Ángel Guzmán
Encyclopedia
Ángel Moisés Guzmán is a professional baseball pitcher
. Listed at 6-3 (190 cm), 195 pounds (88 kg), Guzmán bats and throws right-handed. He made his major league debut on April 26, .
for La Pradera in the Venezuelan Summer League
. In , he pitched for the Boise Hawks
, going 9-1 with a 2.23 ERA, 19 walks
and 63 strikeout
s in 77 innings pitched. He was second in the Northwest League
in ERA, trailing Jesse Foppert
, and he led the league in wins
. He made the league All-Star team. He was rated the #4 prospect in the league according to Baseball America
.
In 2002, Guzmán went 5-2 with a 1.89 ERA for the Lansing Lugnuts
and 6-2, 2.39 with the Daytona Cubs
. He was the #13 prospect in the Midwest League
and #11 in the Florida State League
according to Baseball America. In , he went 3-3 with a 2.81 ERA for the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
, striking out 87 and walking 26 in 90 innings of work. He was rated the ninth-best prospect in the Southern League
and picked to perform in the All-Star Futures Game
, but was unable to do so when he injured his right shoulder, cutting his year short. In , he had a 5.60 ERA and 0-3 record for West Tenn and 3-1, 4.20 for Daytona in a total of 11 starts. In 2005, he pitched in four games for the AZL Cubs (with 17 strikeouts and one walk in 12 innings pitched) and two for the Peoria Chiefs
.
Guzmán was promoted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs
in 2006. He was 4-4 with a 4.04 ERA. He also made 15 appearances in the majors in 2006 (10 of them starts) for the Cubs, going 0-6 with a 7.39 ERA, but with more than a strikeout per inning.
, but was sent down to the minors to gain more innings of work due to a crowded staff. He gained an opportunity when the Cubs fifth starter Wade Miller
was injured on April 22. Since the Cubs had several off-dates in their schedule, Guzmán had the opportunity for a few additional starts, but did not impress the Cubs manager Lou Piniella
by pitching poorly at the Triple-A level.
Guzmán took advantage of the opportunity by giving up only one run
in five innings of work against the Washington Nationals
. While he did not gain the win in the Cubs 4-3 victory, it did impress Piniella.
Piniella stuck with Guzmán for three starts before targeting him as a future setup man or closer
.
Guzmán was replaced by Sean Marshall
as the fifth starter on May 22.
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...
. Listed at 6-3 (190 cm), 195 pounds (88 kg), Guzmán bats and throws right-handed. He made his major league debut on April 26, .
Career
Guzmán began his professional career at age 18. That year, he went 1-1 with a 1.93 ERAEarned 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...
for La Pradera in the Venezuelan Summer League
Venezuelan Summer League
The Venezuelan Summer League is a minor league baseball rookie league which operates in Carabobo and Aragua states, Venezuela.The VSL was created in 1997, after several operational years of the Major League Baseball's academies in the country...
. In , he pitched for the Boise Hawks
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks are a minor league baseball team, located in Boise, Idaho. The team is currently a farm team for the Chicago Cubs and play in the Short-Season Class A Northwest League.-History:...
, going 9-1 with a 2.23 ERA, 19 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...
and 63 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 in 77 innings pitched. He was second in the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
in ERA, trailing Jesse Foppert
Jesse Foppert
Jesse William Foppert is a Major League Baseball pitcher in the Florida Marlins organization.-High school and college:...
, and he led the league 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...
. He made the league All-Star team. He was rated the #4 prospect in the league according to 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...
.
In 2002, Guzmán went 5-2 with a 1.89 ERA for the Lansing Lugnuts
Lansing Lugnuts
The Lansing Lugnuts are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, that plays in the Midwest League.The Midwest League came to Lansing, Michigan in 1996. The franchise began in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955; after two seasons it moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where it...
and 6-2, 2.39 with 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...
. He was the #13 prospect in the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
and #11 in the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
according to Baseball America. In , he went 3-3 with a 2.81 ERA for 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...
, striking out 87 and walking 26 in 90 innings of work. He was rated the ninth-best prospect in the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
and picked to perform in the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
, but was unable to do so when he injured his right shoulder, cutting his year short. In , he had a 5.60 ERA and 0-3 record for West Tenn and 3-1, 4.20 for Daytona in a total of 11 starts. In 2005, he pitched in four games for the AZL Cubs (with 17 strikeouts and one walk in 12 innings pitched) and two for the Peoria Chiefs
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....
.
Guzmán was promoted 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:...
in 2006. He was 4-4 with a 4.04 ERA. He also made 15 appearances in the majors in 2006 (10 of them starts) for the Cubs, going 0-6 with a 7.39 ERA, but with more than a strikeout per inning.
2007 season
Guzmán started the season with the Cubs in the bullpenBullpen
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"...
, but was sent down to the minors to gain more innings of work due to a crowded staff. He gained an opportunity when the Cubs fifth starter Wade Miller
Wade Miller
Wade Thomas Miller is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Houston Astros from through the Boston Red Sox in and the Chicago Cubs in and . He bats and throws right-handed...
was injured on April 22. Since the Cubs had several off-dates in their schedule, Guzmán had the opportunity for a few additional starts, but did not impress the Cubs manager Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella
Louis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
by pitching poorly at the Triple-A level.
Guzmán took advantage of the opportunity by giving up only one run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in five innings of work against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. While he did not gain the win in the Cubs 4-3 victory, it did impress Piniella.
Piniella stuck with Guzmán for three starts before targeting him as a future setup man or closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
.
Guzmán was replaced by Sean Marshall
Sean Marshall
Sean Christopher Marshall is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. After three minor league seasons, Marshall was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster in November . He was married to Alexis DelChiaro at the time a morning anchor at KSAZ in Phoenix, AZ...
as the fifth starter on May 22.