling in for the injured Mark Prior. He was sent down to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs
after Prior came back from injury. On August 13, 2004, Mitre pitched a complete game
shutout
against the Albuquerque Isotopes
. Mitre gave up only a double
and a walk
, both coming in the first inning of the game. After this, Mitre sat down 23 straight batters, striking out
9 batters in the game. He became the Pacific Coast League
‘s Player of the Week. He finished the Iowa Cubs 2004 season (after going back and forth to Chicago) with a 6-4 record, and a 2.97 ERA.
Mitre returned to the majors after the September roster
expansions and pitched 4 games out of the bullpen
. His season ending total was a 2-4 record with a 6.62 ERA in 12 games (9 starts).
In , Mitre started off on Triple-A Iowa's roster, and on May 10, , he was recalled from Iowa, only to be sent down after two games and not pitching in either. On May 24, 2005, he was called up for a spot start. On June 14, 2005, Mitre pitched his first complete game, along with his first shutout in a 14-0 victory over the Florida Marlins against Josh Beckett
.
and Renyel Pinto
were traded to the Florida Marlins
for Juan Pierre
. Mitre pitched 15 games for the Marlins in .
In the season, Mitre won a career-high five games. He also set career bests with 27 games played, 27 starts, 149.0 innings pitched and 80 strikeouts. Mitre had a streak of not allowing an earned run
in 24.2 consecutive innings. This streak lasted five starts, beginning May 20 at Tampa
and ending June 15 at Kansas City
. He made Marlins history with his 1.12 ERA in May, the second lowest for a starting pitcher during May in Marlins history, a feat only topped by Chris Hammond
, who turned in a 0.61 ERA in May . Mitre began to see injury problems beginning in 2007, missing two weeks with a blister on his right middle finger, and time later in the season for a strained right hamstring. He had three stints on the disabled list
, foreshadowing his season.
Mitre did not play in a game in 2008. On July 15, Mitre underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery
to fix right forearm tightness. As is the case with all Tommy John surgery patients, he was expected to miss 12 – 18 months. He was released by the Marlins at the end of the 2008 season.
with an option for 2010.
Mitre was suspended for the first 50 games of the 2009 season after testing positive for androstenedione
in August 2008. Mitre said the androstenedione came from a contaminated legal supplement purchased from GNC
, but took full responsibility for his actions. He served his suspension while still on the disabled list
from last year's Tommy John surgery.
Mitre returned to action, pitching well in nine starts for the Single-A Tampa Yankees
and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Replacing an injured Chien-Ming Wang
, Mitre was called up to the majors to start against the Baltimore Orioles
on Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Mitre pitched 5 innings, allowed 3 runs, and got the win.
Mitre recorded his first ever Major League save on August 19, 2010, pitching the last 3 innings of a Yankees 11-5 win over the Detroit Tigers
.
for Chris Dickerson. He was designated for assignment on June 27, after posting a 3.27 ERA in 33 innings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional 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...
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...
.
Background
Mitre is of Mexican AmericanMexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
descent. He grew up in Tijuana, Mexico, where he trained in the arts of kenpo
Kenpo
is the name of several Japanese martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel...
, boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
due to frequent street fights.
Mitre graduated from Montgomery High School in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
in June 1999. He and his wife, Tonya, have a son named Sam (Sergio Armando Mitre III), who was born on December 29, 2006.
Chicago Cubs
Mitre was 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...
7th-round selection in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
out of San Diego City College
San Diego City College
San Diego City College is a public, two-year community college located in San Diego, California. City College is part of the San Diego Community College District along with San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College and San Diego Continuing Education...
. He was the second player out of the 2001 draft to make it to the majors with the Cubs, the first being Mark Prior
Mark Prior
Mark William Prior is an American professional baseball pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He pitched for the Chicago Cubs from 2002-2006. His repertoire of pitches includes a low to mid 90s fastball, a curveball, a slurve, and a changeup.-Amateur career:Prior graduated from the...
. Mitre made his major league debut for the Cubs in after being called up from the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...
(at the time, West Tenn was the Cubs' Double-A affiliate). He played in 3 games in 2003 (2 starts) and had an 0-1 record with an 8.31 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 , Mitre started out the season on the Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
roster, filling in for the injured Mark Prior. He was sent down 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:...
after Prior came back from injury. On August 13, 2004, Mitre pitched a 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...
shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
against the 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...
. Mitre gave up only a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and a walk
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...
