Anthony Vizcaya

Anthony Vizcaya

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 220 lb.

• Born October 24, 1993 in Barquisimeto, Lara Venezuela

Biographical Information

Anthony Vizcaya had pitched in the Dominican Republic, USA, Venezuela, Spain, Japan, Colombia and Taiwan before he turned 27 and had pitched for the Venezuelan national team.

Vizcaya was signed by Cleveland Indians scouts Ramon Pena and Antonio Caballero in March 2012. He dazzled in his pro debut with the DSL Indians that summer, going 3-2 with a 0.94 ERA and .167/.240/.206 opponent batting line. He was 2nd in the Dominican Summer League in ERA, .22 behind Antonio Senzatela, was 4th in opponent average and 5th in fewest baserunners per 9 IP for a starter.

He had a big-time sophomore slump as his ERA went up more than seven times - to 6.88; he was 3-1 for the AZL Indians in 2013 but allowed a .340 average. His Venezuelan Winter League debut was equally rocky - 7 runs, 5 walks, 6 hits in 4 innings for the Cardenales de Lara. He was also torched for the 2014 Mahoning Valley Scrappers (1-6, 10.64 ERA, .380 opponent average). He tied for 5th in the New York-Penn League in losses. Two bad seasons in a row was enough to convince Cleveland to give him on the guy who had looked so promising a couple years prior.

With Lara in 2015-2016, he allowed four runs in four innings and he gave up 4 runs in 2 2/3 IP in 2016-2017. He then went to Spain's CB Sant Boi and dominated the 2017 Division de Honor at 11-2, 0.89. He struck out 157 in 101 innings and allowed a .125 average. He led the league in ERA (.77 ahead of Yulman Ribeiro), opponent average (.079 ahead of Miguelangel Bastidas) and strikeouts. He just missed out on a pitching Triple Crown as he was one win behind leader Leslie Nacar. He also was 3rd in IP and 3rd with 6 complete games.

In 2018, he pitched in the Japanese independent leagues. That winter, he was 0-1 with a 4.61 ERA for the Navegantes del Magallanes, his best turn yet in Venezuela. He was 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in the postseason. He also pitched that winter in Colombia; Ramon Borrego was managing in Colombia and in the Minnesota Twins chain and talking the team into giving him a second chance in the US as he threw in the mid-90s with good secondary pitches. He hoped to follow in the path of Junior Guerra, a fellow Venezuelan who went from the US minors to Spain before making it to the majors.

In his return to the US, he showed the talent he had displayed in the Dominican and in Spain. He pitched very well for the Fort Myers Miracle (1-1, 7 Sv, 2.22 in 15 G) and Pensacola Blue Wahoos (2-2, 4 Sv, .78 ERA in 26 G). He fanned 83 in 74 1/3 innings while allowing a .196/.286/.277 batting line. He was 5th in the Twins chain in games pitched, tied Derek Molina for the most saves and was 2nd in ERA to Bailey Ober among those with 50+ IP. He then appeared in the 2019 Asia Winter League in Taiwan.

Vizcaya pitched for Venezuela in the 2019 Premier 12. He was roughed up in his lone outing, against champion Japan. He took over for Elvis Escobar with a 4-2 lead in the 8th, two on and no outs. He retired Nobuhiro Matsuda but walked Tsubasa Aizawa on four pitches, then walked Tetsuto Yamada to force in a run. Ryosuke Kikuchi singled in the tying run then Vizcaya walked Kensuke Kondo with what would be the winning run. Miguel Socolovich relieved and let all three inherited runners score to leave Vizcaya with the loss and 108.00 ERA. He had the event's highest ERA, double runners-up Escobar and Ramesis Rosa.