| Bronson Arroyo | |
|---|---|
 Arroyo with the Cincinnati Reds in 2011 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1977-02-24)February 24, 1977 (age 48) Key West, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 12, 2000, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 18, 2017, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 148–137 |
| Earned run average | 4.28 |
| Strikeouts | 1,571 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Bronson Anthony Arroyo (born February 24, 1977) is an American former professional baseballpitcher and musician. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for thePittsburgh Pirates between 2000 and 2002, theBoston Red Sox from 2003 to 2005, theCincinnati Reds from 2006 to 2013, theArizona Diamondbacks in 2014, and the Reds again in 2017. He won the2004 World Series with Boston.
Arroyo was born February 24, 1977, inKey West, Florida, to parents Gus and Julie. Arroyo's father is originally fromCuba. Arroyo later moved from Key West, Florida, toBrooksville, Florida, where he attendedHernando High School.[1] At Hernando, he was named to the Class 4A all-state first team in 1995.[2] At 13 years old, Arroyo wasPONY teammates withA. J. Pierzynski.[3] As of 2004, Arroyo was third all-time in scoring for Hernando'sbasketball team.[4] He signed aletter of intent to playcollege baseball as a pitcher atSouth Florida, turning down offers fromGeorgia Tech andGeorgia Southern.[5]
ThePittsburgh Pirates selected Arroyo in the third round of the1995 Major League Baseball draft. Arroyo made his major league debut with Pittsburgh on June 12, 2000. During his rookie season in 2000, Arroyo was 2–6 with a 6.40earned run average (ERA) in 20 appearances (12 starts). Playing 24 games (13 started) in 2001, Arroyo compiled a 5–7 record and a 5.09 ERA. Limited in playing time due to injuries and time in the minors, Arroyo played nine games (four started) in 2002 going 2–1 with a 4.00 ERA.
Before the 2003 season, theBoston Red Sox claimed Arroyo from the Pirates off ofwaivers.[6] Pitching inTriple-A for thePawtucket Red Sox, Arroyo pitched the fourth nine-inningperfect game in the 121-year history of theInternational League on August 10, 2003. He struck out nine, and went to a three-ball count to just three hitters all game long.[7] He made six appearances in the majors, posting a 2.08 ERA and recording his first careersave.
Arroyo improved in 2004, jumping frommiddle relief to be the Red Sox No. 5 starter. On July 24, 2004, Arroyo hitAlex Rodriguez with a pitch, which led to a bench-clearing brawl. He compiled a 10–9 mark with a 4.03 ERA in178+2⁄3 innings, while posting a respectable 3.02strikeout-to-walk ratio (142-to-47). He led the majors with hitting batsmen with pitches, totaling 20 hit by pitches. Arroyo also got his first and only championship title when the Red Sox won the World Series against theSt. Louis Cardinals. Arroyo made two starts and four relief appearances in the postseason, compiling a 0–0 record with twoholds and a 7.82 ERA for the2004 World Series champion Red Sox. A memorable and controversial play occurred involving Arroyo during Game 6 of the2004 American League Championship Series, whenAlex Rodriguez knocked away the ball from Arroyo's glove while he attempted to apply a tag. The umpires reversed the ruling that Rodriguez was safe, forcingDerek Jeter to return to first base and calling Rodriguez out on the play for runner interference.[8]
Arroyo's most productive season came in 2005, when he posted career highs up to that time inwins (14), starts (32), innings (205.1) andpitching appearances (35). He also excelled at holding runners, as he only gave up fivestolen bases. Before the 2006 season, Arroyo signed a three-year, $11.25 million contract with the Red Sox.[9] Arroyo said the deal was a "hometown discount" and agreed to the terms against the advice of his agent.[10][11]
Duringspring training before the 2006 season, the Red Sox traded Arroyo to theCincinnati Reds foroutfielderWily Mo Peña.[12] 2006 was a high point in Arroyo's career. Highlights of the season included a league-leading240+2⁄3 innings pitched, a selection to the All-Star game, as well as his first career shutout in the major leagues. He finished 2006 with a 14–11 record and an ERA of 3.29.
In February 2007, Arroyo signed a contract extension with the Cincinnati Reds which kept him with the organization through the 2010 season, with an option for the year 2011.[9] He finished the 2007 season 9-15 and a 4.23 ERA.
