Enorbel Márquez

From BR Bullpen

Enorbel Márquez Ramírez
(Norbert)
first name also spelled Enobel

  • Bats Left, Throws Left
  • Height 6' 2", Weight 207 lb.

BR register page

Biographical Information[edit]

Enorbel Márquez pitched in Cuba's top league for 3 years, in Germany's top league for ten years (winning several ERA titles) and in Italy's top league for five seasons.

Márquez pitched for Santiago de Cuba, going 6-5 with a 6.50 ERA while in Cuba, allowing 139 hits and 41 walks in 99 2/3 IP. In Germany, he joined the Solingen Alligators in 2004. He was 6-3 with a 2.13 ERA his first year in Germany. He ranked second in WHIP (.95), 6th in ERA, tied for 3rd in opponent average (.199) and tied for third in wins. In 2005, Márquez had a 4-0, 1.11 record in five games. The southpaw improved to 6-1, 1.05 in 2006. He led Bundesliga Nord in ERA and WHIP (0.86), was second in opponent average (.184) and tied for third in victories.

The Cuban left-hander posted a 7-1, 1.21 record in 2007. He again led in ERA and WHIP (0.88) and was 4th in strikeouts (60 in 52 IP) and wins. In the 2007 European Cup, Enorbel was 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA, earning Solingen's lone win, a victory over Grosseto, a heavily favored Italian team. He was 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA for the German national team in the 2007 European Championship, helping them to a 4th-place finish. He made the tourney All-Star team as the top left-handed pitcher. He remained with the German team for the 2007 Baseball World Cup. Against the Venezuelan national team, he allowed one run and fanned 7 in 6 innings in a loss. He allowed only four runs in a complete game against an Australian national team loaded with major leaguers and players from the high minors. Overall, he was 0-2 but his 3.21 ERA was the best by far of any German pitcher who did not face weak Thailand.

Through 2007, Márquez was among the all-time German national team leaders in ERA (2.17, 1st), strikeouts (32, tied for 9th), wins (3, tied for fifth) and WHIP (1.38, 9th).

Márquez was 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA in the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament as one of Germany's stars. He allowed only 11 hits in 17 innings. He pitched a 5-hit shutout against Spain, which had beaten Germany in the Bronze Medal game of the prior two European Championships. He allowed only three runs in eight innings against a Mexican national team in a loss to Pablo Ortega.

Márquez turned in a perfect game on May 24, 2008 against the Bonn Capitals, whiffing 16 in the masterpiece. He was 10-0 with a 1.00 ERA that season, striking out 98 in 81 innings. He was among the northern Bundealiga-1 leaders in ERA (2nd, .04 behind Benigno Ozuna), strikeouts (1st by 18 over Eugen Heilmann), wins (3rd behind Heilmann and Andre Hughes), innings (5th) and WHIP (1st, .90).

In 2009, Enorbel was 9-1 with a 0.91 ERA and finished among the league's best in ERA (1st, the only hurler under 2), strikeouts (96, 1st, 1 ahead of Tim Henkenjohann), wins (1st, 1 over Heilmann), innings (69, 6th) and opponent OPS (444, 1st). He had Germany's only win in the 2009 Baseball World Cup, holding China to one run in 5 2/3 IP before Philipp Hoffschild relieved.

