Mike Villa

Michael Thomas Villa

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.

• Born July 6, 1964

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Mike Villa spent 8 seasons in the minors, including two at AAA. He spent almost his entire career in the San Francisco Giants system.

Villa began his career with the 1983 Great Falls Giants and did a poor job, going 1-1 with a save and a 7.22 ERA. He walked 21 and threw 10 wild pitches in 28 2/3 innings. Despite his limited workload, he tied for 5th in the Pioneer League in wild pitches. He made progress in 1984 with the Everett Giants (0-1, 6.23) and Clinton Giants (2-4, 3.86), with a combined 4.20 ERA and only 41 hits in 60 innings. His control was far from good but was improved with 36 walks and 11 wild pitches. With Clinton for all of 1985, he had a fine year at 7-5, 2.65 with 7 saves. He allowed 74 hits in 102 innings, walking 54. Had he qualified, he would have been 6th in the Midwest League in ERA.

Moving up to the Fresno Giants in 1986, Mike was 5-2 with 8 saves and a 4.45 ERA, walking 48 in 64 2/3 innings. The Giants then dealt him to the Cincinnati Reds with Frank Williams and Timber Mead in exchange for Eddie Milner. Assigned to the Tampa Tarpons, the right-hander was 3-1 with 4 saves and a 5.40 ERA in 22 games. He finished the season back in the Giants system, going 3-7 with 3 saves and a 3.65 ERA in 18 contests with Clinton.

Villa bounced around in 1988, making stops for the San Jose Giants (1.65, 3 Sv in 7 G), Clinton (0-1, 4 Sv, 2.16 in 9 G) and the Phoenix Firebirds (4-1, 5.16 in 25 G). He walked 53 in 91 innings for the year. He ended his minor league career in 1989, pitching for Phoenix (2-3, 3 Sv, 2.97 in 14 G, 18 BB in 30 1/3 IP) and the Tuneros de San Luis Potosi (11-7, 16 Sv, 3.22).

For his career, Mike had gone 38-33 with 49 saves in 239 minor league games (26 starts). He allowed 511 hits in 574 innings, striking out 436 and walking 321, having battled wildness throughout his career. His ERA was 3.87.

Sources

• 1984-1985 Baseball Guides
• 1986-1987 Baseball America Statistics Reports
• 1988-1990 Baseball Almanacs
• The Mexican League: Comprehensive Player Statistics by Pedro Treto Cisneros