Angel Guzman

From BR Bullpen

Angel Moises Guzman

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 3", Weight 195 lbs.
Debut April 26, 2006
Born December 14, 1981 in Caracas, Venezuela

[edit] Biographical Information

The brother of Daniel Guzman, pitcher Angel Guzman began his professional career at age 18. That year, he went 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA for La Pradera in the Venezuelan Summer League. In 2001, he led a strong staff for the Boise Cubs, going 9-1 with a 2.23 ERA, 19 walks and 63 K in 77 IP. He was second in the Northwest League in ERA, trailing Jesse Foppert and led the league in wins. He made the league All-Star team as the righty starter; the lefty was Dontrelle Willis, a teammate. He was rated the #4 prospect in the league according to Baseball America, two spots ahead of Willis.

Guzman made two dominating stints in the Chicago Cubs chain in '02, going 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 as per BA. In 2003, Angel 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 9th-best prospect in the Southern League and picked to perform in the Futures Game but was unable to do so when he injured his right shoulder, cutting his year short. The 2004 season was basically a lost one - 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. The next year saw even less usage as he threw in four games for the AZL Cubs (with 17 Ks and one walk in 12 IP) and two for the Peoria Chiefs.

Angel finally made it to AAA three years after his AA debut with the 2006 Iowa Cubs. As of August 6, he was 4-4 with a 4.04 ERA and had also made six appearances in the majors for the 2006 Cubs, going 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA, but over a strikeout per inning.

Primary sources: 2001-2006 Baseball Almanacs, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database