Carlos Marmol

From BR Bullpen

Carlos Agustin Marmol

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 2", Weight 180 lbs.
Debut June 4, 2006
Born October 14, 1982 in Bonao D.R.

[edit] Biographical Information

Signed by the Chicago Cubs in 2000, Carlos Marmol began his career with a .314 campaign for the Cubs' Dominican Summer League club. As an outfielder and backup backstop for the 2001 AZL Cubs, Marmol batted .295/.355/.380. As the AZL Cubs won the Arizona League title in 2002, Carlos slipped to .258/.271/.339 as a regular outfielder, walking 3 times in 189 plate appearances while striking out 35 times. He also hit just .149/.167/.191 for the Lansing Lugnuts and had four errors and three passed balls in 14 games at catcher.

Struggling offensively, Marmol was converted to pitching in 2003 and went 3-5, 4.19 back with the AZL Cubs, but he struck out 74 in 62 innings. Marmol moved back to Lansing in 2004 and the 21-year-old went 14-8 with a 3.20 ERA, whiffing 154 in 155 innings. He was part of a 5-way tie for the Midwest League lead in victories on the hill.

Carlos pitched well for the 2005 Daytona Cubs, going 6-2 with a 2.99 ERA and 8.83 K/9 and moved to the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, where he went 3-4, 3.65. Beginning 2006 with West Tenn, he was 3-2, 2.33 after 11 starts, having struck out 67 in 58 innings while allowing 42 hits. With Glendon Rusch injured, Carlos was called up to the Cubs and has begun his career 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA.

Marmol had an excellent season for the 2007 Cubs. He was 5-1 with a save and a 1.43 ERA in 59 games. He allowed only 41 hits in 69 1/3 innings while striking out 96 batters. Amazingly, the middle reliever earned a share of the MVP voting. He was 0-1 in the playoffs.

In the 2008 Caribbean Series, Marmol had 2 saves and a 4.91 ERA for the Tigres del Licey as they won their 10th Caribbean Series title. He blew a save against the Yaquis de Obregón in Licey's lone loss, allowing a single to Armando Rios, triple to Carlos Valencia and single to Oscar Robles with a Ronnie Belliard error also playing a role as the Yaquis scored 3 runs to rally against the Licey closer.

Marmol saved the 10,000th win in Cubs history; they were the second franchise to that plateau. Carlos pitched a scoreless 10th on April 23, 2008 after Kerry Wood had blown the save in the 9th.