Joel Peralta

Joel Peralta Gutiérrez (; ; born March 23, 1976) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs.

Career Oakland Athletics Peralta signed with the Oakland Athletics as an amateur free agent in 1996. He was originally an outfielder and played in the Dominican Summer League for the Athletics. He hit .247 in 52 games for them in 1997 but missed the 1998 season with an injury and was released on June 4. He moved to the U.S. in 2000 to play for the Butte Copper Kings in the Pioneer Baseball League and the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League. Between the two leagues he was in 14 games and was 2-1 with a 6.59 ERA in 14 games. In 2001, he pitched in 41 games for the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League with a 2.13 ERA and 23 saves, He worked 34.2 innings in 28 games for the Angels with a 3.89 ERA and one win (July 6 against the Minnesota Twins).

Kansas City Royals On October 7, 2005, he was selected off waivers by the Kansas City Royals from the Angels. He played three seasons with the Royals, with a 3-8 record and 4.54 ERA in 166 games.

Colorado Rockies He signed with the Colorado Rockies as a free agent on April 8, 2009 after being released by the Royals at the end of spring training. and the next night made his 2010 debut, pitching to one batter and inducing a double play. He was in 39 games for the Nationals and was 1-0 with a 2.02 ERA.

Tampa Bay Rays On December 17, 2010, Peralta signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, receiving $900,000. He appeared in 71 games for the Rays, second most in the American League and was 3-4 with a 2.93 ERA and 6 saves.

He was eligible for salary arbitration after the season but signed a new one-year contract with the Rays

On June 19, 2012, during a game at Nationals Park vs the Washington Nationals, Peralta was ejected from the game for having a "foreign substance" in his glove; it was later found to be pine tar. Peralta was subsequently suspended eight games by Major League Baseball. In the 2012 season he was in 76 games with a 3.63 ERA and a 2-6 record. He made a career high 80 appearances in 2013, leading the Majors and setting a club record for a right-handed pitcher and his third straight 70-plus appearance season. and made two scoreless appearances in the 2013 American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox. Peralta appeared in 69 games in 2014 and was 3-4 with a 4.41 ERA. He was placed on the disabled list at the end of April with a nerve problem in his right triceps. He managed to avoid a potentially career ending injury and rejoined the team at the end of June. In 33 games for the Dodgers, he was 3–1 with a 4.34 ERA and 3 saves. After the season, the Dodgers declined his 2016 option, making him a free agent.

Seattle Mariners On February 9, 2016, Peralta signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners that included an invitation to major league spring training. On June 6, 2016, he was released.

Chicago Cubs On June 10, 2016, Peralta signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. On September 16, 2016, Peralta made his statement to retirement.

Pitching style Peralta throws three pitches: a four-seam fastball at 90–92 mph, a splitter at 79–81, and a curveball at 78–80. He uses the splitter as his main strikeout pitch.