Armando Galarraga

Armando Antonio Galarraga Barreto (born January 15, 1982) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. Galarraga made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Texas Rangers on September 15, 2007. He was traded to the Detroit Tigers at the end of the 2007 season where he spent three seasons and also played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros. In 2010, he pitched a perfect game which was spoiled when umpire Jim Joyce blew a call on what should have been the 27th and final out of the game at first base.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Galarraga and the second or maternal family name is Barreto.
Armando Galarraga
Galarraga pitching for the Detroit Tigers
Pitcher
Born: (1982-01-15) January 15, 1982
Cumaná, Venezuela
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 15, 2007, for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
August 19, 2012, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics
Win–loss record26–34
Earned run average4.78
Strikeouts346
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Playing career

Texas Rangers

He originally signed as a free agent with the Montreal Expos on October 31, 1998. He was acquired by the Texas Rangers from the Washington Nationals as part of the deal that sent Alfonso Soriano to the Nationals in 2005.[1]

Galarraga made his Major League debut on September 15, 2007 against the Oakland Athletics. He entered the game in the eighth inning, and pitched a scoreless inning. He allowed no hits and one base on balls.[2]

Detroit Tigers

2008
Galarraga pitching in June 2008

On February 5, 2008, Galarraga was traded to the Detroit Tigers for Michael Hernandez, an outfielder that had spent the last season playing for the AA Erie SeaWolves.[3] As a minor league call up for the injured Dontrelle Willis, Galarraga earned his first career win April 16, 2008 in a 13–2 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

On June 13, 2008, Galarraga pitched seven shutout innings in a 5–0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He finished the 2008 campaign with a 13–7 record, a 3.73 earned run average (ERA), and 126 strikeouts in 178​2⁄3 innings.[4] When batters did hit the ball against him, they only managed a .237 batting average on balls in play, the lowest in the Major Leagues.[5] Galarraga threw sliders 38.9% of the time in 2008, more than any other starting pitcher in the majors.[6]

After a superb rookie season, Galarraga finished fourth in the balloting for the 2008 American League Rookie of the Year Award.

2009

On April 10, 2009, Galarraga pitched the home opener at Comerica Park. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Galarraga deserved to pitch Opening Day after having an impressive 2008 season. The Tigers won the game 15–2, which included a grand slam by Miguel Cabrera. On April 29, prior to a game against the New York Yankees, Galarraga received his 2008 Tigers Rookie of the Year award from the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.

Statistically, Galarraga did not approach the success he achieved in the 2008 season. His 2009 ERA was a below average 5.64, and opposing batters hit a high .284 against him.

2010
Galarraga pitching in July 2010

In seven innings of work in spring training of 2010, Galarraga allowed nine runs, 14 hits and seven walks. That, coupled with his attitude ("They've seen my stuff; they know what I can do", Galarraga said during his ineffective spring training stint), prompted the Tigers to option him to the Tigers Triple-A affiliate Toledo on March 18, 2010.[7] Galarraga was called up to the Tigers in May 2010 and was put into the starting rotation. He had an ERA of 4.50 as of June 1. Galarraga was optioned to Toledo on July 6, 2010 but Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has said he would return on July 20 and start against Texas.[8] On July 19, the Tigers recalled Galarraga.[9]

"The 28-out perfect game"
Main article: Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game

On June 2, 2010, Galarraga pitched 8​2⁄3 perfect innings, but the perfect game disappeared on the 27th batter after what was ruled an infield hit. Rookie Jason Donald hit a ground ball to first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who tossed to Galarraga—who was covering first base—but first base umpire Jim Joyce incorrectly called Donald safe, ending the perfect game and no-hitter. Galarraga retired the next batter, completing the one-hitter, though many in the Tiger press preferred to call it "the 28-out perfect game."[10] Galarraga threw 88 pitches, 67 of them for strikes. If he had completed the perfect game (83 pitches), it would have been the lowest number of pitches thrown since Addie Joss's 74 in 1908, and the shortest game since Sandy Koufax's perfect game in 1965. It would have been the second perfect game in the Major Leagues in just four days, Philadelphia's Roy Halladay having thrown his on May 29, and the third in 24 days (Dallas Braden of Oakland on May 9).

