Walter Silva

Walter Joel Silva Escalante

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.

• Debut April 8, 2009
• Final Game July 6, 2009
• Born January 4, 1977 in Mazatlán, Sinaloa MEX

BR page

Biographical Information

Walter Silva pitched for seven seasons in the minor leagues before making his major league debut with the San Diego Padres in 2009.

Silva debuted in 2002 with the Monterrey Sultans, going 1-2 with a 4.99 ERA. In 2003, he went 0-4 with a 4.86 ERA and joined the Mexican entry for the 2003 Baseball World Cup; he was 0-2 with a 5.63 ERA in the event but struck out 10 in 8 innings. He was 5-6 with a 5.20 ERA in 2004.

In 2005, Walter was with Monterrey (0-2, 13.08) and Taiwan's La New Bears (1-5, 4.77).

He returned in 2006 to go 11-7 with a 3.93 ERA for Monterrey, one of their top hurlers that season. In the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games, Silva was 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA for Mexico, which won Bronze. In 2007, Walter was 6-3 with a 3.40 ERA. He got the call in game 7 of the Mexican League finals and outdueled Oscar Rivera, 2-1.

Silva had a 5.14 ERA in two games for the Yaquis de Obregon in the 2008 Caribbean Series; he got a no-decision in the start against the Tigres del Licey when the Yaquis handed Licey its lone loss of the Series. He was 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA for Mexico in the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament, tying Germany's André Hughes for 9th in ERA. Silva had a tough call in that tourney when he had a to face the South Korean national team, yet still wound up one of Mexico's top pitchers on a staff with several former major leaguers.

Silva fell to 7-8, 4.21 in 2008 but Monterrey still made it to the finals before falling to the Mexico City Red Devils. Walter still was picked for Mexico's squad for the 2008 Americas Baseball Cup. He was one of the top pitchers in the event, allowing one run (unearned) in 13 1/3 IP, striking out 27. He led in strikeouts, 10 ahead of runner-up Pablo Morales. He was second in ERA to Johnny Gregorius (also 0.00, but 1 2/3 more innings); Gregorius beat him out for All-Star honors.

Silva made the San Diego Padres' roster out of spring training 2009 and made his major league debut as a starter facing the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 8, giving up two runs in 5 innings of work. In his second start on April 13, he faced the New York Mets as they inaugurated their new ballpark, Citi Field; he hit a single and scored a run as the Padres built an early 5-1 lead, but gave up a three-run game-tying home run to David Wright with two outs in the fifth and left with a no-decision.

Sources

• 2007 Baseball Guide
• Defunct IBAF site
• MILB.com
• Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database
• 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
• 2008 Americas Baseball Cup
• Chinese Wiki Baseball

Related Sites

• Walter Silva on mlb.com