Yoslan Herrera
Encyclopedia
Yoslan Herrera is a baseball pitcher
who is currently a free agent
. He is well known for his defection from Cuba
.
Herrera earned the nickname "The Pinata" from WPGB
radio's Rocco Demaro.
in July 2005 and signing a Major League contract with the Pirates on December 18, 2006. He was rated by Baseball America
as the Pirates' fourth best prospect entering the 2007 season. He was a member of the Pirates' 40-man roster during the '07 season though he spent the entire season with the Double-A Altoona Curve
. He went 6–9 with a 4.69 ERA
in 25 starts. In 128 innings pitched
for the Curve, allowing 151 hits
and 38 walks
, while striking out
70 batters. Eastern League hitters posted a .296 average
against him, including a .315 mark by left-handed batters.
In 2008 Herrera attended Major League
spring training
as a member of the Pirates' 40-man roster for the second consecutive season. He made 22 starts for Double-A Altoona, one with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
and five in the Major Leagues with Pittsburgh. He was a member of the Curve's Opening Day
roster for the second consecutive season. In 22 starts with Altoona he went 6–9 with a 3.46 ERA in a team-high 114 innings. Herrera was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending June 8 after his eight scoreless inning performance on June 6. He was promoted to Indianapolis for a spot start on June 27 against the Columbus Clippers
and earned the win in his Triple-A debut, scattering seven hits and allowing only two runs. He returned to Altoona on June 29 Herrera was recalled by Pittsburgh on July 12 and made his Major League debut that night. He pitched 4 innings, giving up six earned runs, and stuck out four. He earned his first major league win on July 24, shutting out the San Diego Padres
through six innings. Hererra was optioned back to the Double-A Curve on August 4.
Herrera split the 2009 season between the Double-A Curve and the Triple-A Indians. With the Curve he went 11–1 with a 3.23 ERA with 65 strikeouts, giving up five home runs in 97 innings pitched in 23 games, 15 starts. In four games with the Indians Herrera went 1–1 with a 2.30 ERA in 15 innings pitched. He currently plays for the Navegantes del Magallanes
in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
.
On March 2, 2010, Herrera signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins.
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...
who is currently a 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....
. He is well known for his defection from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
Herrera earned the nickname "The Pinata" from WPGB
WPGB
WPGB is a conservative talk radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts at 104.7 MHz with an ERP of 13 kW...
radio's Rocco Demaro.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Herrera made his U.S. pitching debut after defecting from CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
in July 2005 and signing a Major League contract with the Pirates on December 18, 2006. He was rated by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
as the Pirates' fourth best prospect entering the 2007 season. He was a member of the Pirates' 40-man roster during the '07 season though he spent the entire season with the Double-A Altoona Curve
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...
. He went 6–9 with a 4.69 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...
in 25 starts. In 128 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...
for the Curve, allowing 151 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and 38 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...
, while striking out
Strike Out
Strike Out, , North American Harness racing championStrike Out was born in 1969 at Castleton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and is by Bret Hanover out of the mare Golden Miss....
70 batters. Eastern League hitters posted a .296 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 :...
against him, including a .315 mark by left-handed batters.
In 2008 Herrera attended Major League
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...
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...
as a member of the Pirates' 40-man roster for the second consecutive season. He made 22 starts for Double-A Altoona, one with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
and five in the Major Leagues with Pittsburgh. He was a member of the Curve's 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 for the second consecutive season. In 22 starts with Altoona he went 6–9 with a 3.46 ERA in a team-high 114 innings. Herrera was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending June 8 after his eight scoreless inning performance on June 6. He was promoted to Indianapolis for a spot start on June 27 against the Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
and earned the win in his Triple-A debut, scattering seven hits and allowing only two runs. He returned to Altoona on June 29 Herrera was recalled by Pittsburgh on July 12 and made his Major League debut that night. He pitched 4 innings, giving up six earned runs, and stuck out four. He earned his first major league win on July 24, shutting out 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...
through six innings. Hererra was optioned back to the Double-A Curve on August 4.
Herrera split the 2009 season between the Double-A Curve and the Triple-A Indians. With the Curve he went 11–1 with a 3.23 ERA with 65 strikeouts, giving up five home runs in 97 innings pitched in 23 games, 15 starts. In four games with the Indians Herrera went 1–1 with a 2.30 ERA in 15 innings pitched. He currently plays for the Navegantes del Magallanes
Navegantes del Magallanes
The Navegantes del Magallanes are a baseball team in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Based in Valencia, the Navegantes have won ten LVBP championships and two Caribbean World Series.-Pitchers:...
in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League or Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional is the highest level baseball league in Venezuela.-Brief history:Baseball exploded in Venezuela in 1941, following the world championship in Havana....
.
On March 2, 2010, Herrera signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins.