Alexi Ogando

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Alexi Ogando
Texas Rangers – No. 41
Starting pitcher
Born: (1983-10-05) October 5, 1983
San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 15, 2010 for the Texas Rangers
Career statistics
(through 2013 season)
Win–loss record 26–13
Earned run average 3.12
Strikeouts 303
Teams

Career highlights and awards

Alexi Ogando (born October 5, 1983) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball.

Professional baseball career

Oakland Athletics

Ogando was born in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, and originally signed with the Oakland Athletics as an outfielder in 2002. After playing his rookie season in the Dominican Summer League, Ogando batted .342 with thirteen doubles, seven home runs (second in the Arizona League) and 36 runs batted in for the AZL Athletics in 2003. He began the 2004 campaign with the Vancouver Canadians, but after starting the season 0 for 13 and batting .150 in six games, he was demoted back to Arizona. Despite not joining the Arizona League until July 1, he finished second in the league with six home runs, and had twenty extra base hits.

Human trafficking ring

He earned an invitation to spring training in 2005; however, when he went to the U.S. embassy to pick up his work visa that January, consulate officials were waiting. They had noticed that an inordinate number of young minor league ballplayers had been married in a short period of time to women who had previously been denied visas, and it raised a red flag. Ogando immediately admitted guilt to his involvement in a human trafficking ring, and was assured that he would likely only receive a one year exclusion, and that he would be able to reapply the following year. As it turned out, he was banned from entering the United States for five years, limiting him to winter ball, the Dominican Summer League and international tournaments.[1]

Texas Rangers

Ogando pitching for the Rangers during Spring Training 2011

The Texas Rangers acquired him in the rule 5 draft in December 2005 and converted him into a pitcher. Ogando was dominant in that role, going 11–3 with a 1.11 earned run average and 114 strikeouts and holding batters to a .209 batting average over three seasons out of the DSL Rangers' bullpen.

On February 12, 2010, he and Omar Beltre, who was also involved in the human trafficking ring out of the Dominican Republic, were granted visas, and allowed to attend Spring training, arriving in the U.S. on February 16.[2] After Spring training, he was assigned to the double A Frisco RoughRiders, and soon earned a promotion to triple A after dominating the Texas League with a 1.15 ERA in 15.2 innings.

Although he made three starts with Frisco, he pitched exclusively in relief with the Oklahoma City RedHawks. He appeared in eleven games with Oklahoma City, before earning a trip to the major leagues. He replaced starting pitcher Rich Harden on the 25 man roster when Harden was placed on the fifteen day disabled list with a left gluteal muscle strain.[3] He made his major league debut on June 15, pitching one inning and earning the win against the Florida Marlins.[4] Playing in an NL park, Ogando also got his first hit as a batter. Ogando became just the third relief pitcher since 1900 to win his first three major league appearances.[5] Ogando finished the season with a 4–1 record and an impressive 1.30 ERA.[6]

Ogando started the 2011 season as the Texas Rangers' fifth starter following an injury to Tommy Hunter in spring training.[7] He made his first start on April 5, pitching six scoreless innings against the Seattle Mariners.[8] He started the season 7–0 with a 2.20 ERA and one of the lowest WHIPs in the major leagues. He lost his first game as a starter in a blowout against the Yankees. On July 10, 2011 Alexi Ogando was named to the American League All Star team for the first time in his career. Ogando replaced CC Sabathia who was replacing James Shields because each was starting against each other on Sunday before the All-Star break.

His pitching performance saw a dramatic decline in the second-half of the season as his total innings far surpassed his 2010 totals. He finished 2011 with 13–8 record and a 3.51 ERA.[9]

In the playoffs, Ogando was converted back to a reliever and has since pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings this postseason including a win in game 1 of the ALCS against the Detroit Tigers.[10] Of Ogando's versatility as a starter and reliever, manager Ron Washington remarked, "what a weapon to have".[11] In game 7 of the 2011 World Series Ogando threw exactly 1 pitch and earned a strikeout. This happened because Mike Gonzalez was injured and left the game with a 3-2 count on the batter, Allen Craig.

On June 9, 2013, Ogando was added to the disabled list for the second time in the 2013 season.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Evan Grant (March 9, 2009). "Role in Fraud Ruins Dreams for Texas Rangers' Prospects". Dallas Morning News. 
  2. ↑ T.R. Sullivan (February 12, 2010). "Texas prospects Beltre, Ogando obtain visas". MLB.com. 
  3. ↑ "Rangers recall RHP Alexi Ogando from AAA Oklahoma City". MLB.com. June 12, 2010. 
  4. ↑ T.R. Sullivan (June 15, 2010). "Treanor comes off Texas bench to sink Fish". MLB.com. 
  5. ↑ Anthony Andro (June 23, 2010). "Some Rangers post-game notes". Star-telegram.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2010. 
  6. ↑ "Alexi Ogando Career Statistics". Texasrangers.com. Retrieved October 4, 2010. 
  7. ↑ Stan McNeal. "Rangers' rotation will get relief after all; Ogando moving from 'pen". sportingnews.com. Retrieved October 4, 2011. 
  8. ↑ "Seattle Mariners vs. Texas Rangers – Recap – April 5, 2011". Espn.go.com. April 5, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2011. 
  9. ↑ "Alexi Ogando Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2011. 
  10. ↑ 1:11 (January 2, 2010). "Bullpen wrap: Alexi Ogando goes for two". Espn.go.com. Retrieved October 21, 2011. 
  11. ↑ "Texas Rangers Team Report". Usatoday.Com. Retrieved October 21, 2011. 
  12. ↑ Toman, Chris (June 9, 2013). "Ogando back on DL one start after earlier stint". mlb.com. Retrieved June 9, 2013. 

External links

Texas Rangers current roster
Active roster
Coaching staff
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