Ugueth Urbina

Ugueth Urbina
Pitcher
Born: (1974-02-15) February 15, 1974 Caracas, Venezuela
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 9, 1995 for the Montreal Expos
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 2005 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Career statistics
Win–Loss record	44–49
Earned run average	3.45
Strikeouts	814
Saves	237
Teams
Montreal Expos (1995–2001) Boston Red Sox (2001–2002) Texas Rangers (2003) Florida Marlins (2003) Detroit Tigers (2004–2005) Philadelphia Phillies (2005)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star selection (1998, 2002) World Series champion (2003)

Ugueth Urtaín Urbina Villarreal
Born	(1974-02-15) February 15, 1974 Caracas, Venezuela
Charge(s)	Attempted murder, illegal deprivation of liberty
Conviction(s)	Found guilty on March 28, 2007
Penalty	14 years in prison (served 7)
Conviction status	Released

Ugueth Urtaín Urbina Villarreal (/uːˈɡɛt ʊərˈbiːnə/; born February 15, 1974) is a Venezuelan former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. A two-time All-Star, Urbina led the National League in saves with 41 in the 1999 season and helped the Florida Marlins win the 2003 World Series. He is the only player in major league history with the initials "UU" or "UUU".

Urbina served 7 years of a 14-year prison sentence in Venezuela after his conviction on two charges of attempted murder. He was released in December of 2012.

Playing career

In 11 major league seasons, Urbina compiled a 44–49 record with 237 saves, 814 strikeouts, and a 3.45 ERA. He played with the Montreal Expos (1995–2001), Boston Red Sox (2001–2002), Texas Rangers (2003), Florida Marlins (2003), Detroit Tigers (2004–2005), and Philadelphia Phillies (2005).

Montreal Expos (1995–2001)

Urbina started his career as a reliever with the Montreal Expos, where he pitched for six seasons and was an All-Star once, in 1998.

As a 21 year old in 1995, he pitched in 7 games, starting 4, and went 2–2 with a 6.17 ERA. In 1996, Urbina established himself on Montreal's pitching staff, as he appeared in 33 games, starting 17. He went 10–5 with a 3.71 ERA. In 1997, his career as a closer began. He had 27 saves and a 3.71 ERA in 63 games. In 1998, Urbina appeared in 64 games, notching 34 saves and a 1.30 ERA. In 1999, he led the league in saves with 41 and had a 3.69 ERA in 71 games. In 2000, Urbina was injured and limited to 13 appearances. In 2001, Urbina started the season well before being traded to the Boston Red Sox on July 31, notching 15 saves in 45 games.

Boston Red Sox (2001–2002)

Urbina was traded to the Boston Red Sox on July 31, 2001, for Tomo Ohka and Rich Rundles. He appeared in 19 games, saving nine and compiling a 2.25 ERA.

Urbina had his second All-Star game appearance in 2002, when he saved 40 games in 61 appearances and had a 3.00 ERA.

Texas Rangers (2003)

Urbina left Boston as a free agent after the 2002 season, and signed with the Texas Rangers for one year on December 23, 2002.

Before being traded on July 11, Urbina had 26 saves and a 4.19 ERA in 39 games.

Florida Marlins (2003)

He was traded on July 11, 2003, to the Florida Marlins for Adrian Gonzalez, and Ryan Snare.

For the remainder of the season, Urbina was a set up man, going 3–0 with a 1.41 ERA and 6 saves in 33 games. His total statistics for the 2003 season were: 54 games, 32 saves, and a 2.81 ERA.

He finished his short stint with the team by helping them win the 2003 World Series, defeating the New York Yankees in six games. During the postseason (his only one while in the majors), he appeared in 10 games, going 1–0 with a 3.46 ERA and saved 4 games.

Detroit Tigers (2004–2005)

Urbina signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Tigers on March 29, 2004.

2004 marked Urbina's last season where he was closer for at least part of the season. In 54 games, he went 4–6 with a 4.50 ERA and 21 saves.

In 2005, he began the season in good form, maintaining a 2.63 ERA and notching 9 saves. However, he was traded for the third time in his career, this time to the Phillies.

Philadelphia Phillies (2005)

On June 8, 2005, the Tigers traded Urbina with Ramon Martinez to the Philadelphia Phillies for infielder Plácido Polanco.

In 56 games, Urbina went 4–6 a 4.13 ERA.

He played his final game on October 2, 2005, for the Phillies.

Pitching attributes

Urbina's pitches included a moving fastball and a slider that enabled him to hold left-handed hitters in check. He also threw a changeup which tailed away from right-handers and a splitter that broke sharply.^{[citation needed]}

Mother's kidnapping

In September 2004, Urbina's 54 year old mother, Maura Villarreal, was kidnapped and held for a $6 million ransom in southwest Venezuela. Urbina's family refused to pay the ransom and an anti-kidnapping unit rescued her in a military-style operation on February 18, 2005.

Attempted murder conviction

On November 7, 2005, Urbina was arrested by Venezuelan authorities on a charge of attempted murder for an incident that occurred a few weeks previous, on October 16. Urbina attacked five farm workers on his property whom he had accused of stealing a gun. The pitcher tried to injure them both with a machete and also attempted to pour gasoline on them. On March 28, 2007, Urbina was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to fourteen years and seven months in prison. He was released, however, on December 24, 2012, after serving just five years and nine months of his sentence.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball saves champions
• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

External links

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

Preceded by Trevor Hoffman

National League Saves Champion 1999

Succeeded by Antonio Alfonseca