Radhamés Liz

Radhames Corey Liz Gomez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut August 25, 2007
• Final Game September 10, 2015
• Born October 6, 1983 in El Seibo, El Seibo D.R.

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Biographical Information

Radhames Liz made his major league debut in 2007.

Liz was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 2003 thanks to scout Carlos Bernhardt. He went 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA that year in the Dominican Summer League and followed with a 7-3, 2.29 season in 2004. He was not anyone near the lead in the league in ERA but he ranked among the leaders in strikeouts (the 2007 Orioles Media Guide says he was 3rd with 109, the 2005 Baseball Almanac places him 5th with 99).

In 2005, Liz bounced between the Delmarva Shorebirds (2-3, 4.46, 55 K in 38 1/3 IP) and the Aberdeen Ironbirds (5-4, 1.77, .188 opponent average, 19 BB and 82 K in 56 IP). He was 4th in the New York-Penn League in strikeouts and would have been second in ERA had he qualified. He was rated as the league's 5th-best prospect by Baseball America, right ahead of Jacoby Ellsbury.

Radhames split 2006 between the Frederick Keys (6-5, 2.82, .196 averaged allowed, 10.30 K/9) and the Bowie Baysox (3-1, 5.36). With Frederick, he started the first minor league no-hitter of the season, against the Salem Avalanche; he was succeeded by Russ Petrick, Jeff Montani and Casey Cahill. In the 2006 Futures Game, Liz pitched 2/3 of a scoreless inning for the World in their 8-5 defeat; he had one of their three strikeouts. Baseball America ranked him as the #9 prospect in the Carolina League, between Neil Walker and Scott Lewis and the #19 prospect in the Eastern League (between Gio Gonzalez and Garrett Olson). He would have ranked 4th in the Carolina League in ERA had he qualified. Baseball America tabbed him as Baltimore's 6th-best prospect.

In the Dominican Winter League, Liz was 0-1 with a 2.42 ERA for the Estrellas Orientales.

Liz began 2007 with Bowie and went 11-4 with a 3.22 ERA, .204 opponent average and 161 K in 137 IP. Liz was third in the Eastern League in ERA behind Alan Horne and Jair Jurrjens, was leading in strikeouts and was tied for 5th in wins with Chuck Lofgren, Kevin Mulvey and Kip Bouknight when he was called up to Minnesota to replace Brian Burres on the roster. He finished the year second in the EL in ERA behind Horne, second in strikeouts (four behind Horne) and first in opponent average. He lost out Pitcher of the Year honors to Horne. He was timed at 100 mph and threw a no-hitter against the Harrisburg Senators. At year's end, Baseball America rated him as the #12 EL prospect, between Jordan Brown and Justin Masterson. He debuted in the majors against the Twins and fanned his first MLB opponent, Jason Tyner. Liz allowed 5 runs in 6 innings, though, despite giving up just 4 hits. He walked 3 and struck out 5. A 3-run homer by Torii Hunter was the key blow. His time in the majors that year was not productive (0-2, 6.93 in 9 G, 23 BB in 24 2/3 IP).

Radhames split 2008 between the Orioles (6-6 but with a 6.72 ERA and 1.78 WHIP) and the AAA Norfolk Tides (3-7, 3.62). The right-hander bounced around the next year, making appearances for Bowie (4-1, 2.62), Norfolk (0-3, 5.68) and the 2009 Orioles (10 R, 8 H in 1 1/3 IP). Waived by Baltimore, he was claimed by the San Diego Padres. For the 2010 Portland Beavers, he was 8-8 with a 4.83 ERA, better than his work the prior two years, and walked only 38 in 123 innings, showing better control.

Liz signed with the LG Twins for 2011. He was their Opening Day starter but gave up three runs in six innings, thanks to homers by Hyun-soo Kim and Dong-joo Kim, taking the loss against Dustin Nippert and the Doosan Bears.

After not playing in the majors since 2009, he made his big league return on April 8, 2015 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. When Charlie Morton came off the DL in late May, though, Liz found himself the odd man out on the staff and was designated for assignment, with Vance Worley moving from the rotation to Liz's long relief role.

Sources: 2007 Orioles Media Guide, MLB.com, 2005-2008 Baseball Almanacs

Related Sites

• Radhames Liz on mlb.com