Gerardo Concepción

Gerardo Concepción Pérez (born February 29, 1992) is a Cuban former professional baseball pitcher. After competing in the 2010–11 Cuban National Series, winning the Rookie of the Year Award, he defected to Mexico in order to become an MLB free agent. He pitched in MLB for the Chicago Cubs in 2016.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Concepción and the second or maternal family name is Pérez.
Gerardo Concepción
Pitcher
Born: (1992-02-29) February 29, 1992
Havana, Cuba
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
June 21, 2016, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
June 26, 2016, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average3.86
Strikeouts2
Teams

Baseball career

Cuban beginnings

Concepción debuted in the Cuban National Series with the 2010–11 Industriales. In his rookie season, Concepción finished with a 10–3 win–loss record and a 3.36 earned run average (ERA) in 21 games pitched, including 16 games started.[1] He placed among the league leaders in wins (finishing tied for sixth with Yosvani Torres), winning percentage (finishing second, behind Norberto González) and ERA (finishing ninth, between Miguel Alfredo González and Dalier Hinojosa). For his debut season, he was named the Cuban National Series Rookie of the Year.[1]

Concepción defected from Cuba while in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where the Cuban national baseball team was participating in the World Port Tournament in June 2011, the same tournament where Aroldis Chapman defected from Cuba in 2009. Concepción established residency in Mexico. Major League Baseball declared him a free agent in January 2012.[1] He is working out at a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic for MLB teams in preparation of signing a contract.[1]

Minor Leagues

Concepción agreed to sign with the Chicago Cubs in February 2012, pending a physical.[2] The deal, worth $6 million over five years, became official on March 11, 2012.[3] The Cubs outrighted Concepción to the Kane County Cougars of the Class A Midwest League after the 2012 season.[4]

Minors

The Cubs assigned Concepción to the Arizona Fall League following the 2014 season.[5] He began the 2015 season with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League.[6] He began the 2016 season with the Tennessee Smokies of the Class AA Southern League, and was promoted to the Iowa Cubs of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.[7]

Chicago Cubs

Concepción was promoted to the Cubs on June 21, 2016. He struck out the first batter he faced in his major league debut that night.[8] He made three appearances in 2016 with a 3.86 ERA. The Cubs eventually won the 2016 World Series, ending their 108-year drought. Concepción was not present during the playoffs, but was still on the 40-man roster at the time and won his first World Series title.[9] The Cubs non-tendered Concepción after the season.[10] He was released on May 6, 2017.[11]

Scouting report

Concepción is 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and slender. He throws a fastball, which registers in the low 90s (miles per hour), and he also features a curveball and a change-up. In his pitching motion, he throws across his body, which creates deception in his delivery, but could prevent him from being consistent.[12]

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See also

References
  1. "Cuban left-hander Gerardo Concepcion declared a free agent, player agent says". ESPN.com. ESPN. January 18, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  2. Rojas, Enrique (February 2, 2012). "Source: Gerardo Concepcion to Cubs". ESPNdeportesLA.com. ESPN. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  3. "Cubs sign Cuban left-hander Concepcion to five-year deal". Chicago Tribune. March 11, 2012. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  4. "Outrighted To Triple-A: Miller, Beato, Nunez, Pearce". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  5. "Addison Russell, C.J. Edwards to play in Arizona Fall League - Chicago Cubs Blog - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  6. "Pelicans opening-day roster loaded with top Cubs prospects". myrtlebeachonline. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  7. 5:26 p.m. CT May 29, 2016 (May 29, 2016). "Gerardo Concepcion living up to high expectations". Desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  8. "Gerardo Concepcion provides promise in Cubs' loss". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  9. Bastian, Jordan; Muskat, Carrie. "Chicago Cubs win 2016 World Series". MLB. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  10. "Cubs sign relief pitcher, tender contracts". Dailyherald.com. December 2, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  11. "Minor League Transactions: May 6-12". BaseballAmerica.com. May 16, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  12. Arguello, John (January 30, 2012). "Cubs are heavily scouting Cuban players | Cubs Den". Chicagonow.com. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Yusef Amador		 Cuban National Series Rookie of the Year
2010–11		 Succeeded by
Carlos Juan Viera
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