Yovani Gallardo
From BR Bullpen
Yovani Gallardo
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 210 lb.
- High School Trimble Tech High School
- Debut June 18, 2007
- Born February 27, 1986 in ?, Michoacan Mexico
[edit] Biographical Information
Pitcher Yovani Gallardo made his major league debut in June of 2007 with the Milwaukee Brewers. His repertoire includes a fastball in the low 90s, curveball and changeup.
Born in Mexico, Gallardo grew up in Fort Worth, TX and was 5-4 with a 1.38 ERA as a high school senior, but his most impressive numbers were likely 134 strikeouts to 10 walks in 61 IP. The Brewers selected him in the second round of the 2004 amateur draft, the 46th overall selection, and signed him for $725,000.
Yovani debuted professionally with the AZL Brewers and was amazing, allowing only three runs (one earned) in 19 1/3 IP, striking out 23. He had no decisions in six starts, as he presumably was on a pitch count given the IP/start. Promoted to the Beloit Snappers, he struggled, allowing 12 hits and 10 runs in 7 1/3 IP and losing his first pro decision. Baseball America rated him as the #13 prospect in the Arizona League. The next year, Gallardo was 8-3 with a 2.74 ERA and one save for the West Virginia Power. He was 5th in the South Atlantic League in ERA but not ranked among the SAL's top 20 prospects by Baseball America, which chose 9 other pitchers.
Gallardo broke out in 2006, going 6-3 with a 2.09 ERA for the Brevard County Manatees (.196 opponent average, 103 K and 23 BB in 77 2/3 IP) and 5-2, 1.63 for the Huntsville Stars (.187 average, 85 K:28 BB in 77 1/3 IP). He led Brewers farmhands in ERA (1.86), strikeouts (188) and lowest opponent average (.192) in being named their Minor League Player of the Year. The 188 strikeouts set a record for Brewers minor leaguers. In the 2006 Futures Game, he pitched a scoreless 6th inning for the World, walking one and allowing one hit. Baseball America rated him as the #2 prospect in the Florida State League after Homer Bailey and #2 in the Southern League - also after Bailey. At both stops, Scott Elbert was ranked third. Gallardo was second in the affiliated minors in ERA, trailing only Scott Lewis and .02 ahead of Kevin Slowey and Chase Wright. He was first in strikeouts, three ahead of Francisco Cruceta and second in strikeouts/9 (10.92, behind only Jacob McGee). Entering 2007, Baseball America rated him as the top Milwaukee prospect.
Gallardo began 2007 with the Nashville Sounds, going 8-3 with a 2.90 ERA, 110 strikeouts in 77 2/3 IP and a .189 opponent average in his AAA debut. He was leading the minor leagues in strikeouts once more as of June 14. When Chris Capuano went on the disabled list that day, Milwaukee called up Gallardo. He had gone 27-12 with a 2.48 ERA and 439 strikeouts in the minor leagues. In his major league debut, Gallardo beat the Giants, allowing 3 runs in 6 1/3 IP but only 4 hits. He walked 3, though, and allowed a homer. In his first at-bat, he doubled against Noah Lowry to score Rickie Weeks. He ended that first season in the Show with a record of 9-5, 3.67 in 20 games. He then missed most of 2008 with a knee injury suffered on May 1, being limited to 4 starts with no decisions. He was helathy in time for the Brewers' first postseason appearance since 1982 and started Game 1 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. He was charged with the loss after giving upm three unearned runs.
Gallardo was a mainstay of the Brewers' starting rotation in 2009 and became the first pitcher to hit a home run against Randy Johnson, doing so early in the year. On April 29, he became only the third pitcher in major-league history to win a game 1-0 while recording at least 10 strikeouts and hitting a home run. The other pitchers to do that were Hall of Famers: the Yankees' Red Ruffing, on August 13, 1932 in Washington (12 strikeouts) and the Chicago White Sox's Early Wynn, on May 1, 1959 against the Red Sox (14 strikeouts). He started 30 games on the year, putting up a 13-12 record with a 3.73 ERA and 204 strikeouts in 185 ⅔ innings.
Sources: 2005-2007 Baseball Almanacs, MILB.com, 2007 Brewers Media Guide
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (2009)
