Venezuelan baseball player (born 1978)
Baseball player
Yorvit Adolfo Torrealba
(
[?o??βit
tore?alβa]
; born July 19, 1978) is a Venezuelan former professional
baseball
catcher
. He played in
Major League Baseball
(MLB) for the
San Francisco Giants
,
Seattle Mariners
,
Colorado Rockies
,
San Diego Padres
,
Texas Rangers
,
Toronto Blue Jays
and
Milwaukee Brewers
. He bats and throws right-handed.
Professional career
[
edit
]
San Francisco Giants
[
edit
]
Torrealba signed with the
San Francisco Giants
as a minor league
free agent
on September 14, 1994. He made his major league debut with the Giants on September 5, 2001, as a September call up. His first major league hit was a triple.
[1]
No other MLB player would record a triple for his first MLB hit until Jason Perry in 2008. Torrealba became the Giants back up catcher for the 2002 season after a strong spring training. During Torrealba's early career, his defensive abilities were his key strength, particularly his ability to throw out baserunners. He had 136 at-bats in 2001 and 200 in 2002.
[2]
During the 2002 postseason, Torrealba would still serve as the backup catcher although he made no appearances as the Giants lost the
2002 World Series
to the
Anaheim Angels
.
Yorvit showed some potential, but when
Benito Santiago
left via
free agency
in
2003
, the Giants opted to trade for
A. J. Pierzynski
rather than test Torrealba as a full-time player.
[3]
He continued to serve as the backup catcher when the Giants signed
Mike Matheny
prior to the
2005 season
; in fact, he played less than when Pierzynski was the starter. Torrealba expressed frustration over his lack of playing time to the media more than once, saying he believed he was capable of playing every day.
[4]
Manager
Felipe Alou
publicly discussed the possibility of converting Torrealba into a utility player to get him more playing time, but that never came to pass.
Seattle Mariners
[
edit
]
Torrealba was traded, along with
pitcher
Jesse Foppert
, to the Seattle Mariners for
outfielder
Randy Winn
at the trading deadline of the 2005 season.
[5]
The Mariners were in the midst of a 93-loss season and were rebuilding, and Torrealba competed for the opportunity to be Seattle's starting catcher.
Colorado Rockies
[
edit
]
After the 2005 season, the
Seattle Mariners
traded Torrealba to the
Colorado Rockies
for
Marcos Carvajal
after signing
Kenji Johjima
to be their starting catcher.
[6]
With the Rockies, Torrealba had a chance to be the starting catcher, but lost the job after he was injured prior to the 2006 season, establishing
Danny Ardoin
as the Rockies starting catcher. Torrealba's injury was a lingering shoulder injury that was caused by
overtraining
.
[3]
During November 2007, rumors that Torrealba would sign with the Mets intensified. Torrealba and the Mets agreed on a deal for $14.4 million over three years.
[7]
The deal had seemed to be done, but with the failing of Yorvit's physical he was never sent to New York.
[8]
[9]
Torrealba would later file a grievance against the Mets.
[10]
On November 29, 2007, he re-signed with the Rockies.
[11]
Torrealba began the
2007 season
for the Rockies platooning with rookie catcher
Chris Iannetta
. When Iannetta struggled, Torrealba won the starting job. On May 29, 2007, against the
St. Louis Cardinals
, Torrealba hit a
grand slam
, the 3rd of his career. He finished the season with a .255 average and 47 RBIs in 396 at-bats and he threw out only 17 percent of potential base-stealers, down from his success in previous seasons.
[2]
Torrealba had some big hits for the Rockies during late 2007, when the Rockies won 12 of their last 13 to force a one-game playoff against the
San Diego Padres
, which the Rockies won. Torrealba homered off
Jake Peavy
in that game. Torrealba also hit a 3-run home run off of former teammate
Livan Hernandez
in Game 3 of the
2007 National League Championship Series
.
[3]
Torrealba led the Rockies to the World Series for the first time ever but lost the series to the
Boston Red Sox
in a 4-game sweep.
Through the 2007 season, Torrealba posted a career .251
batting average
with 30
home runs
and 173
RBIs
in 440 games. As a catcher, he compiled a .997
fielding average
with only seventeen
errors
in 2587
chances
; Torrealba's defense has been above average throughout his career. He has thrown out over 32% of all baserunners attempting to steal. His ability to throw out runners was a career low 19.7% in 2007. Due to his impressive postseason play, Torrealba has recently been dubbed "Mr. Rocktober."
