Teddy Higuera

Teodoro Higuera Valenzuela (born November 9, 1958) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for nine years (1985–1991 and 1993–1994) for the Milwaukee Brewers, at that time of the American League.

Early career

In 1983, the Brewers purchased his contract from Indios de Ciudad Juárez of the Mexican League. After one year in the minor leagues, Higuera earned a spot in the team's 1985 rotation after winning a competition with Japanese pitcher Yutaka Enatsu. In his first season with Milwaukee, he posted a 15–8 record with a 3.90 ERA en route to winning The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award in 1985.

1986 was one of Higuera's best seasons. He had his only 20-win season, going 20–11 with 207 strikeouts and a 2.79 ERA. It was the first 20-win season by a Mexican-born pitcher in the American League. That season, he was also selected for his only All-Star Game appearance. In the game, Fernando Valenzuela struck Higuera out in the fifth inning to tie Carl Hubbell's record with five consecutive strikeouts.^[1]

He followed up his 1986 campaign by winning 18 games in 1987 and setting team marks for strikeouts (240) and consecutive scoreless innings (32).^[2]

Over his first four years in the league, Higuera had a won loss record of 69–38, 766 strikeouts and a 3.25 ERA and was poised for greater success. However, he began to suffer injury problems that would limit his playing time.

Injuries and retirement

Back surgery and sprained ankles limited him to 22 starts in 1989, although he came back to go 9–6. He was healthy for most of 1990 but had a record of 11–10 with 129 strikeouts. Nevertheless, the Brewers were convinced that he could return to form and signed him to a four-year, $13.1 million contract.^[3]

Higuera tore his rotator cuff in 1991 and endured several surgeries. He missed the entire 1992 season and saw limited action in 1993 and 1994. The Brewers did not offer him a contract in 1995 and Higuera attempted a comeback with the San Diego Padres.^[4] He did not make the team and retired that season.

Post-retirement

Higuera has served as a pitching coach for his native Mexico in the 2006, 2009, and 2013 World Baseball Classic.^[5]^[6] In 2011, Higuera was inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.^[7]

References

Milwaukee Brewers Opening Day starting pitchers

Don August Jerry Augustine Ricky Bones Chris Bosio Mike Caldwell Jim Colborn Doug Davis Cal Eldred Yovani Gallardo Moose Haas Teddy Higuera Mark Knudson Lew Krausse, Jr. Kyle Lohse Ben McDonald Bill Parsons Marty Pattin Wily Peralta Rafael Roque Ben Sheets Jim Slaton Jeff Suppan Don Sutton Bill Travers Pete Vuckovich Bill Wegman Steve Woodard Jamey Wright

Mexico National Baseball Team 2006 World Baseball Classic roster

3 Jorge Cantú 7 Mario Valenzuela 8 Alfredo Amézaga 9 Vinny Castilla 13 Rodrigo López 17 Juan Castro 18 Luis Alfonso García 20 Miguel Ojeda 21 Esteban Loaiza 22 Benji Gil 23 Adrian Gonzalez 24 Gerónimo Gil 26 Luis Cruz 28 Karim García 29 Adán Muñoz 33 Pablo Ortega 36 Luis Carlos García 44 Erubiel Durazo 45 Elmer Dessens 46 Roberto Ramírez 47 Jorge de la Rosa 48 Francisco Campos 50 Antonio Osuna 51 David Cortés 52 Dennys Reyes 54 Édgar González 56 Luis Ayala 57 Óscar Villarreal 59 Óliver Pérez 73 Ricardo Rincón

Manager 25 Francisco Estrada Coach 34 Fernando Valenzuela Coach 49 Teddy Higuera

Mexico National Baseball Team 2009 World Baseball Classic roster

1 Augie Ojeda 2 Edgar Gonzalez 3 Jorge Cantú 7 Mario Valenzuela 8 Alfredo Amézaga 10 Karim García 13 Rodrigo López 14 Scott Hairston 17 Freddy Sandoval 19 Rafael Díaz 22 Cristhian Presichi 23 Adrian Gonzalez 25 Jerry Hairston, Jr. 26 Óscar Robles 29 Pablo Ortega 32 Rod Barajas 33 Jorge Campillo 35 Miguel Ojeda 38 Jorge Vázquez 45 Elmer Dessens 46 Óliver Pérez 47 Erubiel Durazo 48 Joakim Soria 50 Agustín Murillo 51 David Cortés 52 Dennys Reyes 56 Luis Ayala 60 Francisco Rodríguez 73 Ricardo Rincón 84 Francisco Campos

Manager 9 Vinny Castilla Assistant Coach 34 Fernando Valenzuela Pitching Coach 49 Teddy Higuera Bullpen Coach 44 Armando Reynoso Batting Coach 6 Ever Magallanes 1st Base Coach 20 José Tolentino 3rd Base Coach 5 Houston Jiménez

Mexico National Baseball Team 2013 World Baseball Classic roster

3 Jorge Cantú 8 Edgar Gonzalez 9 Sebastián Valle 11 Daniel Rodríguez 13 Rodrigo López 14 Eduardo Arredondo 18 Luis Alfonso García 19 Ramiro Peña 21 Gil Velazquez 23 Adrian Gonzalez 24 Humberto Cota 25 Walter Ibarra 27 Cesar Ramos 31 José Cobos 39 Luis Mendoza 41 Marco Estrada 42 Horacio Ramírez 42 Arnold León 45 Francisco Rodríguez 46 Óliver Pérez 47 Luis Cruz 49 Yovani Gallardo 52 Dennys Reyes 54 Sergio Romo 57 Óscar Villarreal 59 Fernando Salas 64 Alí Solís 68 Efren Navarro 74 José Félix 91 Alfredo Aceves 95 Karim García

Manager Rick Renteria Coach Rubén Amaro Coach Juan Castro Coach Teddy Higuera Coach Ever Magallanes Coach Sid Monge Coach Fernando Valenzuela

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, April 14, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.