Óscar Villarreal

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**Óscar Villarreal**
Villarreal with the Braves in June 2007
Houston Astros — No. 56
Pitcher
Born: November 22, 1981 (1981-11-22) (age 26)
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
March 31, 2003 for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Selected MLB statistics (through 2007)
Win-Loss	23-12
Earned run average	3.71
Strikeouts	215
Teams
Arizona Diamondbacks (2003-2005) Atlanta Braves (2006-2007) Houston Astros (2008-present)

Óscar Eduardo Villarreal (born November 22, 1981 in San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico) is a relief pitcher who currently plays for the Houston Astros. Before coming to the Astros, he played for the Arizona Diamondbacks (2003-2005) and Atlanta Braves (2006-2007).

Oscar Villarreal was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as an amateur free agent in 1998. The next year, he made his professional debut with the Rookie League team the AZL Diamondbacks of the Arizona League. In 1999, Villarreal placed second on the team in innings pitched (64.1), games started (11), and strikeouts (51).

Villarreal began the 2000 season with the AAA Tucson Sidewinders. After being demoted to the Level A South Bend Silver Hawks, Villareal went 1-0 with a 1.66 earned run average. He was sent back down to Tucson in the Rookie League shortly before being sent up to A High Desert, where he finished the season. In High Desert he went 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA.

Villarreal played the entire 2001 season with the AA El Paso Diablos, where he logged a 6-9 record with a 4.41 ERA and 108 strikeouts. He began 2002 in El Paso, where he compiled a 3.74 ERA with a 6-3 win-loss record. On July 11, Villarreal was sent back up to the Sidewinders, where he went 3-3 with a 4.36 ERA. In the season combined, Villarreal recorded a Minor League career high 125 K's (85 in El Paso, 40 in Tucson).

In 2003, Villarreal earned a spot on the D'backs roster. He made his debut on March 31, and led all MLB rookies in games pitched (86) and ERA (2.57). His 86 games pitched also set a new rookie record. He finished second in the league in games pitched to Paul Quantrill, and also tied Brandon Webb's Diamondbacks record for wins by a rookie. However, on June 5, Villarreal suffered an injury when a line drive off the bat of Frank Thomas hit him in the shin. He left the game and was out for 5 days. He returned to the team on June 10 against the Kansas City Royals. On June 23, Villarreal was hurt again. A line drive hit by Craig Biggio struck him in the chest, but he did not leave the game. Villarreal came back to pitch 15.1 scoreless innings in July, and on September 10, he broke the rookie record for games pitched when he appeared in his 79th game. During the season, right-handed hitters only hit .204 off Villarreal.

Villarreal missed most of 2004 due to a sore elbow, and later elbow surgery. He appeared on Opening Day against the Rockies, and didn't allow any runs. In the month of April, he threw 15 strikeouts in 12.1 innings, while only walking one batter. Villarreal was placed on the disabled list on May 10 with a strained right flexor. After playing on a rehab assignment with the Tucson Sidewinders in July, doctors took an MRI on Villarreal's elbow on August 6 and determined that he would need to undergo season-ending nerve transposition surgery.

Villarreal returned in 2005, and ended up having another season shortened by an arm injury. He started the year with AAA Tucson before being called back up to the bigs on April 9. He pitched 1.2 scoreless innings on April 9 and left the next game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a sore right shoulder. Villarreal had strained his rotator cuff, and the injury landed him on the DL until September 2. In his first game back in the majors, Villarreal surrendered a home run. He won a game on September 17, which was his first big-league victory since September 25, 2003. Villarreal finished the season with 2 wins and no losses, 5 strikeouts, and a 5.27 earned run average.

On December 7, 2005, Oscar Villarreal and fellow pitcher Lance Cormier were traded to the Atlanta Braves for catcher Johnny Estrada. In his first year with the Braves, Villarreal went 9-1 with 55 strikeouts and a 3.61 ERA in 58 games.

On November 16, 2007 he was traded to the Houston Astros for outfielder Josh Anderson.

On December 28, 2007 The Houston Astros signed Villarreal to a two-year contract worth $2.85 million, with a club option for 2010.