Beiker Graterol

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Beiker Graterol
Pitcher
Born: (1974-11-09) November 9, 1974 (age 49)
Lara, Venezuela
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 9, 1999, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
April 9, 1999, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average15.75
Strikeouts2
Teams

Beiker Graterol [baker / grahterol] (born November 9, 1974) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who pitched in one game for the Detroit Tigers in 1999.

Career[edit]

Graterol was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as an amateur free agent in 1992. After spending a few years pitching in the Dominican Republic, he joined the Blue Jays system in 1996 with the St. Catharines Stompers of the New York–Penn League.[1] In 1998, he pitched for the Lara Cardinals en route to a Venezuelan Professional Baseball League championship.[2] On December 14, 1998, he was traded by Toronto to the Detroit Tigers for Eric Ludwick.[3] The Tigers invited him to Major League spring training in 1999.[4]

Graterol made his first and only Major League appearance on April 9, 1999 when he started for the Tigers against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in place of an injured Bryce Florie.[3][5] Graterol lasted only four innings in a rainy game, surrendering seven earned runs and three home runs, including a grand slam by Chili Davis. After the game, Graterol told reporters he would learn from his mistakes and "be better next time."[6] However, before appearing in another game, he was demoted to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on April 17,[7] never to return to the Major Leagues.[3]

Graterol was unable to find even a minor league contract after the 1999 season and spent 2000 with the Mexico City Tigres of the Mexican League. After a poor year in 2000, Graterol never pitched in affiliated ball again.[1] Later in his career, he pitched for the Rimini Baseball Club of the Italian Baseball League.[8]

Internationally, Graterol played for the Venezuela national baseball team at the 2007 Baseball World Cup.[9]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Patton, Andy (April 19, 2018). "Detroit Tigers Throwback Thursday: Remember Beiker Graterol?". Motor City Bengals. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  2. ^ Bjarkman, Peter C. (2005). Diamonds Around the Globe: The Encyclopedia of International Baseball. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-313-32268-6. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Beiker Graterol Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  4. ^ "Angels: Traded C Matt Garrick to Cardinals..." The Baltimore Sun. December 19, 1998. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  5. ^ King III, George A. (April 9, 1999). "Pettitte Passes Simulated Test". New York Post. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  6. ^ Lewis, Brian (April 10, 1999). "Bombers Chew up Tigers' Rookie". New York Post. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  7. ^ Kahrl, Christina (April 22, 1999). "Transaction Analysis: April 15–20". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  8. ^ Chetwynd, Josh (2019). Baseball in Europe: A Country by Country History, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 330. ISBN 978-1-4766-7912-9. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  9. ^ "Cuba downs Venezuela 10-0 to remain undefeated". Mister Baseball. November 7, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2020.

External links[edit]