Yovani Gallardo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yovani Gallardo |
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Gallardo with the Texas Rangers in 2015
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: February 27, 1986 Penjamillo, Michoacán, Mexico |
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| debut | |||
| June 18, 2007, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 2018, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 121–101 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.06 | ||
| Strikeouts | 1,584 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Yovani Gallardo (pronounced gah-YAR-doh; born February 27, 1986) is a former professional baseball pitcher from Mexico. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These include the Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, and Cincinnati Reds. Yovani was chosen by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2004 MLB draft. He was an All-Star player in 2010. That same year, he won the Silver Slugger Award for pitchers.
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Playing Career Highlights
Yovani Gallardo went to high school in Fort Worth, Texas. He planned to play college baseball at Texas Christian University (TCU). But the Milwaukee Brewers picked him in the 2004 MLB draft. Gallardo decided to sign with the Brewers instead of going to college.
Time with the Milwaukee Brewers
Starting in the Minor Leagues
In 2006, Gallardo played for minor league teams. He played for the Brevard County Manatees and the Huntsville Stars. He was great at striking out batters. He led all minor league pitchers with 188 strikeouts. This was the most by a Brewers prospect in one season.
First Major League Games
Gallardo started the 2007 season in the minor leagues. He was called up to the major leagues on June 14. He made his first MLB start on June 18 against the San Francisco Giants. He pitched well and earned his first win. In his very first time at bat, he hit a double that brought in a run.
Dealing with Injuries
The 2008 season started with Gallardo on the injured list. He hurt his left knee. When he returned, he pitched well for a few games. But on May 1, he hurt his right knee. He tore a ligament and was out for most of the season. He came back in September and pitched in a playoff game.
Becoming a Star Pitcher
In 2009, Gallardo decided not to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. He wanted to focus on his season with the Brewers. Many experts thought he would be the team's best pitcher.
On April 8, he got his first win of the season. He also hit a three-run home run. He was the only pitcher to ever hit a home run off of the famous pitcher Randy Johnson. Gallardo pitched his first complete game on April 24. This means he pitched the whole game without anyone else taking over. He also pitched a game where he hit the only home run, and it was the only run scored in the game. He struck out 11 batters in that game. He finished the 2009 season with 13 wins and 204 strikeouts. He was only the fourth Brewers pitcher to strike out over 200 batters in a season.
All-Star Season and Awards
In 2010, the Brewers signed Gallardo to a new contract. On May 28, he pitched his first complete-game shutout. This means he pitched the whole game and didn't let the other team score any runs. He was chosen for his first All-Star game that year.
Gallardo had a strong 2010 season. He won 14 games and had 200 strikeouts. He was also a great hitter for a pitcher. He hit 4 home runs and had 10 runs batted in. He won the Silver Slugger Award for being the best hitting pitcher in his league.
Continued Success
In 2011, Gallardo was the opening day pitcher for the Brewers. He pitched his third complete-game shutout on April 5. On May 7, he almost pitched a no-hitter. He only gave up one hit in the 8th inning. He finished the season with 17 wins, which was a career high. He also had 207 strikeouts. He was one of the best pitchers in the league.
In 2012, Gallardo had another good season. He struck out 14 batters in one game, which was a career high. He won 16 games and had 204 strikeouts. He also led the National League by starting 33 games.
A Challenging Season
Gallardo played for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic in 2013. He had a tough start to his 2013 season. He struggled with his pitching and was on the injured list. He finished the season with 12 wins and a higher ERA. It was his toughest season so far.
Final Year with Brewers
In 2014, Gallardo did something rare. He hit a walk-off double as a pinch-hitter. This means his hit ended the game and won it for his team in the last inning.
Time with the Texas Rangers
In 2015, Gallardo was traded to the Texas Rangers. He pitched well for them, helping them win a playoff game. After the season, he became a free agent.
Time with Other Teams
In 2016, Gallardo signed with the Baltimore Orioles. He had a difficult season there. In 2017, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners. He started as a pitcher but later moved to the bullpen to pitch in relief. He became a free agent again after the season.
Return to the Brewers and Rangers
Gallardo signed with the Milwaukee Brewers again in December 2017. But he was released before the season started. He then signed with the Cincinnati Reds in March 2018. He was released by the Reds shortly after. In April 2018, he signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. He was called up to the main team in June. He became a free agent again in October 2018.
How He Pitched
Gallardo used five main pitches:
- A four-seam fastball that was very fast.
- A curveball that dropped sharply.
- A slider that broke late.
- A change-up that looked like a fastball but was slower.
- A cutter that moved slightly.
His curveball was once thought to be the best in the minor leagues. Later in his career, he used his change-up less and started throwing a cutter more often.
Personal Life
Yovani Gallardo is married to Patricia. They have a son named Yovani, Jr. The family lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
See also
In Spanish: Yovani Gallardo para niños
- List of Major League Baseball single-inning strikeout leaders
