Radhames Liz
From BR Bullpen
Radhames Corey Liz Gomez
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.
- Born June 10, 1983 in El Seybo Dominican Republic
Radhames Liz made his major league debut in 2007.
Liz was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 2003 thanks to scout Carlos Bernhardt. He went 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA that year in the Dominican Summer League and followed with a 7-3, 2.29 season in 2004. He was not anyone near the lead in the league in ERA but he ranked among the leaders in strikeouts (the 2007 Orioles Media Guide says he was 3rd with 109, the 2005 Baseball Almanac places him 5th with 99).
In 2005, Liz bounced between the Delmarva Shorebirds (2-3, 4.46, 55 K in 38 1/3 IP) and the Aberdeen Ironbirds (5-4, 1.77, .188 opponent average, 19 BB and 82 K in 56 IP). He was 4th in the New York-Penn League in strikeouts and would have been second in ERA had he qualified. He was rated as the league's 5th-best prospect by Baseball America, right ahead of Jacoby Ellsbury.
Radhames split 2006 between the Frederick Keys (6-5, 2.82, .196 averaged allowed, 10.30 K/9) and the Bowie Baysox (3-1, 5.36). In the 2006 Futures Game, Liz pitched 2/3 of a scoreless inning for the World in their 8-5 defeat; he had one of their three strikeouts. Baseball America ranked him as the #9 prospect in the Carolina League, between Neil Walker and Scott Lewis and the #19 prospect in the Eastern League (between Gio Gonzalez and Garrett Olson). He would have ranked 4th in the Carolina League in ERA had he qualified. Baseball America tabbed him as Baltimore's 6th-best prospect.
In the Dominican Winter League, Liz was 0-1 with a 2.42 ERA for the Estrellas Orientales.
Liz began 2007 with Bowie and went 11-4 with a 3.22 ERA, .204 opponent average and 161 K in 137 IP. Liz was third in the Eastern League in ERA behind Alan Horne and Jair Jurrjens, was leading in strikeouts and was tied for 5th in wins with Chuck Lofgren, Kevin Mulvey and Kip Bouknight when he was called up to Minnesota to replace Brian Burres on the roster. He debuted in the majors against the Twins and fanned his first MLB opponent, Jason Tyner. Liz allowed 5 runs in 6 innings, though, despite giving up just 4 hits. He walked 3 and struck out 5. A 3-run homer by Torii Hunter was the key blow.
Sources: 2007 Orioles Media Guide, MLB.com, 2005-2007 Baseball Almanacs
