Javy Guerra (guerrja01)

Luis Javier Guerra

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 205 lb.
• High School Billy Ryan High School
• Debut May 15, 2011
• Final Game August 21, 2021
• Born October 31, 1985 in Denton, TX USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Javy Guerra came to the majors in 2011.

He was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2004 amateur draft, one of seven straight right-handed hurlers taken that round. Ross Ohlendorf, Casey Janssen, Collin Balester and Lucas Harrell were in that group and preceded Guerra to the big show. Guerra was signed by scout Mike Leuzinger and debuted as a pro with the 2004 GCL Dodgers, going 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA and .214 opponent average, but walking 19 in 40 innings. The Texan was 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA for the 2005 Columbus Catfish. Demoted to the Ogden Raptors in 2006, he had a 1-3, 4.82 record and a WHIP over 2.

In 2007, the 21-year-old was 6-9 with a hefty 6.27 ERA for the Inland Empire 66ers, walking 80 in 117 2/3 IP. He led the California League in walks, tied for 5th in hit batsmen (14) and tied for fifth in wild pitches (16). He did rank 8th with 121 strikeouts. Baseball America rated him the #20 prospect in the Dodgers chain. Back with the 66ers as a reliever in '08, he improved to 5-4, 2 Sv, 4.07 but again was wild (44 BB in 66 1/3 IP). On a good note, he did not serve up a home run in the high-flying Cal League atmosphere. In the Hawaiian Winter League, he had a loss, a save and a 4.24 ERA and struck out 28 in 23 innings.

Javy split 2009 between the Great Lakes Loons (3-1, 16 Sv, 1.54, 55 K in 41 IP, .161 opponent average) and Chattanooga Lookouts (3-1, 4.13, 29 K in 28 1/3 IP). He then allowed two runs in 10 2/3 IP for the Peoria Javelinas in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. He tossed one shutout inning in the AFL's Rising Stars Game. He was also added to the Dodgers' 40-man roster.

Guerra battled a back injury that cost him almost a month and a right bicep injury that cost him him over two months in 2010. When healthy, he did well for the Chattanooga Lookouts - 2-0, 5 Sv, 2.33, 27 K in 27 IP. He also had a rehab stint with the AZL Dodgers. He again played in the AFL, this time for the Phoenix Desert Dogs (1.80 ERA). He began 2011 back with Chattanooga, going 1-0 with 3 saves, a 1.06 ERA and only 8 hits in 17 innings. He was called up to the Dodgers when Blake Hawksworth went on the DL.

He made his big league debut with the Dodgers on May 15, 2011, throwing one inning of scoreless relief against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Relieving Scott Elbert with a 4-1 deficit in the 9th, he got Melvin Mora on a grounder. Chris Young singled but was caught stealing, then Kelly Johnson went down swinging.

On July 8, 2015, while pitching for the Charlotte Knights, he was suspended for 50 games for a second positive test for a banned suspense.

Notable Achievements

• Won one World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019

Related Sites

• Javy Guerra on mlb.com