Adonis Medina Explained

Adonis Medina
Team:Washington Nationals
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:18 December 1996
Birth Place:Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 20
Debutyear:2020
Debutteam:Philadelphia Phillies
Debut2league:KBO
Debut2date:April 9
Debut2year:2023
Debut2team:Kia Tigers
Statleague:MLB
Statyear:2022 season
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:1–1
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:5.35
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:27
Stat2league:KBO
Stat2year:2023 season
Stat21label:Win–loss record
Stat21value:2–6
Stat22label:Earned run average
Stat22value:6.05
Stat23label:Strikeouts
Stat23value:36
Teams:

Adonis Medina Del Rosario (born December 18, 1996) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher in the Washington Nationals organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets and in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers.

Medina signed with the Phillies as an international free agent, in 2014. He made his MLB debut in 2020.

Baseball career

Philadelphia Phillies

Minor leagues

Medina was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent on May 29, 2014. Medina made his professional debut that season with the Dominican Summer League Phillies and spent the whole season there, going 2–3 with a 1.37 earned run average (ERA) and 0.987 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP), with 22 strikeouts (SO) in 26.2 innings pitched (IP).[1]

Medina played in 2015 with the Rookie Gulf Coast Phillies. He compiled a 3–2 record, 2.98 ERA, and 1.19 WHIP with 35 SO in 45.1 IP.[1] In 2016 with the Low–A Williamsport Crosscutters Medina had a 5–3 record, 2.92 ERA, and 1.098 WHIP, in 13 starts (GS), and 34 SO in 62.2 IP.[1] He was a 2016 mid-season New York-Penn League All Star.[2]

Before the 2017 season, Baseball Prospectus ranked Medina the 91st-best minor league prospect.[1] He spent 2017 with the Single–A Lakewood BlueClaws,[3] [4] [5] In 22 starts, he was 4–9 with a 3.01 ERA (9th in the South Atlantic League), and 133 strikeouts (4th in the league) in 119.2 innings, averaging 10.0 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.[6] [2]

Before the 2018 season, Baseball Prospectus ranked Medina the 46th-best prospect, Baseball America ranked him the 84th-best prospect, and MLB ranked him the 86th-best prospect.[1] Medina pitched in 2018 for the High–A Clearwater Threshers, for whom he was 10-4 with a 4.12 ERA, with 123 strikeouts (3rd in the Florida State League) in 111.1 innings, averaging 9.97 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.[7] [1] His 10 wins tied for 4th in the league.[8] In July, Medina played in the All-Star Futures Game.[2] He was Pitcher of the Week on both July 22 and August 19.[2]

The Phillies added Medina to their 40-man roster on November 20, 2018 to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[9] Baseball Prospectus ranked him the 57th-best prospect in baseball, MLB Pipeline named him the 64th-best prospect, and MLB.com ranked him number 77.[10] [11] Baseball America named Medina the 4th-best prospect in the Phillies minor league system.[7]

In 2019, pitching for the Reading Fightin Phils of the Double–A Eastern League, Medina was 7-7 with a 4.94 ERA in 105.2 innings over 22 games (21 starts), and was 2nd in the league with 14 hit batsmen.[12] He was a mid-season Eastern League All Star.[2]

Major leagues

On September 20, 2020, Medina made his big league debut, as the Philadelphia Phillies' starting pitcher against the Toronto Blue Jays, at Citizens Bank Park.[13] Medina was charged with the loss, giving up four hits and two earned runs over four innings pitched. He was optioned down, following the game.[14]

Medina spent the majority of his 2021 season with the Triple–A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, making 17 starts and registering a 4–5 record and 5.05 ERA with 55 strikeouts in innings pitched. In 4 major league games with the Phillies, he allowed 3 runs on 9 hits and 4 walks in innings of work.[15] On December 1, 2021, the Phillies designated Medina for assignment following the signing of Johan Camargo.[16] The decision on Medina's designation was delayed due to the 2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout, which prompted a freeze on Major League transactions.[17]

New York Mets

Following the end of the lockout, Medina was claimed off of waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates, on March 16, 2022.[18] [19] On April 7, he was designated for assignment and was subsequently traded to the New York Mets in exchange for cash and optioned to the Syracuse Mets of the Triple–A International League.[20]

On June 5, he recorded his first career MLB save in the 10th inning of a 5–4 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers.[21] In 14 games for the Mets, he posted a 6.08 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 1 save in innings of work. On September 6, Medina was designated for assignment.[22] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Syracuse on September 9.[23] He elected free agency following the season on November 10.[24]

Kia Tigers

On December 6, 2022, Medina signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers organization.[25] He was released on December 15, to formally sign overseas.

