- René Arocha
Infobox MLB retired
name=René Arocha
position=Pitcher
width=177px
bgcolor1=#c41e3a
bgcolor2=#c41e3a
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
birthdate=birth date and age|1966|02|24
deathdate=
bats=
throws=
debutdate=
debutyear=1993
debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
finaldate=
finalyear=1997
finalteam=San Francisco Giants
stat1label=Wins
stat1value=18
stat2label=Losses
stat2value=17
stat3label=ERA
stat3value=4.11
teams=
*St. Louis Cardinals (1993-1995)
*San Francisco Giants (1997)
highlights=René Arocha (born
February 24 ,1966 inHavana ,Cuba ) is a formerMLB baseball player.Biography
René Arocha studied as a
teenage r at the Regla high school in Havana. After graduating from high school, Arocha became a member of Cuba's famed national baseball team.In 1990, and during an international competition, Arocha left his team, opting for a life in the
United States and a try at playing in the Major Leagues. His story became known across the States whenHispanic media began talking about him, and Arocha was the subject of manytelevision reports onTelemundo andUnivision .In 1991, Arocha was signed by the
St. Louis Cardinals , and assigned to the Cardinals farm team inLouisville, Kentucky . As a pitcher in Louisville, Arocha posted 12 wins and 7 losses, with an earned run average of 2.70. These numbers prompted the Cardinals to bring Arocha to the Major Leagues, and he debuted with the Cardinals in 1993, winning 11 games and losing 8, while striking out 96 opponents and accumulating an ERA of 3.78.The 1994 and 1995 seasons were marred for Arocha by injuries, and he could only win 7 games in those two years combined, while also losing 7. Arocha was then waived by the Cardinals, becoming a
free agent .In 1997, Arocha signed with the
San Francisco Giants , and he went to the Giants' Pacific League farm team, thePhoenix Firebirds . He won 7 games with the Firebirds that year, while losing only 3. He was then assigned to the Columbus team of the International League. After winning one game there, Arocha returned to the Major Leagues, pitching ten innings for the Giants before the 1997 season was over. He did not win or lose any games for the Giants.Arocha finished his professional baseball career with a team in New Orleans in 1998 . He was 32 years old already, an indication that his best years as a baseball player had probably passed by.
Arocha had 18 wins and 17 losses in the Major Leagues, with an ERA of 4.11 and 190 strikeouts in four seasons, three with the Cardinals and one with the Giants.
See also
List of Cubans External links
* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/A/rene-arocha.shtml thebaseballcube.com]
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