Arroyo pitched exactly 200 innings in 2008 by going 15–11 with a 4.77 ERA. During the season, Arroyo gave up 6 or more runs in a game 7 times in 34 starts including a game on June 24 against theToronto Blue Jays where he gave up 11 earned runs in 1 inning of work (he pitched into the second inning without recording an out).
Arroyo was diagnosed withcarpal tunnel syndrome in his pitching hand during the 2008–09 offseason. As a result, he missed games during the 2009spring training, as well as being advised to stop playing guitar until the symptoms disappeared. After a sub-par first half of the 2009 season, Arroyo turned in an excellent second half, lowering his ERA from the 5's to the 3's, throwing multiple shutouts and complete games, and putting himself in position to be the Reds top starter in 2010 sinceEdinson Vólquez, the #1 starter in 2009, was out for the start of the season following Tommy John surgery. Arroyo finished the 2009 year with 2 shutouts, a 15–13 record, and a 3.84 ERA.
In 2010, Arroyo was chosen as the #2 starter in the Reds' first playoff series in 15 years. He pitched5+1⁄3 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing one earned run and leaving with the lead. However, he would earn a no-decision as the Reds went on to lose the game. Arroyo won his first Gold Glove on November 10, 2010, the first by a Reds pitcher sinceHarvey Haddix in 1958. He finished the 2010 year 17-10 and a 3.88 ERA.
The Reds exercised the 2011 option on Arroyo's contract on November 3, 2010.[13] After exercising his option, the Reds and Arroyo agreed on a three-year, $35 million contract extension, keeping him with the team through 2013. On March 26, 2011, Arroyo was diagnosed withmononucleosis, a condition where there is a high lymphocytes count in the blood from anEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Arroyo finished the 2011 season 9-12 and a 5.07 ERA. He led the Majors with home runs allowed as he surrendered a total of 46 home runs.
Arroyo finished the 2012 season by going 12–10 with a 3.74 ERA. Arroyo was chosen by Reds' managerDusty Baker to start Game 2 of the2012 National League Division Series versus theSan Francisco Giants. He took aperfect game into the fifth inning, and allowed only two base-runners (a base hit with two outs in the fifth, and a walk in the seventh) in seven scoreless innings. The Reds won the game 9–0 to take a 2–0 series lead. The win was Arroyo's first in thirteen postseason appearances, including five starts.
Arroyo finished the 2013 season with an ERA of 3.79 and a win–loss record of 14–12. He also was the league leader in home runs allowed, giving up 32 long balls. Although the numbers paint a picture of a subpar pitching year, Arroyo managed to throw one shutout and two complete games in his age 36 season. In the offseason Arroyo elected to test free agency.
On February 7, 2014, the Diamondbacks agreed to terms with Arroyo on a 2-year contract with $23.5 million guaranteed.[14][15]
On June 16, Arroyo was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career, after leaving a start early against the Dodgers with an elbow injury.[16] It was announced on July 7 that Arroyo would be undergoingTommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL, forcing him out for the remainder of the 2014 season. In 14 starts of the 2014 year, he went 7–4 with a 4.08 ERA.
Arroyo did not make an appearance during the 2015 season, continuing his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
On June 20, 2015, Arroyo, along withTouki Toussaint, was traded to theAtlanta Braves forPhil Gosselin.[17]
On July 30, 2015, in a three-team trade, theLos Angeles Dodgers acquired Arroyo,Mat Latos,Michael Morse,Alex Wood,Jim Johnson,Luis Avilán, andJosé Peraza, while theMiami Marlins acquired minor league pitchers Victor Araujo,Jeff Brigham, and Kevin Guzman, and the Braves receivedHéctor Olivera,Paco Rodriguez, minor league pitcher Zachary Bird and a competitive balance draft pick for the2016 MLB draft.[18] He did not appear in any games in 2015 for any team and the Dodgers declined his 2016 option, making him a free agent.[19]
On January 26, 2016, Arroyo signed a minor league contract with theWashington Nationals that included an invitation to major league spring training.[20][21] He pitched only 9 innings in the organization, in theGulf Coast League, and was shut down due to elbow soreness. On October 11, 2016, Arroyo was released.