[2]
Torrealba has an unusual throwing motion, as he brings his hand to earside and then snaps his arm in a quick motion, although it seems to work for him, given his success at throwing out baserunners.
On November 6, 2009, the Rockies decided to go with youngster
Chris Iannetta
as their primary catcher and declined their 2010 contract option with Torrealba, making him a free agent.
San Diego Padres
[
edit
]
On February 9, 2010, Torrealba and the
San Diego Padres
signed a one-year contract with a mutual option for a second year.
[12]
In 2010, he batted .271, and led the league's catchers in fielding percentage, at .996.
[13]
Following the season, Torrealba declined the option, but was later offered arbitration by the Padres.
[14]
Texas Rangers
[
edit
]
Torrealba agreed to a two-year contract with the
Texas Rangers
for $6.25 million.
[15]
Torrealba homered in his second game with his new team.
In 2011, he batted .273 with 7 home runs.
[13]
On defense, he was third in the league in errors by a catcher, totalling 9 errors.
[13]
Torrealba led the Rangers into the postseason until the team lost the
2011 World Series
against the
St. Louis Cardinals
.
On July 30, 2012, Torrealba was designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers
[16]
He was released on August 8, 2012.
Toronto Blue Jays
[
edit
]
Torrealba signed a minor league contract with the
Toronto Blue Jays
on August 14, 2012, and reported to the
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
.
[17]
Torrealba was added to the 40 man roster and called up to the
Blue Jays
on August 21. On August 22, Torrealba played first base for the first time in his career.
[18]
Milwaukee Brewers
[
edit
]
On September 21, 2012, Torrealba was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations or a
player to be named later
.
[19]
He ended up appearing in six games for the Brewers, going 0-for-5 at the plate with one walk.
Second stint with the Colorado Rockies
[
edit
]
He signed a minor league contract with the
Colorado Rockies
on January 24, 2013.
[20]
In 61 games, Torrealba batted .240 and had 8 doubles and 16 RBIs for the Rockies.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
[
edit
]
Torrealba signed a minor league contract with the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
on January 31, 2014.
[21]
He got released and became a free agent on March 23.
[22]
Chicago Cubs
[
edit
]
Torrealba signed a minor league contract with the
Chicago Cubs
on June 12, 2014. He was released a month later.
Personal life
[
edit
]
Torrealba's parents gave him his name when they could not decide between Yorman and Victor. They decided to combine the two into "Yorvit".
[23]
Torrealba's parents still reside in Venezuela.
Torrealba has two sons named Yorvis Eduardo Torrealba (1997) and Julian Xavier Houston-Torrealba (2000).
[24]
In June 2009, Yorvit Torrealba was unexpectedly placed on the Rockies' restricted list. On June 4, 2009, it was announced that the reason for his absence was that his 11-year-old son and "his two uncles" had been kidnapped. The abductors set Yorvis and the other family members free without picking up the $50,000 that had been agreed upon. He then moved his son out of Venezuela to Miami.
[25]
Yorvis Eduardo tossed the first pitch in the third game of the 2009 National League Division Series against the Phillies,
[26]
and he was drafted by the Rockies in the 20th round of the
2019 MLB draft
.
[27]
Controversy
[
edit
]
On December 23, 2011, while playing for the
Leones del Caracas
in the
Venezuelan Winter League
regular season, Torrealba argued heatedly following a
strikeout
. He then was ejected by umpire Dario Rivero, Jr. Before leaving, he delivered a shot to Rivero in the head. Torrealba claimed that his attack on the umpire was because of a disputed strike call prior to striking out. As a result, the league suspended Torrealba for 66 games, which did not carry over to
Major League Baseball
or any other baseball circuit.
[28]
See also
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
"Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants Box Score, September 5, 2001"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
May 23,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
c
"ESPN ? Yorvit Torrealba Stats, News, Photos ? Colorado Rockies ? MLB Baseball"
. Sports.espn.go.com
. Retrieved
April 3,
2011
.
- ^
a
b
c
Schulman, Henry (October 16, 2007).
"NLCS NOTEBOOK / Torrealba not Rockies' first choice"
.
