Miguel Socolovich

Miguel Ángel Socolovich (born July 24, 1986) is a Venezuelan professional baseball relief pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

Miguel Socolovich
Socolovich with the St. Louis Cardinals
Free agent
Relief pitcher
Born: (1986-07-24) July 24, 1986
Caracas, Venezuela
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: July 14, 2012, for the Baltimore Orioles
NPB: May 6, 2013, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record5–3
Earned run average4.62
Strikeouts73
NPB statistics
Win-loss record0-0
Earned run average0.79
Strikeouts6
Teams

Professional playing career

Boston Red Sox organization

Miguel Socolovich signed with the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent in 2004.[1] He did not play in 2005, after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.[2] He did not join the organization until 2006. He spent the rest of the season playing for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox. Socolovich moved up to Single-A the following year, playing for the Lowell Spinners and later the Greenville Drive.[3]

Chicago White Sox organization

On January 28, 2008, the Red Sox traded Socolovich and fellow pitching prospect Willy Mota to the Chicago White Sox for David Aardsma.[4] Socolovich spent the next four seasons playing in the White Sox organization, taking the field for the Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators and Winston-Salem Dash, Double-A Birmingham Barons, and the Triple-A Charlotte Knights during that time.[3]

Baltimore Orioles organization
Socolovich hurling for the Orioles.

Socolo became a free agent and on January 30, 2012, he signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.[5]

Major League debut (2012)

He began the 2012 season playing in Triple-A with the Norfolk Tides[3] before earning his first call-up to the major leagues on July 14, 2012. At the time of his call-up, he had a 1.95 earned run average (ERA) in 24 games with Norfolk.[6] He made six appearances with the Orioles before being designated for assignment on August 14.[7] He recorded a 6.97 ERA in ​10 1⁄3 innings during his time in Baltimore. With Norfolk that year, he held a 4−0 win−loss record (W−L) with a 1.90 ERA in 28 appearances and 52 innings pitched (IP), striking out 52 and walking 14 while holding opponents to a .179 batting average against.[8]

Chicago Cubs organization

On August 23, 2012, Socolovich was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs, who optioned him to the Iowa Cubs, their Triple-A affiliate in the Pacific Coast League (PCL).[8]

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

On November 15, 2012, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball agreed to terms with Socolovich to bring him to Japan.[9]

New York Mets organization

On November 21, 2013, Socolovich signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets.[10]

St. Louis Cardinals organization

He joined the St. Louis Cardinals organization on November 12, 2014, who optioned him to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds of the PCL.[11] He began the season with a ​12 1⁄3-inning scoreless streak. During that streak, he walked eight, struck out nine, and allowed five hits in fourteen at bats.[12]

The Cardinals called Socolovich up for the first time in 2015 on April 30.[13] He earned his first major league victory on May 3, 2015, after pitching a scoreless 14th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He earned his second victory the following night, against the Chicago Cubs, who would finish two games and three games, respectively, behind first-place St. Louis in the National League Central division.[14] The Cardinals optioned him back to Memphis, where he posted a 2.48 ERA and an .165 opponent average and 0.92 WHIP in ​32 2⁄3 IP for the season, and recalled him September 2.[15] At the major league level in 2015, he finished with a 1.82 ERA and 4−1 record.[16]

Beginning the 2016 season at Memphis, Socolovich authored an 11-inning scoreless streak over nine appearances through June 21.[17] The Cardinals recalled him to St. Louis on July 19 after third baseman Jhonny Peralta went on the disabled list. His pitch arsenal includes a fastball, changeup, and slider. At Memphis, Socolovich was 2−5 with a 2.79 ERA in 35 games, inducing 40 strikeouts in ​38 2⁄3 IP.[16]

Socolovich was designated for assignment on May 27, 2017. He was 0–1 with one save in 15 appearances, striking out 14 in ​18 2⁄3 innings.[18] He elected free agency on November 6, 2017.

Atlanta Braves

On January 26, 2018, Socolovich was invited to spring training with the Atlanta Braves.[19] His contract was purchased by the Braves on March 30, 2018.[20] He was later designated for assignment on April 2 in order to make room for Aníbal Sánchez on the active roster.[21] Socolovich cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Gwinnett Stripers.[22] He had his contract purchased again on April 21. He was outrighted to the Gwinnett Stripers for the second time on April 26. He was again called up the Braves on May 30, and outrighted for the third time on June 3. He elected free agency on October 2, 2018.[23]

Guerreros de Oaxaca

On January 30, 2019, Socolovich signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League for the 2019 season.[24] He was released on December 19, 2019.

References
  1. "Cubs claim former Sox prospect Socolovich". Chicago Tribune. August 23, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  2. "Miguel Socolovich Stats, Fantasy & News". Atlanta Braves.
  3. "Miguel Socolovich". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  4. "Red Sox acquire reliever Aardsma for minor leaguers". ESPN. January 28, 2008. Archived from the original on January 31, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  5. Connolly, Dan (January 30, 2012). "Orioles announce minor league deals with Galarraga, Neshek, Paulino". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  6. Vaswani, Navin (July 14, 2012). "Orioles designate Dana Eveland for assignment". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  7. "Cubs call up Socolovich to add bullpen depth". MLB.com. September 2, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  8. Selig, David (August 23, 2012). "RHP Miguel Socolovich claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015. Alt URL
  9. "広島　ＭＡＸ１５０キロ超右腕獲得へ　セットアッパー期待". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). November 13, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  10. DiComo, Anthony (November 21, 2013). "Mets sign righty Socolovich to Minors deal". MLB.com. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  11. Langosch, Jenifer (November 12, 2014). "Cardinals sign four to Minor League pacts". MLB.com. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  12. Thompson, Luke (May 1, 2015). "Ozzie Smith fan Socolovich says joining Cards is a 'dream come true'". Fox Sports Midwest. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  13. Thompson, Luke (May 1, 2015). "Pitching change: Cardinals call up Socolovich, send down Cooney". Fox Sports Midwest. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  14. Hummel, Rick (February 29, 2016). "Socolovich fighting for job with Cardinals". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  15. Karraker, Patrick (September 2, 2015). "St. Louis Cardinals recall Tyler Lyons, Miguel Socolovich, and Nick Greenwood". Fansided Arch Authority. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  16. Wilhelm, David (July 19, 2016). "Down and out: Third baseman Peralta becomes latest Cardinal to land on disabled list". Belleville News-Democrat. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  17. Bailey, Mike (June 21, 2016). "Iowa Cubs stop Memphis win streak, but Class AAA squad moving up". KMOV. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  18. "News Release". Twitter.com. May 27, 2017.
  19. Bowman, Mark (January 26, 2018). "Acuna highlights Braves' non-roster invitees". MLB.com. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  20. "Braves place Tyler Flowers on DL with oblique strain". ESPN.com. Associated Press. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  21. Thornburg, Chad (April 2, 2018). "Braves add catcher Perez, Anibal to roster". MLB.com. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  22. O'Brien, David (April 6, 2018). "Stewart outrighted to Triple-A, Suzuki returns to lineup". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  23. Todd, Jeff (October 8, 2018). "Players Electing Free Agency". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  24. "¡Guerreros confirma al venezolano Miguel Socolovich!" (in Spanish). January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
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