Joyce later issued a direct apology to Galarraga, saying that the call was incorrect.[11][12][13] Galarraga accepted the mistake gracefully, saying later, "Nobody's perfect."[14] Observers pointed to the handling of the situation as an example of good sportsmanship on both sides.[14] He was presented with a "Medal of Reasonableness" for his reasoned response to Joyce's call at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.[15]

Arizona Diamondbacks

During the 2010–11 offseason, Galarraga was designated for assignment by the Tigers.[16] On January 24, 2011 he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for pitchers Kevin Eichhorn and Ryan Robowski.[17]

On May 17, 2011, Galarraga was designated for assignment and spent the rest of the season with the AAA Reno Aces[18] After the 2011 season, he became a free agent.[19]

Baltimore Orioles

Galarraga signed as a minor league free agent with the Baltimore Orioles on January 18, 2012. The Orioles released him on April 6.

Houston Astros

He signed a minor league contract as a free agent with the Houston Astros on May 21, 2012. He pitched in five games for the Astros between July 28 and August 19, losing four of them. Galarraga was designated for assignment on August 22[20] and released on August 25, 2012.

Cincinnati Reds

Galarraga signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds in January 2013.[21]

Colorado Rockies

He was traded to the Colorado Rockies for Parker Frazier on July 15, 2013.[22] He was assigned to AAA affiliate Sky Sox.[23]

Texas Rangers

In January 2014, Galarraga joined the Texas Rangers on a minor league deal.[24] He was released on March 24.[25]

Chinatrust Brother Elephants

Galarraga signed a contract with the Chinatrust Brother Elephants of Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League in April 2014. He pitched 10 games and posted an ERA of 4.470. He was released by the club on July 5, 2014.

Pericos de Puebla

In 2015, Galarraga signed a contract with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League.[26]

In between, Galarraga played winter ball with the Leones del Caracas club of the Venezuelan League in parts of seven seasons spanning 1999–2014.

Galarraga retired from professional baseball in December 2015.[27]

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See also

References
  1. "Scout.com: Armando Galarrga (sic)". Scout.com. September 12, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
  2. "Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics September 15, 2007". ESPN. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  3. Beck, Jason. "The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Tigers pull off minor trade with Rangers". Detroit.tigers.mlb.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  4. "ESPN.com: Armando Galarraga Stats". ESPN. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  5. "2008 Major League Baseball Batting Against". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  6. "Major League Leaderboards » 2009 » Pitchers » Pitch Type Statistics". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  7. DiComo, Anthony (March 18, 2010). "Tigers option Galarraga to Triple-A". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  8. "Galarraga to Triple-A, Weinhardt called up". MLB.com. July 7, 2010.
  9. Beck, Jason (July 19, 2010). "Galarraga recalled, Oliver optioned". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  10. Beaton, Al (June 2, 2010). "Armando Galarraga pitches 28 out perfect game". SBNation. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  11. Lowe, John (June 3, 2010). "Umpire Jim Joyce apologizes to Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga for his blown call, denying Gallaraga his perfect game". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  12. Seidel, Jeff (June 3, 2010). "Fans applaud Galarraga for being perfect gentleman". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on June 7, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  13. Wezner, Paul (June 3, 2010). "Despite Blown Call, Class Acts All Around". Scout with FoxSports.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
  14. White, Paul (June 4, 2010). "When baseball gets it wrong. Blown call is a case for instant replay – and a lesson in sportsmanship". USA Today. pp. 1A.
  15. Montopoli, Brian (October 30, 2010). "Jon Stewart Rallies for Sanity – and Against Cable News". CBSNews.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  16. "The Tigers finalized their deal with pitcher Brad Penny and designate Armando Galarraga". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  17. Beck, Jason (January 24, 2011). "Tigers acquire two pitchers for Galarraga". MLB.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
  18. Gabel, Chris (May 28, 2011). "Galarraga to pitch for Aces tonight". RGJ.com. Gannett. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  19. Axisa, Mike. "22 Triple-A Players Elect Free Agency". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  20. "Astros purchase contract of RHP Hector Ambriz". Associated Press. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  21. "MLB Rumors". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013.
  22. Cotillo, Chris (July 15, 2013). "Reds, Rockies swap Galarraga, Frazier". SBNation. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  23. "Armando Galarraga acquired in trade involving Parker Frazier". Denver Post.
  24. Durrett, Richard (February 3, 2014). "Rangers sign Daniel Bard". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  25. Todd, Jeff (March 24, 2014). "Minor Moves: Galarraga, Wada, Lim". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  26. "Garcia ready to pitch in for Taiwan's Rhinos". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 29, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  27. Armando Galarraga retires, wants to be pitching coach
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