Pedro Viola

Pedro Viola

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

• Debut September 8, 2009
• Final Game July 7, 2011
• Born June 25, 1983 in San Juan de la Maguana, San Juan D.R.

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Biographical Information

Pedro Viola was the only minor leaguer on the Dominican roster in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He made his major league debut with the Cincinnati Reds at the end of that season.

Viola was a surprisingly late signing for a Dominican Republic native, not inking a deal until he was 22 years old, when scouts Luis Baez and Maximo Rombley of the Reds signed him for $1,000. The San Francisco Giants had originally signed him for $20,000, but voided the deal when they discovered he had forged a birth certificate to make himself appear three years younger.

In 2006, Viola went 3-5 with a 2.04 ERA for the DSL Reds, striking out 77 in 61 2/3 innings. He had a rapid rise through the minors in 2007. He began with the Dayton Dragons, going 3-1 with 2 saves and a 1.87 ERA in 22 games, fanning 49 and only allowing 29 hits in 43 1/3 innings. He made the Midwest League mid-season All-Star team. He was promoted to the Sarasota Reds and went 0-1 with 2 saves and a 0.90 ERA, striking out 28 and giving up 14 hits in 20 innings. Promoted once more, to the Chattanooga Lookouts, he saved two games and had a 0.95 ERA, allowing 12 hits and striking out 17 in 19 innings. Overall, he had given up only 55 hits in 82 1/3 innings. He had a 1.42 ERA altogether. He then starred for the Surprise Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, giving up 2 runs in 20 innings while striking out 28.

Back with Chattanooga in 2008, the southpaw went 4-7 with 2 saves and a 4.48 ERA, striking out 84 in 82 1/3 innings. In the AFL this time, he struggled, going 2-2 with a 8.20 ERA. He also pitched for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican League, posting a 2-0, 7.72 record. Despite his rough fall and winter, he was a late addition to the World Baseball Classic roster for the Dominican national team, after several pitchers backed out at the last minute. He was the only player on the roster with no MLB experience. He made his only appearance in the 9th inning of the win over Panama. He struck out Javier Castillo and César Quintero then got Concepcion Rodriguez to pop out.

Pedro was 2-2 with 8 saves and a 5.47 ERA in 54 games for the 2009 Louisville Bats, walking 33 but striking out 57 in 49 1/3 IP.

Viola got his first taste of major league action with the 2009 Reds when the rosters expanded in September. He gave up a run in two innings of relief against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 8th.

Primary Source: 2009 Reds Media Guide

Related Sites

• Pedro Viola on mlb.com