The San Francisco Chronicle
.
- ^
Schulman, Henry (February 19, 2005).
"Yorvit accepts role, plays waiting game"
.
The San Francisco Chronicle
.
- ^
Henry Schulman (October 16, 2007).
"NLCS NOTEBOOK / Torrealba not Rockies' first choice"
. Sfgate.com
. Retrieved
April 3,
2011
.
- ^
"Yorvit Torrealba Stats"
.
Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
May 23,
2022
.
- ^
Andrew Marchand.
"Torrealba, Mets agree on contract"
. recordonline.com
. Retrieved
April 3,
2011
.
- ^
Shpigel, Ben (November 18, 2007).
"Torrealba Out of Mets' Picture"
.
The New York Times
.
- ^
Rubin, Adam (November 17, 2007).
"Mets' deal with Yorvit Torrealba is dead"
.
Daily News
. New York.
- ^
"Torrealba's agent files grievance over deal collapse ? MLB ? ESPN"
. Sports.espn.go.com. May 16, 2008
. Retrieved
April 3,
2011
.
- ^
Stapleton, Arnie (November 29, 2007).
"Rockies re-sign catcher Yorvit Torrealba to 2-year deal"
.
USA Today
.
- ^
"San Diego Padres to add catcher Yorvit Torrealba with 1-year contract ? ESPN"
. Sports.espn.go.com. February 5, 2010
. Retrieved
April 3,
2011
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Yorvit Torrealba Statistics and History"
. Baseball-Reference.com
. Retrieved
October 3,
2011
.
- ^
"Padres offer arbitration to 3 free agents"
.
The Columbian
. Vancouver, Washington.
Associated Press
. November 24, 2010
. Retrieved
May 23,
2022
.
- ^
"Rangers fill catching void with Torrealba | texasrangers.com: News"
. Texas.rangers.mlb.com. Archived from
the original
on October 6, 2012
. Retrieved
April 3,
2011
.
- ^
Pouliot, Matthew (July 30, 2012).
"Cubs send Paul Maholm, Reed Johnson to Atlanta; Geovany Soto to Texas"
.
NBC Sports
.
- ^
Chisholm, Gregor (August 14, 2012).
"Mathis signs two-year extension; Torrealba added"
.
MLB.com
. Archived from
the original
on August 17, 2012
. Retrieved
August 24,
2012
.
- ^
Lott, John (August 22, 2012).
"Injuries, losses pile up as Jays fall to Tigers"
.
NationalPost.com
. Archived from
the original
on January 29, 2013
. Retrieved
August 24,
2012
.
- ^
Harrison, Doug (September 21, 2012).
"Blue Jays deal Yorvit Torrealba to playoff-contending Brewers"
.
CBC
. Retrieved
September 21,
2012
.
- ^
Rockies Agree To Sign Yorvit Torrealba
- ^
DiGiovanna, Mike (January 31, 2014).
"Angels sign veteran catcher Yorvit Torrealba to minor league deal"
.
Los Angeles Times
. Retrieved
March 23,
2014
.
- ^
"Angels release Carlos Pena, Chad Tracy, Torrealba"
.
ESPN.com
. Associated Press. March 23, 2014
. Retrieved
March 23,
2014
.
- ^
"MLB4U.com's blog"
.
Mariners Catcher Yorvit Torrealba got his name when his parents couldn't pick between their favorites: Victor and Yorman, a popular choice in his native Venezuela. They combined the two, and came out with Yorvit.
- ^
"Torrealba Stats , Bio, Photos, Highlights"
. Mlb.mlb.com
. Retrieved
April 3,
2011
.
- ^
"Colorado Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba discusses son's abduction for first time"
. June 14, 2009.
- ^
Thomas Harding / MLB.com.
"Torrealba's son throws out first pitch | MLB.com: News"
. Mlb.mlb.com
. Retrieved
April 3,
2011
.
- ^
"The Story Behind Yorvis Torrealba, Son of Yorvit & Rockies Draft Choice"
.
All Things Rockies
. Inside the Seams. June 6, 2019. Archived from
the original
on July 17, 2020
. Retrieved
May 23,
2022
– via
Sports Illustrated
.
- ^
YouTube.com ? Yorvit Torrealba agrede al umpire principal en juego Leones-Caribes
(Spanish)
External links
[
edit
]