Kelvim Escobar

From BR Bullpen

Kelvim Jose Escobar Bolivar

Bats Both, Throws Right
Height 6' 1", Weight 205 lb.

Debut June 29, 1997
Born April 11, 1976 in La Guaira, Venezuela

[edit] Biography

Kelvim Escobar is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels. He began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays, and broke into the majors with Toronto in 1997. After struggling as a starting pitcher, the Blue Jays began to use Escobar as a reliever, and he saved 38 games in 2002. He resumed working as a starter in 2003, and has continued to do so ever since (with the exception of 2005, when he was recovering from an injury).

Escobar has been engaged in a feud with A.J. Pierzynski that dates back to a questionable dropped third strike call in game two of the 2005 ALCS. Escobar kept a Pierzynski baseball card in his locker during spring training in 2006 and beaned the White Sox catcher on April 29th, 2006. Escobar said of Pierzynski in an ESPN.com article, "I have never been a fan."

The hard-throwing right-hander established himself as a strong prospect in 1994, when he posted a 2.35 ERA and struck out 64 hitters in 65.0 innings with the GCL Blue Jays. He struggled in 1995, but bounced back with 9 wins and a 113 strikeouts with the 1996 Dunedin Blue Jays. He appeared in 27 games with Toronto in 1997, all relief appearances. He won three games and saved 14.

The Blue Jays began working Escobar into the rotation in 1998. He appeared in 22 games that season, ten of them starts, and posted a 7-3 record. He was 14-11 with a 5.69 ERA in 1999. Few doubted Escobar's talent, but he struggled with consistency. His record fell to 10-15 in 43 outings during the 2000 season. By 2001 he was working almost exclusively out of the bullpen, going 6-8 in 59 games. After saving 38 games in 2002, the Jays sent Escobar back to the rotation in 2003, he turned in 13 wins and 159 strikeouts.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim signed Escobar prior to the 2004 season. In his first three years with the club, Escobar posted a 25-28 record, and his ERA never finished worse than 3.93. He was forced to miss a large portion of the 2005 season with elbow ailments, but he bounced back with 11 wins in 2006. Escobar logged his 100th career victory on September 12th, 2007 against the Baltimore Orioles. Many credit Escobar's success to his vast repertoire of pitches. He finished the season with a 18-7 record and a 3.40 ERA and started the second game of the ALDS against Boston but was not involved in the decision.