| Alfredo Aceves | |
|---|---|
 Aceves with the New York Yankees | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1982-12-08)8 December 1982 (age 42) San Luis Río Colorado,Sonora, Mexico | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| 31 August, 2008, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| 2 June, 2014, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 31–16 |
| Earned run average | 3.83 |
| Strikeouts | 282 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Alfredo Aceves Martínez (born 8 December 1982) is a Mexican former professionalbaseballpitcher. He pitched inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theNew York Yankees andBoston Red Sox.
Aceves used afastball, which could reach the mid 90s, acurveball, achangeup, and acut fastball. He was known for his control and his ability to throw any pitch in any count.[1]
Aceves was signed by theToronto Blue Jays as an amateur free agent in2001. He made ten starts in theDominican Summer League that year. However, Aceves felt isolated, and when the Blue Jays assigned him to stay in the DSL for2002, Aceves stayed in Mexico, and his contract was purchased by theYucatán Leones of theMexican League.[2] Aceves pitched for Yucatán andSultanes de Monterrey for the next six seasons.
Yankees scout Lee Sigman followed Aceves in the Mexican League, feeling he could achieve similar success asTeddy Higuera, who Sigman had signed for theMilwaukee Brewers.[2] Feeling that he had developed well in the Mexican League, the Yankees purchased Aceves, along withManny Banuelos and two other players, for $450,000 during the 2007–08 offseason.[2][3] He began2008 with the Single-A AdvancedTampa Yankees. He was quickly promoted to the Double-ATrenton Thunder andTriple-AScranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. He was namedEastern League pitcher of the week for the week ending 25 May 2008.[4]
After going a combined 8–6 with a 2.62earned run average (ERA) on the three Yankee farm teams, Aceves was called up to the Yankees on 28 August,2008. On 31 August, Aceves made his Yankee and major league debut, pitching two scoreless innings inrelief as the Yankees lost to the Blue Jays, 6–2.[5]
After pitching effectively through his first few relief appearances, Aceves was moved to the rotation in replacement ofDarrell Rasner.[6] In his first career start, he pitched seven innings of one-run ball with twostrikeouts against theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim, earning thewin.[7]
After starting the2009 season in the minors, Aceves rejoined the Yankees on 4 May.[8] Due to his ability to pitch effectively in any situation, Aceves has drawn comparisons to former Yankee reliever and spot starterRamiro Mendoza.[9]
Aceves made ten relief appearances in 2010 before succumbing to a strained lower back that ended his season. He suffered a broken collarbone in an off-season bicycle accident.[10] He was non-tendered after the season.[11]
Aceves was signed to a major league deal by theBoston Red Sox on 8 February 2011.[12] On 21 April, he was optioned to theTriple-APawtucket Red Sox to make room forMatt Albers on the roster.[13] On 6 May, Aceves was called back up, and on 16 May, he won his first game with the Red Sox.[14] Between then and 1 September, Aceves had a 9–1 record out of the bullpen for Boston.
After an injury toAndrew Bailey, Aceves was named the acting closer for the beginning of the 2012 season,[15] but had a slow start, surrendering the game-winning hit on Opening Day and allowing a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of the third game of the season. In late August, once Bailey returned from his injury, he took the closer role back. Aceves also had a year-long feud with managerBobby Valentine that resulted in a brief suspension. There were also multiple on- and off-field confrontations.[16]
After five games in 2013, which included three starts, Aceves was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on 25 April two days after giving away eight runs in3+1⁄3 innings against theOakland Athletics.[17] Aceves was recalled on 24 May for a one-off start against thePhiladelphia Phillies.[18] Despite the win, he was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on 28 May.[19] He was recalled again on 12 June,[20] and returned to Pawtucket the next day. He was recalled on 7 July whenAndrew Miller suffered a year-ending foot injury.[21] He was optioned three days later.[22] On 14 July, Aceves was outrighted off the 40-man roster after clearing waivers.[23] He elected free agency on 4 October.
Aceves signed a minor league deal with theBaltimore Orioles in January 2014.[24] Aceves took a short break from 2014 Spring training to return to Mexico to obtain a work visa.[25] After learning that he would not make the Orioles roster near the end of Spring training, Aceves elected to opt out of his contract, making him a free agent.[26]
Aceves signed a minor league deal with the Yankees on 28 March 2014.[27] He received a promotion to the major leagues on 3 May,[28][29] and was designated for assignment on 4 June.[30] On 3 July, he was suspended for 50 games for failing a drug test for recreational drugs.[31] He was released on 27 August.[32]
Aceves signed a minor league deal with theSan Francisco Giants on 7 March 2015.[33] The Giants assigned him to theSultanes de Monterrey of theMexican League for the 2015 season.[34][35] He was suspended for the remainder of the season in June for his confrontation with anumpire.[36] In 2015 he pitched in 11 games 10 starts and threw 53 innings going 3–4 with a 3.40 ERA and 25 strikeouts. He resigned on 5 April 2015. In 2016 he made 10 starts throwing 56.2 innings going 4–3 with a 3.81 ERA and 29 strikeouts. He was released on 16 May 2017 after struggling in 3 starts 11.1 innings going 0–0 with a 6.35 ERA and 6 strikeouts.[37]
On 19 May 2017, Aceves signed with theSaraperos de Saltillo of theMexican Baseball League. He was released on 11 July 2017.[37] In 8 games 7 starts and 39.1 innings he struggled going 1–5 with a 6.41 ERA and 18 strikeouts.
Aceves married his wife Arley in November 2008, after proposing to her during a Trenton Thunder game during the 2008 season.[2][38] His father, Alfredo Aceves Sr., was afirst baseman in the Mexican League. His older brother, Jonathan Aceves, was a minor leaguecatcher in theChicago White Sox organization, for theNaranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League and for theSaraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League.[2] Aceves wears #91, a number worn byDennis Rodman, whom Aceves admires.[2] Aceves' son Apollo was born on 1 August 2013.[39]
