Felipe Paulino

Felipe Adolfo Paulino del Guidice

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut September 5, 2007
• Final Game April 18, 2014
• Born October 5, 1983 in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional D.R.

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Biographical Information

"Felipe Paulino is considered to have the best arm in the organization." - from a September 2008 article at mlb.com [1]

Felipe Paulino was signed for the Houston Astros by scouts Andres Reiner and Omar Lopez in 2001. He made his pro debut the next summer with Venoco. In 2003 Paulino played for Venoco again and came stateside with the Martinsville Astros.

Paulino made his major league debut with the Houston Astros in 2007. He missed all of 2008 with arm problems. Back in the majors in 2009, he struggled, putting up a 3-11, 6.27 record in 23 games, 17 of them starts. In 2010, still bothered by health issues, he was only 1-9, 5.11 in 19 games. After the season, the Astros traded him to the Colorado Rockies on November 18th in return for infielder Clint Barmes.

Paulino made 18 appearances in relief for the Rockies in 2011, putting up a 7.36 ERA. On May 26th, the Rockies sold his contract to the Kansas City Royals, which turned out to be a blessing. The Royals put him in the starting rotation, where he pitched quite well over the rest of the year. He made 20 starts in 21 appearances in the American League, with a record of 4-6, a 4.11 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 124 2/3 innings. He was back in the Royals' starting rotation after starting 2012 on the disabled list with a strained forearm. He was excellent. In 7 starts, 3-1, with a 1.67 ERA and over a strikeout per inning. However, he went back on the disabled list with a groin strain on June 6th after taking a line drive off his hip in the 1st inning of a start against the Minnesota Twins, then was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his elbow after feeling something pop during a rehabilitation start with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on June 20th. He underwent Tommy John surgery, the fourth Royals pitcher to do so that year, after Joakim Soria, Danny Duffy and Blake Wood.