Ricky Nolasco, Pitcher
Date of Birth: 12/13/1982
Birthplace: Corona, California
Ricky Nolasco, pitcher, was first drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2001. He played in the Cubs' minor league system for five seasons before being traded to the Miami Marlins in December, 2005.
Nolasco pitched 140.0 innings in 35 games in 2006, his first season in the major leagues. He finished the season with an 11-11 record and a 4.82 ERA. The following year, he was on the DL for almost the entire season, pitching in just five games with the Marlins.
In 2008, Nolasco came back strong from his injury, pitching a career high 212.1 innings in 34 games. He had a career low ERA of 3.52 and a career high 15 wins (to 8 losses). The next season, he had a career high 195 strikeouts (to 44 walks) in 31 games.
Nolasco signed a three-year contract extension with the Marlins in December, 2010. He pitched for two and a half more seasons with the Marlins before they traded him in July, 2013, to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2013, he had 13 wins to 11 losses and a 3.70 ERA, pitching in 18 games with the Marlins and 16 games with the Dodgers.
In December, 2013, Nolasco signed a four-year, $49 million contract with the Minnesota Twins. He finished the 2014 season with a 6-12 record, 115 strikeouts to 38 walks, and a 5.38 ERA in 159.0 innings in 27 games.
Nolasco spent most of the 2015 season on the DL, first with an elbow inflammation and then with an ankle injury. He pitched 37.1 innings in 9 games and he had a 5-2 record and a 6.75 ERA.
Nolasco was traded to the Los Angeles Angels on August 1, 2016. He finished the 2016 season with a 4.42 ERA, 8 wins to 14 losses, and 144 strikeouts to 44 walks in 21 games with the Twins and 11 games with the Angels.
In 181.0 innings in 33 games in 2017, Nolasco had 6 wins and 15 losses, 143 strikeouts to 58 walks, and a 4.92 ERA.
Nolasco became a free agent on November 3, 2017. He signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals on March 7, 2018. He was released on March 24th. He didn't play professional baseball in 2018.
Nolasco signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on February 8, 2019. He spent the 2019 season in the minors.
Nolasco became a free agent on November 4, 2019. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2019.
Career pitching statistics for Nolasco through 2018 include:
- 330 games played
- 1,887.2 innings pitched
- 114-118 win-loss record
- 1,513 strikeouts to 460 walks
- 4.56 ERA
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Ricky Nolasco
ESPN - Ricky Nolasco