Francisco Jiménez (minors04)

Francisco Antonio Jimenez

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 164 lb.
• Born October 2, 1988 in La Vega, La Vega D.R.

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Francisco Jimenez was signed by the Cleveland Indians in 2007; the scout was Junior Betances. He played two summers in the Dominican Summer League. He allowed eight runs in four innings for the 2007 DSL Indians but improved to 4-1, 2.87 with a save and 67 K in 63 1/3 IP the next year. He split 2009 between the AZL Indians and the Lake County Captains, going 8-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 19 games between the two clubs.Overall, he struck out 59 in 49 1/3 IP. He began the 2010 season back with Lake County and had another good year, going 8-1, 3.59 with a save in 35 games as a middle reliever. He also pitched one game for AAA Columbus, but that did not go so well, as he gave up 8 hits and 6 runs in 1 2/3 innings.

In 2011, he returned once more to Lake County to begin the season. In his second outing of the year, he pitched four hitless innings in relief of Trey Haley as the two combined with closer Clayton Ehlert on a 3-1 no-hitter against the Dayton Dragons on April 11. As the pitcher of the middle section of the game, Jimenez got credit for the win. He pitched 6 times for Lake County, going 2-0, 2.37, then was promoted to the Kinston Indians in the Carolina League. He continue to do well there, going 4-3, 3.23 in 26 games, including 7 starts. He struck out 75 batters in 69 2/3 innings, while walking only 23.

He was back in the Carolina League to start 2012, but was now with the Carolina Mudcats, the Kinston team having moved. Still not considered much of a prospect in spite of his success at almost every stop, he began the season in long relief.