Ronald Medrano

Ronald Jose Medrano Obando

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.

• Born September 17, 1995 in Managua Nicaragua

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Biographical Information

Ronald Medrano has pitched in the Dominican Republic, USA, Nicaragua and Spain.

Medrano was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in August 2012. He was 2-2 with a 2.80 ERA in eight starts for the 2013 DSL Cardinals but missed 2014 due to injury. He split 2015 between the DSL Cardinals (3-2, 2.20 in 11 G) and GCL Cardinals (1-1, 3.60 in 6 G). He ended his minor league career at 6-5, 2.63 in 25 games (15 starts).

He then played in his native Nicaragua. He had four saves and a 3.94 ERA for Dantos in 2018. In 2019, he was 10-1 with a save and a 2.98 ERA. He was a near-identical 10-2, 2.91 in 2020, leading in wins and strikeouts (86). During 2021, he was 16-9 with a 2.35 ERA and tied four others for the win lead.

The Managua native next signed with Spain's Marlins Puerto Cruz. In the 2022 Confederation Cup, he beat the Barracudas de Montpellier and Mathis Nayral in the 3rd/4th place game, allowing only one hit (to Paolo Brossier) in six shutout innings before Gerardo Finol saved it. When the Marlins won the Division de Honor, he was 9-0 with a 1.52 ERA and 103 K in 65 IP, allowing 37 hits and 11 walks. In the title game, he started a combined no-hitter to beat the Astros Valencia. He tied Jorge Balboa for third in wins, tied Balboa for third in complete games (3), led with two shutouts, led in strikeouts (10 ahead of Balboa) despite being only 10th in innings and was second in ERA (.36 behind Yeudy Garcia).

Joining the Spanish national team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, he started their opener and dueled Justin Erasmus of South Africa, relieved by Daniel Álvarez in the 6th with a 2-1 lead. He had allowed only two hits (by Benjamin Smith and Tyrone Milne) and two walks while fanning four. He did not get the win as South Africa tied it before Spain rallied to win. While Spain had long relied on Venezuelans and Cubans to bolster their national team, a Nicaraguan like Medrano was rare; it is unclear if he may have been the first. Spain turned to him again in the finale against the Czech national team. He struck out 8 in 4 innings but allowed a two-run homer to Martin Mužík and a solo shot to Marek Chlup, losing a 3-1 decision to Martin Schneider; García closed it out. He tied countrymate Osman Gutiérrez for second in the WBC qualifiers in IP (one behind Schneider) and led in Ks (3 ahead of García).

Five months after donning a Spanish uniform, Medrano was in a Nicaraguan uniform for the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games Central American Qualifier. He teamed with Duque Hebbert and Goffrey Bennett on a one-hitter to beat Honduras's David García in the opener. In the championship game, he allowed two hits in five shutout innings to beat Darlyn Rodríguez and Honduras; Gutiérrez took over in the 6th inning. He tied Pablo Barquero for the event lead in wins, was 3rd in IP (after Barquero and Alejandro Amezquita), led in ERA (Juan Giron was also at 0.00, in 3 fewer IP) and tied Barquero for the most whiffs (17). He was named the event's All-Star starting pitcher though the MVP went to Lombardo Padilla.

After Spain failed to qualify for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, he still got to appear in the event when he was on Nicaragua's team. He was their top hurler with a 0.00 ERA in 2 IP; Gutiérrez was next at 0.00 in 1 1/3. He started versus Israel, but had a rocky first. Garrett Stubbs singled but Zack Gelof hit into a double play. Joc Pederson was plunked, Matt Mervis singled and Alex Dickerson walked but Ryan Lavarnway went down swinging; he had allowed four baserunners but no runs. He whiffed Spencer Horwitz to open the second then Noah Mendlinger reached on a Cheslor Cuthbert miscue. He walked Ty Kelly but got Stubbs and Gelof, the latter on his 3rd K of the day. Leo Crawford relieved with the game scoreless, as Dean Kremer was blanking Nicaragua; they wound up falling, 3-1. His fine work in Spain in 2023 and in international competition earned him a second look in the US minors.

Signing with the Kansas City Royals, he split the summer between the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (1-1, 5.23 in 9 G) and Quad Cities River Bandits (3 R in 5 IP). He was with the Gigantes de Rivas in the 2024 Caribbean Series, the first Caribbean Series for a Nicaraguan League team. He went four shutout innings against the Federales de Chiriquí but Heitor Tokar matched him. He left with one out and two on in the 5th and Fidencio Flores allowed an inherited runner to score, giving Medrano the loss despite a solid outing.