Kelvim Escobar

Kelvim Escobar
Pitcher
Born: April 11, 1976 (1976-04-11) La Guaira, Venezuela
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 29, 1997 for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
June 6, 2009 for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Career statistics
Win–loss record	101–91
Earned run average	4.15
Strikeouts	1,310
Teams
Toronto Blue Jays (1997–2003) Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2004–2007, 2009)

Kelvim Jose Escobar Bolivar (born April 11, 1976 in La Guaira, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. He has previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays (1997–2003) and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2004–2009).

In March 2008, Escobar revealed a tear in his right shoulder that required season-ending surgery.

He only made one start in 2009 because of another shoulder injury and did not pitch in 2010.

Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar is his first cousin.

Toronto Blue Jays

Escobar signed as an amateur free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992. He was rated the 2nd best prospect in the Florida State League in 1996. He was also rated the 4th best prospect in the Blue Jays organization in 1996. Escobar made his major league debut on June 29, 1997 coming up as a reliever. He was able to save 14 games. For the next five seasons, he was being switched in and out of the bullpen. Over that period he had a record of 42–44 with 40 saves. In 2001, he became second on the Blue Jays all-time single season saves list with 38 saves. The Blue Jays finally established him as a starter in 2003. He started off 4–5 before the All-Star and 8–3 after the All Star break. He finished the season with a 12–8 record with 159 strikeouts and a 3.92 ERA.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Escobar signed a three-year $18.75 million dollar contract with the Angels as free agent before the 2004 season. He was slotted in as the Angels' second starter in 2004 going 11–12 with a 3.93 ERA. In 2005, he was hampered by injuries that allowed him to only start 7 games in 16 appearances. He went 3–2. In 2006, he went 11–14, with a 3.61 ERA. He was resigned to a three-year 28.5 million dollar deal with the Angels. In 2007. his breakout year with the Angels, he went 18–7 with a 3.40 ERA. During spring training of 2008, it was discovered that, Escobar had a right shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery. He was only able to make one start in 2008 and 2009.

New York Mets

On December 28, 2009, Escobar signed a 1 year contact with the New York Mets. This gave him a $1.25M dollar base salary, with up to $3M total in incentives based on games pitched. Escobar tore his capsule in his right shoulder before he even threw a pitch for the Mets. He missed the entire 2010 season.

Pitching Style

Escobar throws an 93–95 MPH four-seam fastball, an 90–92 MPH two-seamer, and a deceptive 83–85 MPH changeup. He has good command of a wide variety of other pitches, including an 79–83 MPH curve, and the occasional 86–88 slider or 85–87 MPH splitter.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube