Francisco Liriano, Retired
Date of Birth: 10/26/1983
Birthplace: San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
Francisco Liriano, retired pitcher, first signed with the San Francisco Giants in 2000. He played in the Giants' minor league system from 2001 until 2004, when they traded him to the Minnesota Twins. He then pitched in the Twins' minor league system through most of 2005, playing in just six games with the Twins that season.
In 2006, Liriano pitched 121.0 innings in 28 games with the Twins. He had a career low 2.16 ERA with a 12-3 record that year. The following November, he had Tommy John surgery and he missed the entire 2007 season. In 2008, he played in the minors and in 14 games with the Twins.
Liriano struggled in his first full year back from surgery, finishing the 2009 season with a 5.80 ERA and 5-13 win-loss record. The following season, however, was much better and Liriano won the American League Comeback Player of the Year award in 2010. He pitched 191.2 innings in 31 games and he had a 14-10 record with 201 strikeouts to 58 walks and a 3.62 ERA.
On May 3, 2011, Liriano pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox. That season, he had a 9-10 record with a 5.09 ERA. In July, 2012, after 22 games with the Twins, Liriano was traded to the White Sox. He pitched in just 12 games with Chicago.
Liriano signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates in February, 2013. He had another strong year in 2013 and he again won the Comeback Player of the Year award, this time for the National League. He started the 2013 season on the DL but he came back to finish with a 3.02 ERA and a career high 16 wins to 8 losses in 26 games. He finished the 2014 season with a 7-10 record, 175 strikeouts to 81 walks, and a 3.38 ERA in 162.1 innings in 29 games.
On December 12, 2014, Liriano signed a new three-year contract with the Pirates. He finished the 2015 season with a 12-7 record, a career high 205 strikeouts (to 70 walks), and a 3.38 ERA in 186.2 innings in 31 games.
Liriano was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on August 1, 2016. He finished the 2016 season with a 4.69 ERA, 8 wins to 13 losses, and 168 strikeouts to 85 walks in 163.0 innings in 21 games with the Pirates and 10 games with the Blue Jays. In the postseason, he pitched 2.0 innings in 2 games and he gave up 2 hits and 2 runs.
The Blue Jays traded Liriano to the Houston Astros on July 31, 2017. He finished the regular 2017 season with a 5.66 ERA in 18 games with the Blue Jays and 20 games with the Astros. He had 6 wins and 7 losses and 85 strikeouts to 53 walks in 97.0 innings. In the postseason, he pitched just 2.1 innings in 5 games and he gave up 2 hits, including a home run, and 1 run. He struck out 2 batters and walked 1.
Liriano became a free agent on November 2, 2017. He signed with the Detroit Tigers on February 23, 2018. He finished the 2018 season with 5 wins and 12 losses, 110 strikeouts to 73 walks, and a 4.58 ERA in 133.2 innings in 27 games.
Liriano became a free agent on October 29, 2018. He returned to the Pirates on a minor league contract on February 4, 2019. He finished the 2019 season with 5 wins and 3 losses, 63 strikeouts to 35 walks, and a 3.47 ERA in 70.0 innings in 69 games.
Liriano became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on January 22, 2020. He was released on July 18, 2020. He didn't play professional baseball in 2020.
Liriano signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays on February 3, 2021. He was released on March 29th. He didn't play professional baseball in 2021.
Liriano retired on January 17, 2022.
Career pitching statistics for Liriano through 2019 include:
- 419 games played
- 1,813.2 innings pitched
- 112-114 win-loss record
- 1,815 strikeouts to 816 walks
- 4.15 ERA
Personal Life
Liriano and his wife Johanna have one son.
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Francisco Liriano
ESPN - Francisco Liriano