For 2010, he signed with Italy's Telemarket Rimini club, joining fellow Cuban Laidel Chapellí. A day after Rimini announced the signing, Nettuno (another Italian club) claimed that they had signed Márquez for 2010; Enorbel claimed the Rimini signing was the only valid one. The ruling was upheld by Judge Vincenzo La Rocca of the Italian Baseball and Softball Federation. He debuted in Italy on April 3 with 3 runs in six innings in a good start before being relieved by Chris Di Roma in a 8-4 win over Grosseto. Márquez got the victory over Chris Cooper. He was 9-2 with a 2.37 ERA for the season. He finished third in wins (one behind Jesus Matos and Roberto Corradini), 7th in ERA (between Henry Bonilla and former major leaguer Jim Brower) and 10th with 65 whiffs (between Mihai Burlea and Yorkin Ferreras). He fell to 0-2, 2.51 in the postseason. In the 2010 European Cup, he allowed one run in six innings to beat the Marlins Puerto Cruz but in the semifinals, lost to Heidenheim Heideköpfe and Martin Dewald. He struck out 11 in 8 innings that game but gave up four runs. In the 2010 European Championship, he was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA despite a 1.83 WHIP, beating the Czech Republic. Through 2010 (the latest all-time leader update for the German national team through August 2016), he was first in the German national team's history in ERA (2.12, .25 ahead of Jim Menzel), 3rd in strikeouts (59, behind Peter Budny and Henkenjohann), tied for first in wins (6, even with Michael Wäller and Budny), 4th in IP (63 2/3, between Henkenjohann and Martin Almstetter) and 8th in WHIP (1.30, between Frank Jäger and Martin Helmig).

Enorbel was better yet in 2011, going 8-2 with a 1.46 ERA for Rimini, allowing no homers in 68 innings and a .191/.236/.262 opponent batting line. He was third in the IBL in ERA (behind Darwin Cubillan and Marco Grifantini) and tied Matos for third in wins. In 2012, he fell to 7-2, 3.15 with a .266/.352/.333 opponent batting line; he still tied for third in wins. He was 0-1 despite a 2.00 ERA in the semifinals. In the 2012 Italian Series, he dropped a game 2 pitching duel, 2-0, to Cooper and T&A San Marino but then added a win and save in relief later in the Series, which he finished with a 1.50 ERA; Rimini still fell. When he beat Great Britain in the 2012 European Championship (8 IP, 5 H, 1 UER, 1 BB, 7 K before being relieved by Markus Solbach), he became the German national team career leader in wins. Getting the call in the Bronze Medal game, he was hit hard by Spain, the team he had quieted back in 2008. He allowed 10 hits, 3 walks and 7 runs in 6 1/3 IP; Heilmann relieved and the bullpen fared a bit better but Germany lost by a 8-6 score. He fared better in the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, beating Great Britain in the semifinals. He had a no-hitter for six innings before singles by Albert Cartwright and Chris Berset and an error led to a run in the 7th. He fanned 8 and walked none as Germany advanced to the finals with a seven-inning mercy rule win. He had the lone complete game of the 2013 WBC Qualifiers; he just made it as he reached the pitch limit of 85 on his last throw.

The Palma Soriano native had a huge season for Rimini in 2013, going 7-1 with six saves, a 1.33 ERA, 86 strikeouts in 64 1/3 IP and a .192/.267/.234 batting line. He tied Matteo D'Angelo and Riccardo De Santis for 7th in wins, was third in ERA (after Raul Rivero and Nibaldo Acosta), ranked 9th in Ks (between Jim Magrane and Matt Litzinger) and was second in saves (one behind Marcos Tabata). In the semifinals, he was 1-0 with a save, allowing only two hits and one unearned run in 8 2/3 IP while fanning ten (though he walked five). He won game 1 of the 2013 Italian Series with 5 2/3 shutout innings in relief of Yorman Bazardo but lost game 3 to San Marino, serving up a three-run dinger to Jairo Ramos Gizzi, a fellow old-timer. He finished the Series 1-1 with a 2.30 ERA and 15 K. He led the Series in strikeouts, four more than MVP Magrane. He was superb in the 2013 European Cup first round, going 2-0 with two saves and no runs in ten innings (only 2 H, 3 BB) as Rimini took 5 of 6 to move to the finals. He had the 3rd-best ERA (David Bergman and Owen Ozanich also were at 0, in more IP), allowed the lowest average (.069; Ozanich was next at .135), tied Ricardo Hernández for the win lead, led in saves and tied Carlos Pezzullo for the most games pitched (4). In the Cup Finals, though, he struggled in a game 1 loss to Bologna (4 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 K, 4 R, 2 ER).

