Pedro Báez

Note: This page is for major league pitcher Pedro Báez; for others with similar names, click here.

Pedro Alberys Báez de la Cruz
(The Human Rain Delay; La Mula)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 230 lb.

• Debut May 5, 2014

• Born March 11, 1988 in Bani, Peravia D.R.

BR page

Biographical Information

Pedro Báez was twice picked for the Futures Game as an infielder, but he made the big leagues as a relief weapon.

Báez was signed by Los Angeles Dodgers scout Elvio Jimenez for $200,000 in 2007. He debuted that year, hitting .274/.341/.408 for the GCL Dodgers with 39 RBI in 53 games, the second-highest RBI total in the Gulf Coast League after Alfredo Silverio. Pedro was rated the league's 6th best prospect by Baseball America, trailing only Michael Burgess, Jesus Montero, Ben Revere, Che-Hsuan Lin and John Tolisano. The 20-year-old split 2008 between the Great Lakes Loons (.178/.244/.259 in 59 games) and the Ogden Raptors (.267/.317/.502, 12 homers, 50 RBI in 61 games). He was 6th in the Pioneer League in RBI and tied for 6th in homers. He also led in putouts (47), assists (129), errors (20) and double plays (16) at third base. Baseball America ranked him the loop's 11th-best prospect, right behind teammate Kyle Russell.

In 2009, Báez hit .286/.326/.445 for the Inland Empire 66ers, missing the last couple months due to left knee surgery. He played for the World team in the 2009 Futures Game. Pinch-hitting for Luis Durango in the 7th, he grounded out against Trevor Reckling. He stayed in the game at first, replacing Alex Liddi. Pedro began 2010 with the 66ers and hit .278/.317/.440 in 29 games, also spending two games on a rehab stint with the AZL Dodgers. He was picked for the 2010 Futures Game. Pinch-hitting for Liddi, he singled off Jordan Lyles in the 6th. He remained at third base and struck out in the 8th against Anthony Slama. Despite making the Futures Game twice, his career as a position player stalled as he spent parts of three seasons with the Double A Chattanooga Lookouts, from 2010-2012, without taking the next step up. He finished 2010 at .259/.306/.350 in 75 games for the 66ers in a hitter-friendly league and was 10 for 26 with a double and two walks for the Lookouts. In 2011, he hit just .210/.278/.381 in 32 games for Chattanooga before an injury ended his year. His woes continued in 2012 with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (.228/.287/.429 in 50 games) and the Lookouts (.216/.319/.337 in 78 games).

In 2013, the Dodgers decided to turn him into a pitcher, and his status as a prospect was reignited. He split the summer between the Quakes (2-2, 2 saves, 3.63 in 32 games) and Lookouts (1-1, 4.24 in 16 games), striking out 55 in 58 innings. He was 8th in the Dodgers chain in games pitched. In the Arizona Fall League, he fanned six and allowed no runs in 4 1/3 innings for the Glendale Desert Dogs. He opened 2014 well with the Lookouts (1-0, 5 saves, 2.84 in 11 games). Within a year and a couple of months of taking up pitching, and fewer than 50 minor league pitching appearances, he made his big league debut for the Dodgers on May 5, 2014. Called up to replace Stephen Fife, he made his debut in the 8th inning of a loss to the Washington Nationals. He allowed a single to Ian Desmond and a homer to Danny Espinosa before calming down to fan Kevin Frandsen, retire Sandy León and strike out Tyler Moore.

Báez is known to be an extremely slow worker on the mound, taking more time between pitches than any other major league pitcher. In 2017, he received several written warnings from commissioner Rob Manfred to pick up his pace. That year, Jeremy Jeffress became the slowest working reliever in the game.

Notable Achievements

• Won one World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020

Further Reading

• Ted Berg: "Dodgers pitcher Pedro Baez is baseball's slowest worker and it's agonizing to watch", "For the Win!", USA Today Sports, October 21, 2016. [1]

Sources

• 2010 and 2014 Dodgers Media Guides
• 2008-2010 Baseball Almanacs

Related Sites

• Pedro Baez on mlb.com
• BR Minors page