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Ronald Belisario
From BR Bullpen
Ronald J. Belisario
also known as Ronald Belizario
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 240 lbs.
- High School Augusto Mijares High School
- Debut April 7, 2009
- Born December 31, 1982 in Maracay, Aragua Venezuela
[edit] Biographical Information
Ronald Belisario posted a 2.04 ERA in 69 games with the division-winning Los Angeles Dodgers in 2009. Belisario was a surprise last-minute addition to the team's 25-man roster after coming to spring training three weeks late because of visa problems, but then pitching lights out in his brief time in the Grapefruit League. Even in the first game of the 2009 season, the Dodgers had him warming up, to potentially come in as a reliever. During spring training, he appeared four times, pitched six innings, and gave up no runs. He had six strikeouts while giving up four hits and two walks. Interestingly, some of his appearances occurred after he was assigned to the minor league camp.
Belisario was an almost total unknown at the major league level because he had never pitched higher than at the AA level in his years in the minors.
Belisario was signed by scout Miguel Garcia for the Florida Marlins in August 1999. He made his pro debut the next summer for Universidad de Carabobo (VSL). He spent 2000-2004 in the Marlins organization, reaching as high as AA ball, and then had Tommy John surgery which kept him out for the 2005 season, and then he missed all of 2006 because he was suspended. He did pitch in the Venezuelan Winter League briefly more than two years after his last minor league appearance. He came back to the minors in 2007 and 2008 in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization and pitched for the AA Altoona Curve both years. He also pitched in Venezuela again in the winter before joining the Dodgers, his performance there apparently convincing the Dodgers to give him a shot.
In 2010, Belisario was four weeks late in reporting to spring training with more visa problems cause by a DUI charge in Pasadena, CA the previous year. He had a difficult season, including a month-long stint out of action while undergoing drug rehabilitation. When he did pitch, he was 3-1, but with a 5.04 ERA in 49 games. He then never left Venezuela in 2011 because of visa problems - again - and drug issues, spending the year on the restricted list after he had tested positive for cocaine in the off-season. He did receive a visa for the 2012 season, however, but first had to serve a 25-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Program. The suspension was the result of his failure to cooperate with a rehabilitation program following his positive drug test.
