Gabriel Alfaro

Gabriel E. Alfaro Gibori

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 215 lb.

• Born June 14, 1983 in Puerto Ordaz, Bolivar Venezuela

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Gabriel Alfaro has pitched in the US, Mexico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

Alfaro debuted in 2002 with Carora, going 4-4 with a 1.93 ERA. The next year, he was 1-4 with a 2.23 ERA for the DSL Blue Jays, walking only four in 36 1/3 innings. He had a 5-0, 2.47 record for the DSL Blue Jays in '04. With the Cardenales de Lara that winter, he struggled in his Venezuelan Winter League debut, with 3 hits, a walk and two earned runs in 1 1/3 IP. He made it to the US in 2005 with the Auburn Doubledays but was just 2-4 with a save and a 6.23 ERA. He allowed a .315 average but did strike out 36 in 30 1/3 IP. He went 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA for Lara that winter, again fanning over a batter per inning. Back with Auburn in '06, he was 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA to end his time in the Toronto Blue Jays chain.

In 2006-2007, Gabriel was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA. Due to injury, he did not pitch again until 2008-2009, when he had a 3.14 ERA and no decisions in 13 outings for the Cardenales. Moving to the Navegantes del Magallanes, the righty was 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 2009-2010, walking 15 in 19 1/3 IP. He returned to the US in 2010 after a four-year absence, but performed poorly for the independent Camden Riversharks (3-6, Sv, 7.29, 1.82 WHIP in 32 G). The winter presented more woes as he was 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA for Magallanes, giving up four hits and six walks in 4 2/3 innings.

Alfaro was with the Venezuelan national team in the 2011 Baseball World Cup, going 1-1 with 3 saves and a 5.87 ERA as their closet, striking out 10 in 7 2/3 IP. He saved wins over South Korea, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic then got the 7-6 victory over Italy. He was crushed by the United States, though. Relieving Jesús Yépez with a 4-1 lead, one on and none out in the top of the 7th (in a game shortened to 7 innings due to rain outs), he walked A.J. Pollock. He struck out Tuffy Gosewisch but gave up singles to Joe Thurston and Chad Tracy to make it 4-2. Matt Clark singled to tie it at four, then Jordy Mercer hit a 3-run homer to put it away. In his final outing, he tossed a shutout 9th to wrap up the Venezuelan 8-3 win over host Panama in the 7th/8th place game. His 3 saves tied David Bergman and Yadier Pedroso for the Cup lead. In the 2011 Pan American Games, he easily had Venezuela's worst ERA, giving up four hits, a walk and five runs (three earned) in one inning over two games.

Gabriel did a good job in limited time with Magallanes in 2011-2012 (1-0, 1.50, 15 K in 12 IP). He signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca for 2012 and was a superb closer for them (6-2, 2.45, 26 Sv, .202 opponent average, 79 K in 66 IP). He was third in the Mexican League in saves, behind Jailen Peguero and Victor Moreno and tied for 7th in games pitched (57). Back with the Navegantes for the winter, he had a 3.71 ERA and no decisions in 13 outings (Bruce Rondon was the closer). He remained with the team for the 2013 Caribbean Series, his first appearance in that event.

Sources

• IBAF
• Baseball America
• 2011 Pan American Games
• MILB.com
• Purapelota