| Joel Peralta | |
|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Rays – No. 62 | |
| Relief pitcher | |
| Born: March 23, 1976 Bonao, Dominican Republic |
|
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| May 25, 2005 for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |
| Career statistics (through April 11, 2011) |
|
| Win–loss record | 5-11 |
| Earned run average | 4.20 |
| Strikeouts | 267 |
| Teams | |
Joel Peralta Gutiérrez ( /dʒoʊˈɛl pəˈrɑːltə/; Spanish pronunciation: [xoˈel peˈɾalta]; born March 23, 1976, in Bonao, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Peralta signed with the Oakland Athletics as an amateur free agent in 1996. They released him in 1998. He signed with the then-Anaheim Angels in 1999, and remained with the organization in the minor leagues, receiving a promotion to the major leagues in 2005.
Following the 2005 season, he was selected off waivers by the Kansas City Royals from the Angels. He spent three seasons with the Royals, and then signed with the Rockies for the 2009 season.
At the end of the 2009 season, he became a free agent, and was signed to a minor league contract by the Nationals. He had an outstanding 2010 for AAA Syracuse, saving 20 games without any blown saves, compiling a 1.08 ERA. On June 21, he was called up to join the Nationals as an eighth reliever,[1] and the next night made his 2010 debut, pitching to one batter and inducing a double play. Peralta was non-tendered following the 2010 season, to avoid giving him a raise in arbitration.[2]
During the 2010 off-season, Peralta signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, receiving $900,000.
During the 2011 off-season, Peralta signed a one-year contract to return to Tampa Bay, receiving $2.175 million.[3]