On December 11, 2022, Medina agreed to a contract with the Kia Tigers of the KBO League.[26] Medina made 12 starts for Kia in 2023, but struggled to a 2–6 record and 6.05 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 58.0 innings pitched. On July 4, 2023, he was released by the Tigers following the signing of Mario Sanchez.[27]

Washington Nationals

On February 2, 2024, Medina signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.[28]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Adonis Medina Minor Leagues Statistics & History. 2019. Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com. April 29, 2019.
  2. Web site: Adonis Medina Stats, Highlights, Bio. Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. April 29, 2019.
  3. Web site: Top MLB Prospects, Scouting Reports, Analysis. 2018. Baseball America. baseballamerica.com. May 10, 2018.
  4. Web site: Phillies prospect Adonis Medina finds more strikeouts with new breaking ball. July 16, 2017. Gelb. Matt. The Philadelphia Inquirer. inquirer.com. May 10, 2018.
  5. Web site: Law's scouting notebook: Phillies' pitching prospects are ridiculously good. July 20, 2017. Law. Keith. ESPN. ESPN.com. May 10, 2018.
  6. Web site: South Atlantic League 2017 Pitching Leaders - South Atlantic League Stats. Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. April 29, 2019.
  7. Web site: Adonis Medina Stats, Fantasy & News. Major League Baseball. MLB.com. April 29, 2019.
  8. Web site: 2018 Florida State League Pitching Leaders. 2019. Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com. April 29, 2019.
  9. Web site: Phillies add Adonis Medina and 2 others to 40-man roster, avoid losing them in Rule 5 draft. November 20, 2018. Salisbury. Jim. NBC Sports Philadelphia. nbcsports.com. April 29, 2019.
  10. Web site: Four Phillies prospects land on respected 2019 Top 100 lists. January 23, 2019. Phillies Nation. philliesnation.com. April 29, 2019.
  11. Web site: Three Phillies prospects named to 2019 MLB.com Top 100. January 26, 2019. Town. John. FanSided. thatballsouttahere.com. April 29, 2019.
  12. Web site: 2019 Eastern League Pitching Leaders. 2019. Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com. September 20, 2020.
  13. News: Salisbury . Jim . Phillies turning to another rookie to start final home game of season . September 9, 2022 . NBC Sports . September 19, 2020.
  14. News: Phillies fail to sweep Blue Jays; Harper leaves game late . September 9, 2022 . Associated Press . ESPN.com . September 21, 2020.
  15. Web site: Adonis Medina Stats & Scouting Report. June 20, 2023. baseballamerica.com. September 25, 2019 . en.
  16. Web site: Lauber . Scott . December 1, 2021 . Phillies sign switch-hitting infielder Johan Camargo . inquirer.com . Philadelphia Inquirer . January 24, 2022.
  17. News: Gelb . Matt . The missing Phillies: MLB lockout leaves these young players stuck in limbo as development dilemmas mount . September 9, 2022 . The Athletic . March 7, 2022.
  18. News: Pirates claim Adonis Medina off waivers from Philadelphia . September 9, 2022 . MLB.com . March 16, 2022.
  19. News: Gorman . Kevin . Pirates claim RHP Adonis Medina off waivers from Phillies . September 9, 2022 . Pittsburgh Tribune Review . March 16, 2022.
  20. Web site: Mets acquire RHP Adonis Medina. . April 7, 2022. April 7, 2022.
  21. News: Mets blow late lead but rally in 10th to beat Dodgers 5-4 . September 9, 2022 . Associated Press . ESPN.com . June 5, 2022.
  22. News: Alonso's homer not enough, Mets lose to Marlins 6-3 . September 9, 2022 . Associated Press . ESPN.com . September 9, 2022.
  23. Web site: Mets' Adonis Medina: Clears waivers. June 17, 2023. cbssports.com. September 9, 2022 . en.
  24. Web site: 2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams. June 12, 2023. baseballamerica.com. November 13, 2022 . en.
  25. Web site: Brewers Sign Adonis Medina to Minor-League Deal . December 6, 2022 .
  26. News: Kia Tigers on Twitter. Twitter. 2022-12-10.
  27. Web site: Kia Tigers release pitcher Medina. July 6, 2023. m-en.yna.co.kr. July 4, 2023 . en.
  28. https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-02-02