Prieto played baseball both for Fajardo University, located in Santiago de Cuba,[1] and for Piratas de Isla de la Juventud in the Cuban National Series,[2] a winter baseball league in Cuba. Concerned that he would be unable to leave Cuba if he was highly valued as an athlete, Prieto intentionally pitched poorly during the winter of 1994.[3] Prieto and his wife were granted visas to travel outside of Cuba in April 1995, and they relocated to Florida.[3]
Prieto was selected fifth overall in the 1995 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics. He made his major-league debut for the Athletics that July. Prieto, being unfamiliar with American banks and credit cards, walked around with his $1.2 million signing-bonus check in his pocket for over a week.[4] He won two games and lost six, becoming one of the few players to be drafted and then play in MLB during the same season. In 1996, Prieto had what was arguably his best season, winning 6 games and losing 7 with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.15.
Prieto was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before the 2001 season. With the Devil Rays, Prieto saw action in three games, without any decisions, allowing one earned run in 3+2⁄3innings pitched. His one season with the Devil Rays was his last season in the major leagues. Prieto played in Mexico during the middle 2000s, playing with the Venados de Mazatlán, a team that he also played for in the Caribbean World Series, held that year in Venezuela. During six MLB seasons, Prieto won 15 games and lost 24, with an overall 4.85 ERA.
Prieto spent the 2009 through 2011 seasons as the pitching coach for the Athletics' Arizona League team.[5]
On November 10, 2011, Prieto was announced as the pitching coach for the Vermont Lake Monsters, the Athletics' New York–Penn League (Single A, short season) team.[6]
^ ab"Ariel Prieto Cuban, Independent, and Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
^ abFrey, Jennifer (August 17, 1995). "Deceptive Practices : Prieto Played His Way Out of Cuba and Into the Major Leagues". Los Angeles Times.
^"Le Batard: Let's cut Yasiel Puig some slack for his young-man antics". 5 April 2014.
^"Athletics announce appointments to Minor League coaching staffs". MLB.com. 2008-11-18. Retrieved 2008-12-25.
^"Vermont 2012 Field Staff Announced". MLB.com. 2011-11-10. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
^"Bush named bullpen coach to complete 2013 staff | MLB.com".
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
January 01, 1970
ariel, prieto, born, october, 1969, cuban, former, professional, baseball, pitcher, played, major, league, baseball, from, 1995, 2001, oakland, athletics, tampa, devil, rays, currently, pitching, coach, mets, pitcherborn, 1969, october, 1969, havana, cubabatte. Ariel Prieto born October 22 1969 is a Cuban former professional baseball pitcher He played in Major League Baseball MLB from 1995 to 2001 for the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Devil Rays He is currently the pitching coach for the GCL Mets Ariel PrietoPitcherBorn 1969 10 22 October 22 1969 age 54 Havana CubaBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutJuly 2 1995 for the Oakland AthleticsLast MLB appearanceMay 10 2001 for the Tampa Bay Devil RaysMLB statisticsWin loss record15 24Earned run average4 85Strikeouts231TeamsOakland Athletics 1995 1998 2000 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2001 As Coach Oakland Athletics 2011 2014 Arizona Diamondbacks 2016 2017 Contents 1 Career 1 1 Coaching career 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksCareer editPrieto played baseball both for Fajardo University located in Santiago de Cuba 1 and for Piratas de Isla de la Juventud in the Cuban National Series 2 a winter baseball league in Cuba Concerned that he would be unable to leave Cuba if he was highly valued as an athlete Prieto intentionally pitched poorly during the winter of 1994 3 Prieto and his wife were granted visas to travel outside of Cuba in April 1995 and they relocated to Florida 3 Prieto was selected fifth overall in the 1995 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics He made his major league debut for the Athletics that July Prieto being unfamiliar with American banks and credit cards walked around with his 1 2 million signing bonus check in his pocket for over a week 4 He won two games and lost six becoming one of the few players to be drafted and then play in MLB during the same season In 1996 Prieto had what was arguably his best season winning 6 games and losing 7 with an earned run average ERA of 4 15 Prieto was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before the 2001 season With the Devil Rays Prieto saw action in three games without any decisions allowing one earned run in 3 2 3 innings pitched His one season with the Devil Rays was his last season in the major leagues Prieto played in Mexico during the middle 2000s playing with the Venados de Mazatlan a team that he also played for in the Caribbean World Series held that year in Venezuela During six MLB seasons Prieto won 15 games and lost 24 with an overall 4 85 ERA Prieto played professionally until 2005 in Minor League Baseball 2 without returning to MLB Coaching career edit Prieto spent the 2009 through 2011 seasons as the pitching coach for the Athletics Arizona League team 5 On November 10 2011 Prieto was announced as the pitching coach for the Vermont Lake Monsters the Athletics New York Penn League Single A short season team 6 From 2012 to 2015 Prieto served as interpreter for fellow Cuban defector New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes 7 In 2015 Prieto was hired as a coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks He was let go in 2017 Prieto was named as the pitching coach for the GCL Mets of the New York Mets organization for the 2018 season See also edit nbsp Baseball portal List of baseball players who defected from Cuba List of baseball players who went directly to Major League BaseballReferences edit Ariel Prieto Baseball America Retrieved August 26 2023 a b Ariel Prieto Cuban Independent and Minor amp Winter Leagues Statistics Baseball Reference com Retrieved August 26 2023 a b Frey Jennifer August 17 1995 Deceptive Practices Prieto Played His Way Out of Cuba and Into the Major Leagues Los Angeles Times Le Batard Let s cut Yasiel Puig some slack for his young man antics 5 April 2014 Athletics announce appointments to Minor League coaching staffs MLB com 2008 11 18 Retrieved 2008 12 25 Vermont 2012 Field Staff Announced MLB com 2011 11 10 Retrieved 2012 07 04 Bush named bullpen coach to complete 2013 staff MLB com External links editCareer statistics and player information from ESPN or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ariel Prieto amp oldid 1172442455, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
