Eloy Morales

Eloy Morales Zambrana

• Throws Right

• Born December 5, 1959

Biographical Information

Eloy Morales pitched in Nicaragua in the 1980s and 1990s.

Morales debuted in 1980, going 2-2 with a save and a 2.13 ERA for Frente Sur. He went 6-5 with a save and a 3.39 ERA a year later, and 4-6 despite a 2.25 ERA and .217 opponent average in '82. He pitched for Nicaragua in the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games. He was 11-9 with two saves and a 2.10 ERA in 1983. In '84, he slipped to 1-5 though his ERA was 1.72 (on the other hand, Julio Moya had a 0.14 ERA to lead the league). For the 1985 campaign, he was 6-3 with a 1.15 ERA, .17 behind leader Claudio Ulloa. He was at 4-7, 3.61 in 1986. In 1987, he had a 11-2 record and 1.30 ERA. He was .21 behind ERA leader Epifanio Pérez and four wins back of leader Diego Raudez. He threw a no-hitter February 1.

In 1988, he was 6-6 with a save and a 3.36 ERA. He pitched for the Nicaraguan national team in the 1988 Baseball World Cup; he had a 1.50 ERA but no decisions. He led Nicaragua in ERA by over a point. Against the Dutch national team, he allowed one run in 7 1/3 IP to battle Bart Volkerijk evenly before Moya took over. He was 4-6 with a save and a 4.23 ERA for Frente Sur in 1989, the second-highest ERA of his career. He rebounded to go 10-4 with a 2.22 ERA during 1990 but fell to 5-4, 4.17 in 1991.

The right-hander pitched for a couple teams in 1992, his first time with someone other than Frente Sur; he had his worst year at 3-6, 4.77. With San Fernando in 1993, he was 9-5 with 4 saves and a 3.65 ERA. He remained with them in 1994 (7-3, 2.43) and was .39 behind ERA leader Joaquín Avendaño. In 1995, he was 4-3 with 4 saves and a 2.51 ERA. He moved to Rivas in 1996 and was 0-1 with 7 saves and a 2.23 ERA to end his career.

In 279 games in Nicaragua (178 starts), he was 93-77 with 21 saves and a 2.74 ERA. He walked only 278 in 1,288 2/3 IP while striking out 733 and allowing a .252 average.

He was bullpen coach for Nicaragua when they won the 2017 Central American Games.

Sources: Nicaraguan Baseball Federation, old IBAF website