Pedro Báez

Pedro Alberys Báez (born March 11, 1988) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2014.

For the footballer, see Pedro Báez (footballer).
Pedro Báez
Houston Astros – No. 52
Pitcher
Born: (1988-03-11) March 11, 1988
Baní, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 5, 2014, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record21–15
Earned run average3.03
Strikeouts369
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

As a third baseman

Báez signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent out of Bani, Dominican Republic by assistant general manager Logan White on January 22, 2007,[1] and began his career as a third baseman that season with the Gulf Coast Dodgers. In 53 games, he hit .274/.341/.408, leading the league with five sacrifice flies.[2] His 39 RBIs ranked second in the Gulf Coast League, his 14 doubles ranked sixth, and his 35 runs ranked eighth, and he was rated as having the best infield arm in the Dodgers organization.[3]

Baez as a hitter with the Great Lakes Loons in 2008.

He split the 2008 season between the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer Baseball League and the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League, hitting .229/.285/.398 in 120 games with 13 home runs and 66 RBIs.[2] He played in 79 games in 2009 for the Inland Empire 66ers of the California League, hitting .286/.326/.445 with 10 homers and 61 RBIs.[2] He was again cited by Baseball America as having the best infield arm in the Dodgers system[3] and represented the World team in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game.[4]

In 2010 Báez spent most of the season with the 66ers, but finished the year with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League. He played in 84 games, hitting .263/.313/.348 with six homers and 45 RBIs.[2] He was selected to the World team at the All-Star Futures Game for a second straight season.[5] Báez appeared in 32 games early in 2011 with the Lookouts, hitting only .210/.278/.381 in 105 at bats before spending most of the season on the disabled list.[2]

In 2012 with the Lookouts, he was selected to the mid-season Southern League all-star team.[6] Between the Lookouts and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, he played in 128 games and hit .221/.306/.374 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs.[2] He was rated by Baseball America as being the Dodgers best minor league defensive infielder and having the best infield arm.[3]

As a pitcher
Báez in spring training with the 2013 Los Angeles Dodgers

After the 2012 season, the Dodgers decided that they would attempt to convert Báez from third base and make him a pitcher.[7] To that point he had played 484 minor league games at third base, one at shortstop, and one at first base.[2] The Dodgers added Báez to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.[8] He was assigned, as a pitcher, to the Quakes to start the 2013 season, but was promoted to Chattanooga at mid-season. Between the two levels, he appeared in 48 games out of the bullpen and was 3–3 with two saves and a 3.88 ERA in 58 innings.[2] He then pitched 4.1 innings for the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League after the season.[3]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Báez began the 2014 season with the Lookouts, and was called up to the Majors for the first time on May 5.[9] He made his MLB debut later that night against the Washington Nationals. He allowed a single and a two-run homer to his first two batters before retiring the next three players in his one inning of work.[10] He returned to the minors following the game. After another one game appearance for the Dodgers in July, he joined the bullpen in August and remained there the rest of the season. In 20 appearances, he had an ERA of 2.63, struck out 18 and walked 5. In 2015, he pitched in 52 games with a 3.35 ERA.[11] In the minors, with Chattanooga and the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, he pitched in 40 games with a 3.86 ERA and 12 saves.[2] He made the roster for the 2014 National League Division Series (NLDS) against the St. Louis Cardinals, and allowed two runs in ​2 1⁄3 innings.[12] The runs he allowed were on a two-run homer by Matt Holliday in game one.[3]

Báez made the 2015 Dodgers opening day roster. He went 4–2 with a 3.35 ERA in 51 innings over 52 games with 60 strikeouts against only 11 walks.[3][1] His first major league win came when he threw ​1 1⁄3 scoreless innings of relief against the Colorado Rockies on May 10.[13] The following week Báez was placed on the DL with a right pectoral strain and completed 3 scoreless innings in three rehab appearances in Triple-A Oklahoma City before returning to the big league club. In game three of the 2015 NLDS, all three of the batters he faced reached base, two by walk, and he was charged with three runs without getting an out.[14]

In 2016 Báez ranked second among Dodger relievers with career-high marks in games (73) and innings (74).[15] He went 3–2 with a 3.04 ERA and 83 strikeouts and limited opponents to a .195 batting average. He also allowed 11 home runs and walked 22 batters.[1] He pitched ​3 2⁄3 scoreless innings over four games against the Nationals in the 2016 NLDS but allowed six runs in ​3 1⁄3 innings in three games of the 2016 National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs.[16] The slow pace of play employed by Báez during the 2016 postseason drew criticism from reporters[17] and is frequently referenced in support of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's quest to speed up baseball with "pace of play[18]" initiatives.[19]

