Santo Alcalá Explained

Santo Alcalá
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:23 December 1952
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:April 10
Debutyear:1976
Debutteam:Cincinnati Reds
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 25
Finalyear:1977
Finalteam:Montreal Expos
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:14–11
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:4.76
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:140
Teams:

Santo Anibal Alcalá (born December 23, 1952) is a Dominican former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed during his baseball career. Alcala was signed by the Cincinnati Reds organization as an amateur free agent and initially assigned to the minor leagues.

Major League Baseball career

Alcala made his major league debut on April 10, 1976, with the Cincinnati Reds. Alcala pitched to four batters, giving up four hits and three earned runs in his debut.[1] In 1976, Alcala pitched one shutout. Despite winning 11 games in 1976, Alcala had an earned run average of 4.70, with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 67–67. While Alcala's team went on to the World Series, Alcala didn't have any playoff appearances. At age 23, Alcala was the second youngest player on an aging 1976 Reds team.[2] In 1977, Alcala had a 5.74 earned run average before being traded to the Expos, where he recorded a 4.69 earned run average. In his final major league appearance, Alcala pitched a scoreless inning in relief, bringing his 1977 earned run average to 4.83.[3]

On May 21, 1977, the Cincinnati Reds traded Alcala to the Montreal Expos for players to be named later. The Expos later sent Shane Rawley and Angel Torres to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade. In 1978, Alcala was selected off waivers by the Seattle Mariners, only to be sent back to the Expos in the same year.[4] He never pitched in the major leagues again.

At the time of his retirement Alcala had a 14–11 record, a 4.76 ERA, 121 walks, and 140 strikeouts. Alcala was 8 for 71 hitting, with a lifetime batting average of .113. His lifetime fielding percentage was .978.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Apr 10, 1976, Astros at Reds Box Score and Play by Play . www.baseball-reference.com. 2008-07-09.
  2. Web site: 1976 Cincinnati Reds . www.baseball-reference.com. 2008-07-09.
  3. Web site: Sep 25, 1977, Phillies at Expos Play by Play and Box Score . www.baseball-reference.com. 2008-07-09.
  4. Web site: Transactions of Santo Alcala. www.baseball-reference.com. 2008-07-09.