Luis Ayala

Infobox MLB player

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width = 250
caption = Ayala with the Nationals talking with Jorge Campillo in 2008
name=Luis Ayala
position=Closer
team=New York Mets
number=56
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|1|12
birthplace=Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico
debutdate=March 31
debutyear=2003
debutteam=Montreal Expos
statyear=August 17, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=27-32
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.33
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=213
teams=
*Montreal Expos (by|2003-by|2004)
*Washington Nationals (by|2005-by|2008)
*New York Mets (by|2008-present)

Luis Ignacio Ayala (born January 12, 1978 in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico) is a professional baseball pitcher who plays for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. He is 6'1" tall, weighs 200 lbs. and bats and throws right-handed.

In by|1997, as a 19 year old, Ayala started playing in the Mexican Baseball League as a relief pitcher. After a great season in by|1999, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Colorado Rockies. He had two more great seasons in by|2000 and by|2001. At the end of the by|2002 season, he was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but two months later was selected from Arizona by the Montreal Expos as a Rule 5 pick.

Major Leagues

Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals

Ayala pitched well for the Expos/Nationals from mlby|2003 through mlby|2005. Over the three years, he averaged 70 appearances per year, and compiled an ERA of 2.75, and led the National League with 62 holds. In mlby|2004 he ranked eighth in appearances with 81.

He injured his elbow on the last pitch of a 2006 World Baseball Classic game. As a result, he underwent Tommy John surgery on March 30, mlby|2006. He missed the entire 2006 season, and was placed on the 60-day disabled list during the mlby|2007 season. After working eight re-hab games in the minors, in which he allowed one run in 9-2/3 innings, on June 20, he was called up to the Nationals. He made his return to the mound on June 22, 2007, pitching 2/3 of an inning and giving up no runs and only one hit. For the season, he went 2-2 with 6 holds, one save, and a 3.19 ERA in 44 appearances.

New York Mets

On August 17, mlby|2008, Ayala was traded to the New York Mets for a player to be named later. Ayala had requested the trade weeks earlier because he wanted a change of scenery, due to personal problems. [cite web|url=http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080817&content_id=3323316&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Nationals trade pitcher Ayala to Mets|accessdate=2008-08-17] The Mets sent Anderson Hernandez to the Nats to complete the deal.On August 22, 2008, Ayala recorded his first save as a Met in a 3-0 victory over the Houston Astros.

Reference

External links