, both coming in the first inning of the game. After this, Mitre sat down 23 straight batters, striking out
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....
9 batters in the game. He became the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
‘s Player of the Week. He finished the Iowa Cubs 2004 season (after going back and forth to Chicago) with a 6-4 record, and a 2.97 ERA.
Mitre returned to the majors after the September roster
Roster
A roster is a list of names of people involved with an organization of some kind.A roster can be a list of people and the times when they are required to work or a list of students in a classroom....
expansions and pitched 4 games out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
. His season ending total was a 2-4 record with a 6.62 ERA in 12 games (9 starts).
In , Mitre started off on Triple-A Iowa's roster, and on May 10, , he was recalled from Iowa, only to be sent down after two games and not pitching in either. On May 24, 2005, he was called up for a spot start. On June 14, 2005, Mitre pitched his first complete game, along with his first shutout in a 14-0 victory over the Florida Marlins against Josh Beckett
Josh Beckett
Joshua Patrick Beckett is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. During his career in the playoffs, he won the 2003 World Series MVP Award with the Florida Marlins, and received the 2007 ALCS MVP award with the Red Sox.-Florida Marlins :A...
.
Florida Marlins
On December 7, 2005, Mitre and minor league pitchers Ricky NolascoRicky Nolasco
Carlos Enrique "Ricky" Nolasco is an American Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins. He is listed as 6'2" and 220, and made his major league debut on April 5,...
and Renyel Pinto
Renyel Pinto
Renyel Eligio Pinto is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He made his major league debut on May 18, .-Career:...
were traded to the 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...
for Juan Pierre
Juan Pierre
Juan D'Vaughn Pierre is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws left-handed....
. Mitre pitched 15 games for the Marlins in .
In the season, Mitre won a career-high five games. He also set career bests with 27 games played, 27 starts, 149.0 innings pitched and 80 strikeouts. Mitre had a streak of not allowing an earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
in 24.2 consecutive innings. This streak lasted five starts, beginning May 20 at Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
and ending June 15 at Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. He made Marlins history with his 1.12 ERA in May, the second lowest for a starting pitcher during May in Marlins history, a feat only topped by Chris Hammond
Chris Hammond
Christopher Andrew Hammond is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.Hammond was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth round of the amateur draft. Hammond had not sustained considerable success until his revival as a relief pitcher with the Atlanta Braves...
, who turned in a 0.61 ERA in May . Mitre began to see injury problems beginning in 2007, missing two weeks with a blister on his right middle finger, and time later in the season for a strained right hamstring. He had three stints on the 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:...
, foreshadowing his season.
Mitre did not play in a game in 2008. On July 15, Mitre underwent Tommy John ligament replacement 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...
to fix right forearm tightness. As is the case with all Tommy John surgery patients, he was expected to miss 12 – 18 months. He was released by the Marlins at the end of the 2008 season.
New York Yankees
On November 3, Mitre signed a one-year 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...
with an option for 2010.
Mitre was suspended for the first 50 games of the 2009 season after testing positive for androstenedione
Androstenedione
Androstenedione is a 19-carbon steroid hormone produced in the adrenal glands and the gonads as an intermediate step in the biochemical pathway that produces the androgen testosterone and the estrogens estrone and estradiol.-Synthesis:Androstenedione is the common precursor of male and female sex...
in August 2008. Mitre said the androstenedione came from a contaminated legal supplement purchased from GNC
General Nutrition Centers
General Nutrition Centers is a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based American commercial enterprise focused on the retail sale of health and nutrition related products, including vitamins, supplements, minerals, herbs, sports nutrition, diet & energy products.-History:In 1935, David Shakarian opened a...
, but took full responsibility for his actions. He served his suspension while still on the 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:...
from last year's Tommy John surgery.
Mitre returned to action, pitching well in nine starts for the Single-A Tampa Yankees
Tampa Yankees
The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Replacing an injured Chien-Ming Wang
Chien-Ming Wang
Chien-Ming Wang is a Taiwanese Major League Baseball pitcher. He was initially signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Yankees for the 2000 season, and played for the Staten Island Yankees...
, Mitre was called up to the majors to start against 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...
on Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Mitre pitched 5 innings, allowed 3 runs, and got the win.
Mitre recorded his first ever Major League save on August 19, 2010, pitching the last 3 innings of a Yankees 11-5 win over the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Milwaukee Brewers
On March 25, 2011, Mitre was traded to the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Chris Dickerson. He was designated for assignment on June 27, after posting a 3.27 ERA in 33 innings.