Julio Machado
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Julio Machado, born Julio Segundo Machado Rondón (December 1, 1965 in Zulia State, Venezuela) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher who played for the New York Mets (1989-90) and Milwaukee Brewers (1990-91).
Machado started his career with the Mets. In the '90 season, he went to the Brewers in a four-player deal, along with pitcher Kevin Brown, in exchange for catcher Charlie O'Brien and a minor league player.
Machado had a decent fastball, good control and willingness to challenge hitters. He also pitched a better-than-average curveball and a slider. Machado was certainly good enough to pitch for a few more years. However, he is a footnote in the ledger of baseball history. Spending the 1991 off-season in his homeland, Machado was arrested for murder being accused of shooting a woman following an auto accident. He was convicted and, following appeals, he was sentenced to 12 years in 1996.
In a three-year career, Machado posted a 7-5 record with 151 strikeouts and a 3.12 ERA in 147 innings.
Machado went on to play in the Venezuelan winter league and currently coaches in that league.
Machado was nicknamed "Iguanaman" for his fondness of eating the meat of iguanas.