Arroyo revealed that his previous elbow problems have been relieved by stem-cell injections he received in August.[22] On February 2, 2017, Arroyo signed a minor league contract with theCincinnati Reds that included an invitation to spring training.[22][23] On June 19, Arroyo was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right shoulder injury, and he admitted that he was contemplating retirement, stating "I don't see myself ponying it up next year."[24][25] Arroyo declined the opportunity to pitch one inning in September to close out his career, as he wanted to give a chance to a younger pitcher. On September 23, the Reds honored Arroyo with "Kickin' it With Bronson" night. Prior to the game, a ceremony was held with video tributes from managerBryan Price and singerEddie Vedder.[26] After the game, Arroyo held a concert on the field, performingPearl Jam covers with his band. Arroyo ended the season with a 3–6 record and 7.35 ERA in 14 starts.[27] On September 24, he officially announced his retirement.[28]
A day after reports claimed former Red Sox teammateDavid Ortiz was among 104 Major League players to have failed drug tests in 2003, Arroyo revealed he had usedandrostenedione andamphetamines in his career. Arroyo remarked that he would not be surprised if he was among the 104 players that failed tests, as he suspected the androstenedione he was taking may have been tainted with steroids.[29]
His name was not among those revealed in theMitchell Report.
Arroyo'sfastball was in the 85–89 miles per hour range. While this is considered below average speed among major league pitchers, his fastball had excellent movement and Arroyo was adept at "spotting" it. He also threw a hardslider that moved away from right-handed batters, and a straightchangeup as well. Arroyo's best pitch was hiscurveball, which he threw from multiple arm angles and was known to throw it in any count. The angle of the curveball itself could vary from a straight12–6 to a sweeping 1–7. Arroyo's delivery was somewhat unusual; he incorporated a large leg kick in his pitching motion, extending his front leg completely straight and lifting it up to a level above his waist before delivering the ball. His kick often appeared to reach head level and deceives hitters with its exaggerated motion. From the stretch position with runners on base, his leg-kick was much less pronounced and his delivery to home plate was very quick by major league standards. As a result, Arroyo was one of the better pitchers at holding runners on base.
In 2005, Bronson Arroyo released his debut album,Covering the Bases. It included covers from bands such asPearl Jam,Alice in Chains,Stone Temple Pilots,Foo Fighters andIncubus. The album also includes the Red Sox victory song "Dirty Water" byThe Standells, in which Arroyo is accompanied byJohnny Damon,Lenny DiNardo, andKevin Youkilis. He also taughtKevin Millar how to play guitar and performed vocals for the song "Tessie" as covered by theDropkick Murphys.
In 2008, commercials for JTM Food Group featuring a 'music video' by Arroyo; also featuringFSN Ohio color analyst and formerCincinnati Reds playerChris Welsh began airing duringCincinnati Reds games.
Arroyo appears as a vocalist on the song "Since You" on Chad Perrone's album,Wake.[30]
Bronson made his public debut on stage in January 2004 at the Hot Stove Cool Music fundraiser at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. He performed a cover of Pearl Jam's "Black" with teammate Kevin Millar. He later performed full sets at four other Hot Stove Cool Music events with a full band that featured saxophonist Elan Trotman and two members of Gnarls Barkley (drummer Eric Gardner and guitaristClint Walsh).
In July 2020, Arroyo collaborated with classical pianistHarrison Sheckler to create avirtual choir recording of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". Current and former players, including Cy Young winnerBret Saberhagen, as well as announcers and other baseball personalities, were among the final 200 participants in the choir.[31]
In 2024, Arroyo competed inseason twelve of "The Masked Singer" as "Sherlock Hound" and hadBarry Zito (who competed inseason three as "Rhino") serving as his Mask Ambassador. He was eliminated in "Group C Finals:Peanuts Thanksgiving" alongsideJana Kramer as "Royal Knight".[32]
Arroyo was married to Aimee Faught from 2000 to 2008.[33] He resides in theCincinnati area with his wife Nicole McNees, who he married in 2021.[34]
Arroyo appeared on the 2023 ballot for theNational Baseball Hall of Fame. He received one vote (0.3%), thus dropping off future ballots.[35]
On October 26, 2023, Arroyo was inducted into theCincinnati Reds team Hall of Fame.[36]
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