| Pedro Feliciano | |
|---|---|
 Feliciano with theNew York Mets in 2009 | |
| Relief pitcher | |
| Born:(1976-08-25)August 25, 1976 Río Piedras, Puerto Rico | |
| Died: November 8, 2021(2021-11-08) (aged 45) Vega Alta, Puerto Rico | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: September 4, 2002, for the New York Mets | |
| NPB: April 17, 2005, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |
| Last appearance | |
| NPB: September 21, 2005, for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | |
| MLB: September 28, 2013, for the New York Mets | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 22–21 |
| Earned run average | 3.33 |
| Strikeouts | 350 |
| NPB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 3–2 |
| Earned run average | 3.89 |
| Strikeouts | 36 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Pedro Juan Feliciano Molina (August 25, 1976 – November 8, 2021) was a Puerto Rican baseballpitcher who played nine seasons inMajor League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "Perpetual Pedro",[1] he played for theNew York Mets from 2002 to 2004, from 2006 to 2010, and in 2013, as well as inNippon Professional Baseball for theFukuoka Daiei Hawks in 2005.
Feliciano was born inRío Piedras, Puerto Rico, on August 25, 1976. He graduated from Jose S. Algeria High School inDorado, Puerto Rico. He was selected by theLos Angeles Dodgers in the 31st round of the1995 Major League Baseball draft.[2]
Feliciano played seven seasons in the minor leagues from 1995 to 2002. He began his professional career with theGreat Falls Dodgers in thePioneer League.[3] After four years in the Rookie and Class A leagues,[3] he suffered a shoulder injury in1999 which prevented him from playing all season.[4] He returned in2000, pitching at the AA level, with one inning for the AAAAlbuquerque Dukes. In2001, he struggled in AAA after pitching well in AA.[3] After six years of service in the minor leagues without promotion to the Majors, he became a free agent.[2]
Feliciano signed with theCincinnati Reds for the2002 season, but was traded to theNew York Mets in August along withBrady Clark forShawn Estes.[5] He made his MLB debut on September 4, 2002,[2] pitching two scoreless innings of relief without giving up a hit and striking out two in an 11–3 win over theFlorida Marlins.[6] The Mets designated Feliciano for assignment to make room on their 40-man roster following the conclusion of the 2002 season, and he was claimed off waivers by theDetroit Tigers on October 11.[7] Two months later on December 16, the Tigers released Feliciano.[8]
The Mets re-signed Feliciano to a minor league contract on April 3, 2003.[9] Over the course of the next two seasons, he had mixed success with the Mets, being recalled from and optioned to the AAANorfolk Tides several times in2003 and2004.[10]
The Mets sold Feliciano's contract to theFukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the JapanesePacific League on January 24, 2005.[11] He spent the entire season with the Hawks, compiling a 3–2win–loss record, a 3.89earned run average (ERA), and 36strikeouts over 37innings pitched.[3]
Feliciano began his third stint with the Mets when he was re-signed on February 28, 2006,[2] a couple of weeks after the beginning of spring training. He initially started the season with theNorfolk Tides to make up for the time he had missed in spring training,[3] but he was recalled on April 17 and became a permanent fixture in the Mets bullpen as aleft-handed specialist.[12] He recorded his first major leaguesave against thePhiladelphia Phillies on June 30, 2007.[2][13] He operated in the bullpen as the Mets' primary situational left-hander in 2008 and 2009.[14]
Feliciano led the league ingames pitched from 2008 to 2010.[2] In 58 of those games in 2008, the greatest number in the majors, he recorded fewer than three outs. He also led MLB that year in days pitched on zero days rest (36).[15] His 92 appearances in 2010 was the fourth-most in major league history.[4] In that same year, he passedTom Seaver in games pitched for the Mets with 459.[16][17] He ultimately made 344 relief appearances from 2007 to 2010, the most in major league history over four consecutive seasons.[18][19] At the time of his death, Feliciano's 484 games pitched for the franchise was second all-time toJohn Franco (695).[20]
On January 3, 2011, Feliciano signed a two-year deal worth approximately $8 million with theNew York Yankees.[21][22] Early in the 2011 season, Feliciano began to experience soreness in his left shoulder and was placed on the disabled list.[23] In April, orthopedistJames Andrews recommended a six-week strengthening program for Feliciano.[24] The Yankees front office stated that the reason behind Feliciano's injury was that the Mets had overused him in the previous few years.[25] It was eventually revealed that Feliciano had a torn anterior capsule androtator cuff in his left shoulder, which required surgery, and ended his 2011 season.[26][27]
Feliciano began the 2012 season on the 60-day disabled list in an effort to continue recovering from his shoulder surgery from the previous year. Late in the 2012 season between August and September, Feliciano was issued to rehab at the Double-ATrenton Thunder.[28] Feliciano ultimately failed to make an appearance with the Yankees for the entire 2012 year. After the season, his contract expired, and he left the Yankees without throwing a single pitch for the team.[27]
On January 21, 2013, Feliciano signed a minor league deal with theNew York Mets.[2][29] He eventually made his first appearance of the season on August 2 with the Mets against theKansas City Royals and induced a ground out fromAlex Gordon in the top of the 9th inning.[30]
On May 25, 2014, Feliciano signed a minor league contract with theSt. Louis Cardinals.[2][31] He later signed a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs on February 4 the following year.[32]
Feliciano was married to Wanda.[33] Together, they had two children.[14]
Feliciano was diagnosed withleft ventricular noncompaction,[34] a rare genetic heart condition, in 2013[20] and wore a heart monitor that year.[35] He died on November 8, 2021, at his home in Puerto Rico.[34] He was 45 years old.[20][36]
[Iriki] was removed from the roster on April 17 to make room for the left-hander Pedro Feliciano.