Omar Poveda

Omar Poveda Jimenez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 185-235 lb.

• Born September 28, 1987 in Turmero, Aragua, Venezuela

Minors BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Omar Poveda played professionally from 2005 to 2018.

Poveda signed initially with Texas Rangers scouts Andres Espinoza and Manny Batista. He made his pro debut in 2005, going 2-6 with a 5.71 ERA for the AZL Rangers while tying T.J. Franco for the Arizona League lead in losses. He tied Tommy Mendoza and Mark Pawelek for 8th in the AZL with 56 K (over one per inning) while walking only 12. He continued his losing ways in 2006, split between the Clinton Lumber Kings (4-13, 4.88) and Frisco RoughRiders (0-1, 2 R in 5 IP). He was among the Midwest League leaders in losses (tied for 3rd with Ryan Schreppel), balks (4, tied for second, one behind Jesus Yepez) and strikeouts (133, tied for 9th with Travis Wood). Among Rangers farmhands, he was second to Jake Rasner in losses, 4th in hits allowed (171), 4th in runs allowed (94), 4th in earned runs (82) and 4th in strikeouts (134).

Omar turned it around in 2007. He was much sharper with Clinton (11-4, 2.79, .208 opponent average) and also pitched for the Bakersfield Blaze (1-2, 5.14). He was second in the Midwest League in ERA (behind Sean O'Sullivan), first in WHIP (1.00), first in lowest average and tied for 6th in wins. Among Rangers farmhands, he was second to Zach Phillips in ERA, third in strikeouts (behind Edinson Volquez and Phillips) and 4th in wins. Baseball America named him the MWL's #12 prospect, between Tyler Herron and Jeff Manship.

The right-hander was 4-4 with a 4.47 ERA for the 2008 Blaze, fanning 97 in 90 2/3 IP to lead California League starters in K rate. He allowed two runs in three innings that winter for the Venezuelan League's Tigres de Aragua in his debut in his homeland's top loop. In 2009, Poveda was with the Roughriders (11-5, 4.14) and AZL Rangers (0 R in 3 IP). His K rate was way down as he fanned only 78 in 140 1/3 innings. He tied Lance Lynn, Graham Godfrey and Sergio Perez for third in the Texas League in wins. He tied Tanner Roark for the most wins by a Texas minor leaguer. He was 2-2 with a 3.63 ERA for Aragua in the winter.

He missed the entire 2010 season following Tommy John surgery. While recovering from the surgery, he was traded along with Evan Reed to the Florida Marlins for Jorge Cantu. He was 8-6 with a 4.32 ERA for the 2011 Jacksonville Suns, finishing 8th in the Southern League in whiffs (113) and wild pitches (11), 9th in runs allowed (83), tied for 5th in earned runs allowed (75) and tied for 5th with Brooks Raley with 11 wild pitches. He tied Tom Koehler for 4th in the Marlins system in strikeouts. He split 2012 between Jacksonville (6-3, 4.71) and the New Orleans Zephyrs (4-3, 4.90), finishing among the Marlins chain leaders in wins (tied for 5th with Kevin Cravey) and homers allowed (16, 3rd behind J.D. Martin and Graham Taylor).

He moved on to the Atlanta Braves organization in 2013.

Sources

• 2012 Marlins Media Guide
• Purapelota