Jesús Yépez
From BR Bullpen
Jesús Maris Yépez Alvarez
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.
- Born April 15, 1984 in Barquisimeto, Lara Venezuela
Jesús Yépez pitched in the minors and for the Venezuelan national team.
Yépez signed with the Chicago Cubs at age 17. He debuted as a pro with the 2002 Puerto Cabello club, posting a 1-1, 2.94 record. In 2003, he was 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA for the DSL Cubs. The next season, the left-hander had a 1-2, 3.66 record for the AZL Cubs. He finished 8th in the Arizona League in ERA.
Jesús spent 2005 with the Boise Hawks, where he was 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA. He wound up his US career in 2006 with the Peoria Chiefs, going 5-6 with a 4.30 ERA. He paced the Midwest League with five balks.
In the 2007 Pan American Games, the Barquisimeto native allowed 3 runs (all unearned) in 4 1/3 innings with 4 walks, 2 hits and two strikeouts for Venezuela. He was 0-1 in the 2007 Baseball World Cup, losing to South Korea despite allowing only one run in 5 1/3 IP. His 1.08 ERA led the Venezuelan staff and his 7 strikeouts (in 8 1/3 IP) ranked second on the squad.
He helped Venezuela take the Gold at the 2010 South American Games.
