| Víctor Zambrano | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1975-08-06)August 6, 1975 (age 50) Los Teques,Venezuela | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 21, 2001, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 30, 2007, for the Baltimore Orioles | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 45–44 |
| Earned run average | 4.64 |
| Strikeouts | 529 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Víctor Manuel Zambrano (born August 6, 1975) is a Venezuelan former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played all or parts of seven seasons inMajor League Baseball (MLB) from 2001 to 2007 for theTampa Bay Devil Rays,New York Mets,Toronto Blue Jays, andBaltimore Orioles.
Zambrano had a good repertoire and an aggressive pitching approach,[citation needed] using his 92–95 mph sinkingfastball, achangeup, and occasionally a qualityslider. He was a convertedinfielder who fielded his position well and did a decent job holding on runners.[citation needed] However, his effectiveness was hampered by a lack of control.
Zambrano was originally signed as a free agent by theNew York Yankees in 1993. He started his professional career in 1994 with theGCL Yankees, but was released by the team prior to the 1996 season. He was signed by theTampa Bay Devil Rays, then spent the next several seasons working his way up through theirminor league organization before making his major league debut in 2001.
In 2003, he led theAmerican League inwalks,wild pitches, andhit batsmen, and in walks again in 2004, despite being traded to theNational League at midseason. TheNew York Mets acquired him, along with relieverBartolomé Fortunato, in a highly criticized deal for top-ranked[1] pitching prospectScott Kazmir and minor league pitcherJoselo Diaz.
On May 6, 2006, Zambrano suffered a torn flexortendon in his pitching elbow, disabling him for the rest of the 2006 season.[2] Doctors unexpectedly found a torn elbowligament during surgery on May 15, resulting in the secondTommy John elbow surgery of his career. Zambrano was expected to be sidelined well into the 2007 season, and he was non-tendered by the Mets, and became a free agent in December 2006.
On January 30, 2007, Zambrano signed a minor league contract, with an invitation to Major Leaguespring training with theToronto Blue Jays.[3] He appeared in only eight games (two of them starts), before he was released on July 9. After signing a minor league contract with thePittsburgh Pirates, his contract was purchased by theBaltimore Orioles on September 9, 2007. For the rest of the 2007 season, he appeared in 5 games for the Orioles, made 2 starts, and was 0–1 with a 9.49 ERA. Following the 2007 season, he was released by the Orioles on October 1.
On February 5, 2008, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Colorado Rockies. On June 7, 2008, the Rockies released him. He signed with theNew York Yankees on July 31, 2008, and became a free agent at the end of the season.
Zambrano began the 2009 season in theMexican League with theSultanes de Monterrey. After appearing in 16 games with the Sultanes, he signedLa New Bears of Taiwan'sChinese Professional Baseball League in August. He made his debut on September 1, pitching six innings with two earned runs. He lost to theUni Lions'Nerio Rodríguez 9 to 5.
After the 2009 season ended and no team had picked Zambrano up, he decided to retire from baseball. He briefly attempted a comeback in theMexican League in 2010 with theDorados de Chihuahua, but was let go after appearing in eight games with an ERA of 7.02. He has not pitched professionally since.
Victor has often mistakenly been thought to be related to formerChicago Cubs andMiami Marlins pitcherCarlos Zambrano.[citation needed] Both Carlos and Víctor Zambrano are Venezuelan. Although they lived just an hour away from each other as children, they never knew each other.[citation needed]
In October 2009, his mother was kidnapped. She was rescued three days later by members of the Venezuelan national police. Three suspects were arrested. A fourth is still at large.[4]
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