Báez with the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers

Báez was hit with a ball while throwing batting practice early in spring training in 2017, which caused him to miss most of training camp and begin the season on the disabled list.[20] He rejoined the team on April 14.[21] In a team-leading 66 relief appearances for the 2017 Dodgers he was 3–6 with a 2.95 ERA and 64 strikeouts.[1] He struggled with his command in September, giving up five home runs over a short span and finding himself booed by the home fans.[22] Báez was on the Dodgers roster for the 2017 NLDS but did not appear in a game and was removed from the playoff roster for subsequent series.[23] After receiving written warnings from Commissioner Rob Manfred, Báez decreased his average time between pitches and Jeremy Jeffress took over the distinction of being the slowest relief pitcher in 2017.[24] Báez agreed to terms with the Dodgers on a $1.5 million contract for 2018 to avoid salary arbitration.[25]

In his fifth major league season in 2018 Báez was 4–3 and posted a 2.88 ERA in 55 relief appearances. He struck out 62 batters in ​56 1⁄3 innings of work, and held opposing batters to a .220 average. During the 2018 postseason, Báez went 1–0 with a 1.59 ERA in ​11 1⁄3 innings, striking out 14 batters against 5 walks.[26]

Báez finished the 2019 season 7–2 with one save (the first in his career) and a 3.10 ERA, and led the Dodgers in games pitched with 71, in which he pitched 69.2 innings.[1] Báez was awarded a $4 million contract for 2020 after going to an arbitration hearing with the Dodgers.[27]

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he pitched 17 innings in 18 games with six earned runs allowed for a 3.18 ERA, and saved two games.[1] Báez pitched one scoreless inning in the NLDS and allowed one run on two hits in ​3 1⁄3 innings over four games in the NLCS.[1] In the 2020 World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, he allowed two runs (on two solo home runs) in ​3 1⁄3 over three games as the Dodgers secured the championship.[1]

Houston Astros

On January 15, 2021, Baez signed a 2 year, $12.5 million dollar contract with the Houston Astros.[28]

Nickname

During the 2018 MLB Players Weekend, Báez wore the nickname "LA MULA" ("THE MULE" in Spanish) on his jersey. Báez says he earned the nickname for his tremendous work ethic in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen.[29][30]

References
  1. "Pedro Baez Statistics & History". Baseball Reference.
  2. "Pedro Baez Minor, Winter & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "Pedro Baez bio". mlb.com.
  4. Ken Gurnick (June 25, 2009). "Dodgers' Baez headed to Futures Game". Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  5. Joshua Castillo (July 11, 2010). "66ers Third Baseman Pedro Baez Selected to the Futures World All-Star Team". milb.com. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  6. "Five Lookouts to Play in SL All-Star Game". minorleaguebaseball.com. June 6, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  7. Gurnick, Ken (February 5, 2013). "Honeycutt excited by pitchers at Dodgers minicamp". Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  8. Dodgers press release (November 20, 2013). "Dodgers add Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia and Jarret Martin to 40-man roster". Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  9. Eric Stephen (May 5, 2014). "Pedro Baez recalled by Dodgers, Stephen Fife optioned". truebluela.com. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  10. "May 5, 2014, Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals Play-by-Play and box score". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  11. "2015 Los Angeles Dodgers Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  12. "2014 NL Division Series (3–1): St. Louis Cardinals (90–72) over Los Angeles Dodgers (94–68)". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  13. "May 10, 2015, Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies play-by-play and box score". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  14. "October 12, 2015 National League Division Series Game Three, Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets, play-by-play and box score". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  15. "Pedro Báez Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  16. "2016 NLCS (4–2): Chicago Cubs (103–58) over Los Angeles Dodgers (91–71)". Baseball Reference. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  17. "Dodgers pitcher Pedro Baez is baseball's slowest worker and it's agonizing to watch". For The Win. October 21, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  18. "MLB announces pace of play initiatives". MLB.com. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  19. "MLB's slowest-working pitchers will speed it up - only if a pitch clock forces them". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  20. Stephen, Eric (March 26, 2017). "Pedro Baez likely to open season on disabled list". SB Nation. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  21. Stephen, Eric (April 14, 2017). "Dodgers activate Pedro Baez from DL, option Josh Fields to Triple-A Oklahoma City". SB Nation. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  22. Plunkett, Bill (September 20, 2017). "Dodgers Notes: Pedro Baez gets grounded for a few days to 'ease his mind a bit'". Orange County Register. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  23. Stephen, Eric (October 14, 2017). "Corey Seager left off Dodgers NLCS roster with back sprain". SB Nation. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  24. Rymer, Zachary D. "The Worst Offenders of Baseball's Biggest Problem: The Game's Still Too Slow!". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  25. Stephen, Eric (January 11, 2018). "Pedro Baez avoids salary arbitration with reported 1-year, $1.5 million contract with Dodgers". SB Nation. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  26. "Pedro Baez Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  27. Gurnick, Ken (February 12, 2020). "Notes: Báez prevails; Kershaw touts Dreamfields". MLB.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  28. "Astros sign veteran Báez to two-year deal". January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  29. "Dodgers' nicknames for 2018 Players' Weekend". MLB.com. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  30. Duarte, Michael. "Ranking Dodgers Nicknames for Player's Weekend". NBC Southern California. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
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