| Pedro Strop | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Strop with theChicago Cubs in 2017 | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1985-06-13)June 13, 1985 (age 40) San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| August 28, 2009, for the Texas Rangers | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| April 16, 2021, for the Chicago Cubs | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 29–30 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.20 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 554 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Pedro Ángel Strop (born June 13, 1985) is a Dominican former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theTexas Rangers,Baltimore Orioles,Cincinnati Reds, andChicago Cubs.
Strop originally signed as an international free agent with theColorado Rockies in2002. He was a position player in the minor leagues from 2002 to 2005, primarily playing shortstop. Strop moved from shortstop to pitching in 2006 due to posting poor hitting numbers.[1] The Rockies released him on September 19, 2008.
Strop signed with theTexas Rangers as a free agent on September 23, 2008. On August 28, 2009, he made his MLB debut and struck out his first batter, futureHall of FamerJoe Mauer. Strop appeared in seven games in2009, pitching seven innings. He gave up six hits, six runs, and four walks and had an ERA of 7.71. He struck out nine batters.
Strop pitched for the Rangers on June 2, 2010, against theWhite Sox in which he struck out one batter and walked a batter, then went back to the minors. After Texas traded forBengie Molina, Strop returned to the majors.[2] He pitched in three games before returning to the minors, when other trades were made. As of his last appearance on July 9 againstBaltimore, he appeared in four games overall in the2010 season, pitching 3.2 innings while giving up three hits and a run. He walked three batters and struck out three batters.
On August 31, 2011, Strop was traded from the Rangers to theBaltimore Orioles as theplayer to be named later in the trade forMike Gonzalez.[3] He finished the season going 2–0 for Baltimore with a 0.73 ERA. His pitching success continued for the majority of 2012.Through August 15, Strop hadd a 1.20 ERA primarily as a set up man to closerJim Johnson. But over the final six weeks of the season, Strop's ERA was 7.24 with anOPS against of .916.[4] He picked up a win against the Yankees pitching two innings in extra innings in theAmerican League Division Series playoffs.
Though he pitched well in theWorld Baseball Classic prior to the start of the 2013 season, Strop's late season 2012 struggles continued. In 29 games for the Orioles, Strop went 0–3 with a 7.25 ERA.[5] Baltimore crowds began to boo the reliever, and Strop said of the booing, "They [the fans] don't care about players, they care about good results."[6] About two weeks after his comments, Strop was traded.
On July 2, 2013, Strop was traded along withJake Arrieta to the Cubs in exchange forScott Feldman andSteve Clevenger. Strop primarily served in thesetup role for the Cubs. In 37 appearances with the Cubs to finish 2013, Strop had a 2–2 record and a 2.83 ERA. Overall in 2013, combined with both teams, Strop made 66 total appearances with a 2–5 record and a 4.55 ERA.
In 2014, Strop made 65 appearances with a 2–4 record and a 2.21 ERA.
In 2015, Strop made 76 appearances with a 2–6 record, a 2.91 ERA, and 81 strikeouts.
In 2016, Strop made 54 appearances with a 2–2 record and a 2.85 ERA. The Cubs would eventually win theWorld Series, giving Strop his first World Series title.[7]
In 2017, Strop made 69 appearances with a 5–4 record, 65 strikeouts and a 2.83 ERA.
In 2018, Strop had one of his best seasons as a professional. He appeared in 60 games with a 6–1 record, 57 strikeouts, a career-high 13 saves, and a 2.26 ERA, the second best of his career.
In 2019, Strop had arguably his worst season as a professional. He appeared in only 50 games, his fewest since 2011. He finished the season with a 2–5 record, 49 strikeouts, 10 saves, and a 4.97 ERA, the worst of his career.[8]
On January 30, 2020, Strop was signed by theCincinnati Reds for a one-year, $1.8 million contract.[9] Strop was designated for assignment by the Reds on August 26 and released on August 31.
On September 4, 2020, Strop signed a minor league contract to return to theChicago Cubs. He joined the team at their alternate training site but did not join the big league team.[10] He became a free agent on November 2.[11]
On February 27, 2021, Strop re-signed with the Cubs organization on a minor league contract that included a Spring Training invitation. If he made the major league roster, he would earn a $800,000 salary.[12][13] On April 12, Strop was selected to the active roster.[14] Strop was removed from the 40-man roster on April 17 after 2 scoreless innings in 2 appearances.[14] On May 5, Strop requested and was granted his release from the organization.[15]
On June 24, 2021, Strop signed with theSultanes de Monterrey of theMexican League.[16] Strop made 12 appearances for Monterrey, logging a 3.21 ERA with 16 strikeouts and three saves in 14 innings pitched. He was released by the team on March 1, 2022.[17]
On May 6, 2023, Strop announced via Twitter that he was attempting a comeback.[18]
On May 16, 2023, Strop signed with theToros de Tijuana of theMexican League.[19] In 40 games for Tijuana, he compiled a 4–5 record and 4.38 ERA with 51 strikeouts across 39 innings pitched. Strop became a free agent following the season.
Strop was born in the Dominican Republic to a Curaçaoan father, making him eligible to represent theDominican Republic,Curaçao, andthe Netherlands in international competition.[20] In 2013, Strop pitched as a reliever in theWorld Baseball Classic for the championship-winning Dominican Republic.
At the2023 World Baseball Classic, Strop represented the Netherlands.[21]
Strop is known for the unique way he wears his hat while pitching, slightly crooked to his left, similar to that ofFernando Rodney. Strop has said, "It goes back to when I was a little kid ... If you see pictures of me in baseball or out of baseball, my hat is like that or backwards."[22]
