Wilfredo Ledezma

Infobox MLB player
name=Wilfredo Ledezma

---

caption=Ledezma on the mound during 2008 Spring Training
width=200
position=Pitcher
team=Arizona Diamondbacks
number=46
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|1|21
birthplace=Guárico State, Venezuela
debutdate=April 2
debutyear=2003
debutteam=Detroit Tigers
statyear=September 1, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=15-22
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=5.12
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=245
teams=
*Detroit Tigers (by|2003-by|2007)
*Atlanta Braves (by|2007)
*San Diego Padres (by|2007-by|2008)
*Arizona Diamondbacks (by|2008-present)

Wilfredo Jose Ledezma (born January 21, 1981 in Guárico State, Venezuela) is a pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He bats and throws left-handed.

At the end of the mlby|2005 season, Ledezma had compiled a Major League record of 9-14 with 108 strikeouts and a 5.73 ERA in 187.0 innings. Most of his professional career thus far had been spent in the minor leagues.

Ledezma was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox in by|1998. He was taken by the Detroit Tigers in the by|2002 Rule 5 draft.

2006 season

Ledezma obtained his first win in mlby|2006 as a relief pitcher against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 25. His first Major League start occurred on August 7, 2006, as a last-minute replacement for rookie starter Justin Verlander. He threw for 5 2/3 innings and gave up no runs to the opposing team, the Cleveland Indians. Ledezma was also the winning pitcher in game 4 of the ALCS.

One of the most bizarre moments of the 2006 season occurred when Ledezma was given a rare spot start on September 8. After giving up five earned runs in 4.1 innings, an obviously distressed Ledezma returned to the dugout and proceeded to dismantle and, literally, eat his hat. [ [http://news.google.com/archivesearch/url?sa=t&source=archive&ct=res&cd=18-0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.newsbank.com%2Fg%2FGooglePM%2FDTNB%2Flib00279%2C118341FD4643A340.html&ei=CBrHSJOQA4L43AbjudnZCA&usg=AFQjCNFTPiUY8UcoawBsMHGP_98K2P6OaQ] The episode receivedlittle comment (aside from an awkward moment in the FSN broadcast of the game).

2007 season

Ledezma was traded from the Tigers to the Atlanta Braves for Macay McBride on June 20, mlby|2007. On July 13, 2007, he was placed on the restricted list. [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2007/05/23/SPGLRPV0PL1.DTL Kotsay's return trouble-free, so far ] ] He had gone home to Venezuela during the All-Star break, during which he accidentally damaged his visa and passport in the washing machine. The Braves activated him from the restricted list on July 19, 2007.

Ledezma was designated for assignment on July 29 by the Braves. He was 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in 12 appearances for Atlanta. On July 31, 2007, Ledezma was traded along with Will Startup to the San Diego Padres for reliever Royce Ring. On August 29, mlby|2008, Ledezma was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

References

External links