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Yunesky Maya

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Maya and the second or maternal family name is Mendizula.
Yunesky Maya
Maya with the Washington Nationals
Piratas de Campeche – No. 97
Pitcher
Born: (1981-08-28) August 28, 1981 (age 43)
Pinar del Río, Cuba
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: September 7, 2010, for the Washington Nationals
KBO: August 1, 2014, for the Doosan Bears
MLB statistics
Win–loss record1–5
Earned run average5.80
Strikeouts27
KBO statistics
Win–loss record4-9
Earned run average6.58
Strikeouts116
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Cuba
World Baseball Classic
Silver medal – second place 2006 San Diego Team
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team
Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2005 Rotterdam Team
Silver medal – second place 2007 Taipei Team
Intercontinental Cup
Gold medal – first place 2006 Taichung Team
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place 2006 Cartagena Team

Yunesky Maya Mendizula (born August 28, 1981) is a Cuban-born professional baseball pitcher for the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears. He has also played for the Pinar del Río of the Cuban National Series.[1] He was part of the Cuban national baseball team at the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Career

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Cuba

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Maya led the Cuban National Series with a 1.61 earned run average (ERA) in 2004–05, and followed that up with a 7–9 record and a 3.79 ERA in 2005–06.[2]

In the 2008–2009 Cuban National Series Season Maya finished with a 13–4 record and seven complete games, and finished second amongst League Leaders in ERA with 2.22 ERA. He was also second in strikeouts with 119, behind Aroldis Chapman who had 130 (after the season, Chapman defected and signed with the Cincinnati Reds). With this performance, Maya won Cuba's equivalent of the Cy Young Award.[3] During six Cuban National Series seasons, Maya accumulated a record of 48–29 and an ERA of 2.51.[4]

In Summer 2009, Maya was expelled from the Cuban national baseball team; the official newspaper Granma referred to "grave problems of indiscipline",[5] presumably following a failed attempt to leave the country without permission. In September 2009, Maya successfully fled Cuba.[6] After living in the Dominican Republic for about nine months, the United States Department of Treasury authorized Maya to sign with a Major League Baseball team.[7]

Washington Nationals

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On July 31, 2010, Maya signed with the Washington Nationals.[8] Maya zoomed through the Nationals minor league system, making only five starts, before getting the call to the majors when rosters expanded in September. In the minors, he started two games for the GCL Nationals; one game for the Potomac Nationals; and two games for the Syracuse Chiefs, combining for 21+1⁄3 innings pitched and an overall ERA of 3.38 ERA.[9] He pitched five inning in his first major league start was on September 7, 2010, against the New York Mets (which also saw the big league debut of Met Dillon Gee). After a rough start (allowing a three-run homer in the first inning to Ike Davis), he retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced.[3]

On May 29, 2011, Maya was recalled by the Washington Nationals to take the rotation spot of Tom Gorzelanny, who was placed on the disabled list. Collin Balester was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room.[10] He was designated for assignment on May 25, 2013. However, the Nationals got him back and sent him outright to the Syracuse Chiefs.

Atlanta Braves

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On December 11, 2013, Maya signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.[11] On July 11, 2014, Maya was released by the Braves organization.

Doosan Bears

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On July 25, 2014, Maya signed with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization on a one-year, $175,000 contract, replacing Chris Volstad in their starting rotation.[12] Maya pitched to a 2-4 record and a 4.86 ERA in 11 games started for the Bears, who brought him back for the 2015 season. On April 9, 2015, Maya no-hit the Nexen Heroes at home in a 1-0 victory, the 12th no-hitter in the 33-year history of the KBO. He threw 136 pitches and struck out 8 batters in his effort.[13] On June 16, 2015, Maya was released by the Bears after the team signed Anthony Swarzak. He had struggled to a 8.17 ERA since hurling his no-hitter.[14]

Los Angeles Angels

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On February 2, 2016, Maya signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels.[15] Maya made 6 starts split between the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees and rookie–level Arizona League Angels, posting an aggregate 2–3 record and 5.68 ERA with 15 strikeouts.[16] He elected free agency following the season on November 7.[17]

Rieleros De Aguascalientes

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On June 18, 2018, Maya signed with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League.[18] He was released on August 1, 2018. He made 4 starts and went 1-1 with a 7.13 ERA and 8 strikeouts in 17.2 innings.

Saraperos de Saltillo

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On March 1, 2019, Maya signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. He was released on April 13, 2019 after making 2 starts going 0-1 with a 15.63 ERA and 4 strikeouts in 6.1 innings.[19]

After the 2020 season, he played for Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Professional Baseball League(LIDOM). He has also played for Dominican Republic in the 2021 Caribbean Series.

Diablos Rojos del México

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On December 14, 2022, Maya signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican Baseball League.[20] In 13 games (12 starts) for México, he recorded a 3.71 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 63.0 innings of work.

Guerreros de Oaxaca

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On July 19, 2023, Maya was loaned to the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League.[21] In 4 starts for Oaxaca, Maya posted a 2–1 record and 6.05 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 19+1⁄3 innings pitched.

Piratas de Campeche

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On February 13, 2024, Maya signed with the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League.[22] In 15 starts for Campeche, he posted a 5–7 record and 4.48 ERA with 49 strikeouts across 74+1⁄3 innings pitched.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Yunieski Maya Mendizula" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved October 8, 2006.
  2. ^ "Béisbol Pitcheo Clasificatoria" (in Spanish). Retrieved October 10, 2006.
  3. ^ a b Wang, Gene (September 7, 2010). "Yuniesky Maya Mendizula debuts, but Nationals succumb to Mets, 4–1". Washington Post. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  4. ^ "El Nuevo Herald" (in Spanish). Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  5. ^ "Todo el mundo se prepara para la XXXVIII Copa" (in Spanish). Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  6. ^ "Cuban Colada: Star pitcher Maya emigrates – illegally". Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  7. ^ Rojas, Enrique (July 20, 2010). "Source: Maya signs with Nationals". ESPNdeportes.com. ESPN.com. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  8. ^ Rosenstein, Greg (July 31, 2010). "Cuban hurler Maya signs contract with Nats". mlb.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2010. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  9. ^ "Yuneski Maya". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  10. ^ Kilgore, Adam (May 29, 2011). "Yunesky Maya starts, and the Nationals lineup". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  11. ^ "Braves Sign Yunesky Maya". December 11, 2013.
  12. ^ "KBO's Doosan, Kia acquire new pitchers from overseas". July 25, 2014.
  13. ^ "Cuban-born Yunesky Maya throws no-hitter in S. Korean baseball league". April 9, 2015.
  14. ^ "Anthony Swarzak Signs with KBO's Doosan Bears". June 16, 2015.
  15. ^ "Major League Baseball Transactions". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  16. ^ "Yunesky Maya Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  17. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2016". baseballamerica.com. November 8, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  18. ^ "El pitcher cubano Yunesky Maya debuta con los Rieleros de Aguascalientes | Cubanos en México". July 12, 2018.
  19. ^ "August 2021 - Mexican League Transactions". Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  20. ^ "Diablos Rojos: Yunesky Maya es el segundo refuerzo extranjero". MiLB.com (in Spanish). December 14, 2022.
  21. ^ "Guerreros igualan serie en Monclova". elsiglodetorreon.com.mx. July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Última Hora: Yunesky Maya Firmó con Piratas para 2024". swingcompleto.com. February 13, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
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