| Ariel Prieto | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1969-10-22)October 22, 1969 (age 56) Havana,Cuba | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 2, 1995, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 10, 2001, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 15–24 |
| Earned run average | 4.85 |
| Strikeouts | 231 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
As Coach | |
Ariel Prieto (born October 22, 1969) is a Cuban former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) from 1995 to 2001 for theOakland Athletics andTampa Bay Devil Rays. He is currently the pitching coach for theGCL Mets.
Prieto played baseball both for Fajardo University, located inSantiago de Cuba,[1] and forPiratas de Isla de la Juventud in theCuban National Series,[2] awinter baseball league in Cuba. Concerned that he would be unable to leave Cuba if he was highly valued as an athlete, Prieto intentionally pitched poorly during the winter of 1994.[3] Prieto and his wife were grantedvisas to travel outside of Cuba in April 1995, and they relocated to Florida.[3]
Prieto was selected fifth overall in the1995 MLB draft by theOakland Athletics. He made his major-league debut for the Athletics that July. Prieto, being unfamiliar with American banks and credit cards, walked around with his $1.2 million signing-bonus check in his pocket for over a week.[4] He won two games and lost six, becoming one of the few players to be drafted and then play in MLB during the same season. In 1996, Prieto had what was arguably his best season, winning 6 games and losing 7 with anearned run average (ERA) of 4.15.
Prieto was traded to theTampa Bay Devil Rays before the 2001 season. With the Devil Rays, Prieto saw action in three games, without any decisions, allowing oneearned run in3+2⁄3innings pitched. His one season with the Devil Rays was his last season in the major leagues. Prieto played inMexico during the middle 2000s, playing with theVenados de Mazatlán, a team that he also played for in theCaribbean World Series, held that year inVenezuela. During six MLB seasons, Prieto won 15 games and lost 24, with an overall 4.85 ERA.
Prieto played professionally until 2005 inMinor League Baseball,[2] without returning to MLB.
Prieto spent the 2009 through 2011 seasons as the pitching coach for the Athletics' Arizona League team.[5]
On November 10, 2011, Prieto was announced as the pitching coach for the Vermont Lake Monsters, the Athletics'New York–Penn League (Single A, short season) team.[6]
From 2012 to 2015, Prieto served as interpreter for fellow Cuban defector,New York Mets outfielderYoenis Céspedes.[7]
In 2015, Prieto was hired as a coach for theArizona Diamondbacks. He was let go in 2017.
Prieto was named as the pitching coach for theGCL Mets of theNew York Mets organization for the 2018 season.
· Baseball Almanac