Ricky Nolasco
From BR Bullpen
Carlos Enrique Nolasco
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 220 lb.
- High School Rialto High School
- Debut April 5, 2006
- Born December 13, 1982 in Corona, CA, USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Ricky Nolasco was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round of the 2001 amateur draft. He was signed by scout Spider Jorgensen and made his pro debut that summer.
Nolasco was one of a group of young Florida Marlins pitchers having a good year in Joe Girardi's sole season at the helm in 2006. He had been traded to the Marlins with Sergio Mitre and Renyel Pinto in return for OF Juan Pierre after the 2005 season. Making his major league debut in Florida, he went 11-11, 4.82 in 35 games after starting the season in the bullpen. However, he missed most of 2007 with an arm injury, logging a record of 1-2, 5.48 in 5 games; he missed most of April after an early-season relief appearance, then made four starts in may before being shut down after a loss on May 17th.
Nolasco came back strong in 2008, spending the entire year in the starting rotation and notching 15 wins against only 8 defeats. His 3.52 ERA was by far the best of his career, he topped 200 innings for the first time and struck out 186 batters.
The following season, on September 30, 2009, Nolasco struck out 9 consecutive Braves batters on his way to recording 16 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. The 16 whiffs were a Florida Marlins franchise record, while the 9 straight were one short of the Major League record set by Tom Seaver in 1970. Only four pitchers have struck out nine straight batters: Seaver, Nolasco, Mickey Welch and Jake Peavy. That performance came as he set a personal record for strikeouts in a season with 195, in only 185 innings. He went 13-9 in spite of a poor 5.06 ERA, but still confirmed his place as the Fish's second-best starter behind Josh Johnson.
Nolasco was on his way to another solid season in 2010 when his season ended early with a knee injury suffered on August 28 which required surgery. He was 14-9 in 26 starts at the time, but had only pitched 157.2 innings. He then suffered a strained thumb in spring training in 2011, setting him further back. However, he came back to make 33 starts and pitch over 200 innings, putting up a 10-12 record, although his 4.67 ERA was not particularly good. On May 6, 2012, with the team now called the Miami Marlins, Nolasco beat the San Diego Padres, 6-3, to improve his record to 4-0 on the year. It was the 68th win of his career, tying him with Dontrelle Willis for most in franchise history. He passed him on May 22nd with a 7-6 win over the Colorado Rockies at Marlins Park; it was a struggle as he gave up 4 runs in 6 innings, and saw his relievers struggle through the last three frames, giving up two more runs, before Heath Bell registered the save with Jordan Pacheco, representing the tying run, stranded on third base.
Nolasco's brother, Dave Nolasco, played in the minor leagues from 2001-2004.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 15 Wins Seasons: 1 (2008)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 2 (2008 & 2011)