In 2014, he was 2-0 for Rimini in the first half, allowing no runs in 21 2/3 IP and fanning 26. He gave up only ten hits but walked 12. He allowed a .132/.258/.132 batting line. He was 2-0 with a save and a 3.75 ERA in the semifinals/second half. He struggled in the 2014 Italian Series, lit up for a 8.74 ERA in four games, the worst hit being a three-run homer to Alessandro Vaglio. He beat the Regensburg Legionäre in the 2014 European Cup (3 R, 2 ER in 8 IP for the Cup's first round). In the Cup finals, he got Rimini's lone win in the best-of-3 series with San Marino, winning game 2 (4 R, 3 ER in 8 IP). He finished his Italian Baseball League career 38-12 with 9 saves and a 2.20 ERA with a .221/.280/.304 batting line allowed in 93 games. Through 2015, he was 16th in league history in ERA (between Aris Tirado and Romano Lachi), 36th in WHIP (1.22), 40th in K/BB ratio (2.19:1, same as Carlo Tagliaboschi), 25th in fewest hits/9 (between Guglielmo Zugheri and Federico Corradini) and 28th in K/9 (8.08, between Cipriano Ventura and Daniele Miele).

He had mixed results in the 2014 European Championship, when he was used as a reliever in three games, striking out a lot but allowing quite a few baserunners (5 K, 4 H, 2 BB in 2 2/3 IP). He got the win over Sweden for his 9th win for the German national team, but faltered after relieving Luke Sommer in the 8th with a 3-1 lead over Spain, two on and one out. He gave up a single to Franklin Tavarez to make it 3-2 and retired Richard Montiel but then allowed a game-tying double to Daniel Sánchez and an error on the play by veteran catcher Simon Gühring on the play made it 4-3 Spain as Marquez had blown the game.

Returning to Germany after five years in Italy, he was 6-2 with a 3.04 ERA for Solingen, striking out 54 in 47 1/3 IP. He was 6th in ERA (between Hughes and Jason Daniels), 9th in strikeouts, 3rd in wins (behind Chris Mezger and Wilson Lee) and 6th in WHIP (1.29). He was 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in the 2015 European Cup, losing to San Marino.

He was Germany's oldest player in the 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in March 2016, three years older than Will Ohman. His one outing was not a good one. He relieved Maurice Wilhelm in the bottom of the 10th with a 4-3 lead, trying to complete an upset of Nicaragua. He allowed a single to Darrel Campbell, retired Willie Vasquez, gave up a hit to Jairo Beras then surrendered a game-losing two-run double to Alex Blandino.

He was player-manager for the Berlin Flamingos in Germany's second-tier league in the summer of 2016 but still made Germany's squad for the 2016 European Championship. He dazzled in the opener, allowing one hit (to Adam Sorgi) in six innings against Sweden; Jan-Niclas Stöcklin took over. He was nearly as dominant against a much stronger Czech squad, allowing two hits in seven shutout innings but was matched by Radim Chroust. In the 8th, Petr Zýma doubled and Tim Stahlmann relieved, letting the inherited run score. Germany would rally so he avoided a loss. In his last game, he took over for Sven Schüller in the 3rd against Spain and blanked the Silver Medalists for three innings (0 H, 3 BB, 2 K) before Stahlmann relieved with the game scoreless. He thus finished with an ERA of 0.56 and .78 opponent average in 16 IP. The 41-year-old was 3rd in the Euros in ERA (behind former major leaguer Shairon Martis and Greg Hendrix; 2nd in RA behind Martis), 1st in opponent average (.047 ahead of Daniel Alvarez), tied for 1st in IP (with Antonio Horvatić) and 4th in strikeouts (13, between Lowuin Sacramento and Horvatić).

