Marco Estrada, Starting Pitcher
Date of Birth: 7/5/1983
Birthplace: Sonora, Mexico
College: California State University at Long Beach
Marco Estrada, starting pitcher, was first drafted in 2005 by the Washington Nationals. He pitched in the Nationals' minor league system from 2005 through 2009, joining the Nationals for 11 games in 2008 and 4 games in 2009.
In February, 2010, Estrada was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers. He spent most of the 2010 season in the minor leagues, pitching in just seven games with the Brewers. The next year, he played in 43 games as both a starting pitcher and a relief pitcher. He finished the 2011 season with a 4-8 record and a 4.08 ERA.
Estrada was added to the Brewers' starting rotation in 2012, pitching in 29 games and finishing the season with a 5-7 record and a 3.64 ERA. In January, 2013, he signed a one-year, $1.955 million contract with the Brewers. He pitched 128.0 innings in 21 games in 2013 and he had a 3.87 ERA with a 7-4 record. He finished the 2014 season with a 7-6 record, 127 strikeouts to 44 walks, and a 4.36 ERA in 150.2 innings in 39 games as both a starting pitcher and a relief pitcher.
Estrada was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on November 1, 2014. He signed a one-year, $3.9 million contract with the Blue Jays on January 16, 2015.
In 2015, Estrada pitched both as a starter and as a reliever for the Blue Jays. He finished the season with career highs in innings pitched (181.0) and wins (13 to 8 losses). He had a career low ERA of 3.13 and 131 strikeouts to 55 walks in 34 games. In three postseason games, he pitched 19.1 innings and he gave up 14 hits, including 2 home runs, and 5 runs. He had 15 strikeouts to just one walk and he had a 2.33 ERA.
Estrada signed a new two-year, $26 million contract with the Blue Jays on November 13, 2015. He finished the 2016 season with 9 wins to 9 losses, 165 strikeouts to 65 walks, and a 3.48 ERA in 176.0 innings in 29 games. In the postseason, he pitched 22.1 innings in 3 games and he gave up 15 hits and 6 runs.
Estrada finished the 2017 season with 10 wins and 9 losses, a career high 176 strikeouts to 71 walks, and a 4.98 ERA in 186.0 innings in 33 games.
In 2018, Estrada had a 5.64 ERA in 28 games. He finished the season with 7 wins and 14 losses and 103 strikeouts to 50 walks in 143.2 innings.
Estrada became a free agent on October 29, 2018. He signed with the Athletics on January 25, 2019. He was released by the Athletics on August 20, 2019. He spent time on the DL in 2019 with lumbar strain. He pitched in just 5 games and he had a 6.85 ERA in 23.2 innings.
Estrada hasn't played professional baseball since 2019.
Career pitching statistics for Estrada through 2019 include:
- 283 games played
- 1,251.1 innings pitched
- 62-68 win-loss record
- 1,094 strikeouts to 395 walks
- 4.29 ERA
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Marco Estrada
ESPN - Marco Estrada