Luis Escobar

Note: This page is for 2010s pitcher Luis Escobar; for others with than name, click here.

Luis Alberto Escobar Hernandez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 205 lb.

• Debut July 13, 2019
• Final Game July 24, 2019
• Born May 30, 1996 in Cartagena, Bolívar Colombia

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Luis Escobar made his major league debut in 2019.

He was signed by Pittsburgh Pirates scouts Rene Gayo and Orlando Covo on July 8, 2013. He began his pro career in 2014 with the DSL Pirates where he was 2-4, 4.75 in 13 games. In 2015, he split his time between the GCL Pirates and West Virginia Black Bears of the New York-Penn League with the vast majority of his work still at the Rookie classification, going a combined 2-1, 3.83 in another 13 starts. He was back with West Virginia in 2016, and was 6-5, 2.93 in 15 games.

In 2017, he was on the Colombian national team's designated pitcher pool for the 2017 World Baseball Classic, but as one of the pitchers who would have been activated only had Colombia made it past the first round, something which the country missed by the smallest of margins. During the season, he was with another team named West Virginia, the West Virginia Power, this one based in Charleston, WV and playing full-season ball in the South Atlantic League (the Black Bears were based in Morgantown, WV). He had his best season yet as a pro, with a record of 10-7, 3.83 in 26 games. He pitched 131 2/3 innings and struck out 168 batters. He led Pirates farmhands in whiffs, 28 ahead of Tyler Glasnow, and tied for the most wins. He also led the SAL in Ks, 16 more than runner-up Joey Wentz, while tying for 5th in wins. He was named to the World Team for the 2017 Futures Game, and was also named a low Class A All-Star by Baseball America.

In 2018, the Colombian hurler continued his progression up the Pirates' organizational ladder, starting off with the Bradenton Marauders in the Florida State League and ending the year pitching in AA for the first time, with a late July call-up to the Altoona Curve of the Eastern League. Combined, he went 11-6, 4.14 in 24 games. His strikeout rate fell markedly, though, to 110 in 128 1/3 innings. He was 6th among Pirates minor leaguers in strikeouts (between Tyler Eppler and Clay Holmes) and tied Eduardo Vera for 5th in wins. That year he played in the winter leagues for the first time, lining up with the Aguilas del Zulia in the Venezuelan League and going 0-2 with a 4.70 ERA.

He began 2019 back with Bradenton (3 Sv, 0 R in 13 1/3 IP) then jumped past Altoona to the Indianapolis Indians (2-1, Sv, 2.72 in 13 G, 42 K in 36 1/3 IP but 20 BB). With Pittsburgh pitchers battling injuries, he got called up to the majors shortly before the 2019 All-Star Game. He made his major league debut just after the All-Star break in 2019, with two scoreless innings of relief in a 10-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs on July 13th. He entered in the bottom of the 5th with the Bucs already down, 10-1. He fanned Jon Lester (who had homered and doubled earlier in the day) then gave up a single to Kyle Schwarber. Javier Báez singled but Schwarber was out trying to advance. Kris Bryant grounded out to end the inning. After Pittsburgh got one back in the 6th, Anthony Rizzo singled. Willson Contreras popped out and Jason Heyward singled but Addison Russell hit into a double play. Corey Dickerson batted for him in the 7th. He was the 9th major league pitcher from Colombia but already the 4th Colombian to pitch in the majors in 2019.

Related Sites

• Luis Escobar on mlb.com
• BR Minors page