Heriberto Ruelas Jr.

Heriberto Ruelas

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 234 lb.

• Born May 28, 1982 in Los Mochis, Sinaloa Mexico

The son of 1960s-1970s Mexican League player Heriberto Ruelas Sr., Heriberto Ruelas Jr. is a lefty pitcher like his father.

Ruelas debuted in the 2000 Arizona League with AZL Mexico, going 0-3 with a 8.08 ERA. He allowed 33 hits and struck out 24 in 22 1/3 IP. He made his Mexican League debut in 2002 with the Cafeteros de Córdoba, going 3-5 with a 7.73 ERA. In 2003, Ruelas was 3-2 with a 5.16 ERA for the Mexico City Red Devils. Ruelas went 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in the 2003 Baseball World Cup. He allowed 21 hits and 13 walks in 14 2/3 IP for the 2004 Red Devils, posting a 11.05 ERA.

In 2005, Heriberto was 0-2 with a 11.25 ERA as a LOOGY for Mexico City. He allowed 26 hits in 16 innings spread out over 38 games. In 2006, Ruelas was 3-0 with a 4.23 ERA for the Monterrey Sultans, working a total of 27 2/3 IP in 38 games. In the winter of '06, the left-hander was 1-0 with a 7.84 ERA for the Cañeros de Los Mochis and totaled just 10 1/3 IP in 25 contests.

Ruelas pitched 36 games and 27 innings for Mexico City in 2007, going 2-2 with a save and a 6.33 ERA. He gave up a .330 batting average. In 2008, Heriberto pitched 44 games (35 innings) for Mexico City and was 2-1 with a 5.91 ERA. He had an excellent winter with the Cañeros, going 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA in 38 games (35 innings). He allowed only 20 hits and fanned 36. Perhaps hoping he had turned the corner, Mexico put him on their provisional roster for the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Sources

• MILB.com
• SABR database
• 2005 Baseball Guide
• Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database