Márquez stayed with the Flamingos in 2017. In 2018, he returned to Rimini and had two saves and a 2.12 ERA. He was back with the German squad for the 2018 Haarlem Baseball Week and beat Frank Medina and his fellow Cubans. He was 1-0 in the event with 10 K in 7 2/3 shutout innings. He was 5th in the event in ERA, between Hiromi Itoh and Lars Huijer (the players ahead of him were also at 0.00, in more innings). He was 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA in the 2018 Super6, losing to the Netherlands. It was a high-scoring event; the German staff had a 9.30 ERA and he was 7th of their 14 hurlers in ERA.

Joining Heidenheim for 2019, the 44-year-old dueled a fellow old-timer, Draci Brno's 42-year-old Peter Moylan in the 2019 CEB Cup finale. He went eight shutout innings, allowing three hits, a hit batsman and one walk while striking out eight. Heidenheim rallied in the 8th after Chroust replaced Moylan and Justin Erasmus saved it for Márquez, who took the MVP for the Cup. He was 4-1 with 3 saves and a 1.51 ERA for the regular season, striking out 70 in 53 2/3 innings. He tied for 2nd in saves (one behind Jakob Syrén) and had the best ERA of anyone with 30+ innings, outperforming players half his age and younger. Heidenheim won the title.

He was 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in the 2019 European Championship, beating fellow Cuban native Leonel Cespedes of the French national team to extend his German national team record for wins to 11. Germany did not fare well enough to make the 2019 Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier, finishing 6th when the top five teams from the 2019 Euros advanced. He was on Germany's announced team for the 2020 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers when that event was one of the first international tournaments canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 regular season was a rough one as he was 1-1 with a save and a 6.19 ERA. He was 2-0 with two saves and a 2.76 ERA in the postseason, though, and Heidenheim repeated.

In the 2021 European Champions Cup, the 46-year-old struggled for Heidenheim (8 R, 2 ER, 8 H, 3 BB in 2 2/3 IP). He gave up the losing hit to Bologna's Ericson Leonora in the 8th inning (though he did not get the decision). He was 3-0 with a save and a 2.63 ERA in the Bundesliga-1 regular season and fanned 44 in 41 innings. Among hurlers with 40+ innings, only Kaleb Bowman and Mike Bolsenbroek had better ERAs. He was then dominant in the postseason (4-1, 2 Sv, 1.24 ERA, 39 K in 36 1/3 IP, 22 H). He had the most wins, the most saves, the best ERA of any pitcher with 20+ innings and the most K (3 ahead of Bolsenbroek). In the finale, he went the distance to beat Bonn and Wilson Lee, striking out 13 in a 11-2 win. He was named the MVP of the finals, presumably the oldest player to take that honor! His year wasn't done yet as he pitched for Germany in the 2021 European Championship, his 7th straight European Championship. He lost to Jose Diaz and Croatia then beat Jakob Syrén and Sweden for his 12th win for the national team. He tied for 5th in the event in Ks, even with Diaz, Andrei Lobanov, Ozanich, Schüller, Heorhii Hvrytishvili and Tobias Kiefer, who was born after Enorbel's career had already started.

Returning to Berlin, he was 4-5 with a save, a 2.78 ERA and 78 K in 68 IP. He tied for third in losses but had the 3rd-best ERA among those with 50+ IP (after Roldan Ochoa and Mark Harrison). He was only one strikeout shy of the league lead. He was with Germany for the 2022 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, and got the start against Kieran Lovegrove and South Africa. He went 1 2/3 IP, allowing two hits (including a Dayle Feldtman homer) and two walks, but only one run before Kit Scheetz took over.

He finally won the Bundesliga MVP at age 48, going 8-5 with a 1.98 ERA for the Flamingos, with 101 K to 15 BB in 104 2/3 IP. He was 6th in the league in starts (11), tied Matt Beatty for 4th in complete games (5), was second to fellow veteran Yasutomo Kubo in innings, tied Ochoa for second in Ks (3 behind Kubo), was second in wins (3 behind Kubo), tied Harrison for 6th in losses and was second to Kubo in ERA (30+ IP).

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