Carlos Villanueva is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on November 28, 1983, in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Villanueva began his professional baseball career in 2002 when he was signed as an amateur free agent by the San Francisco Giants.
Villanueva made his MLB debut on June 23, 2006, for the Milwaukee Brewers. He played for the Brewers for four seasons, from 2006 to 2010, and was primarily used as a relief pitcher. During his time with the Brewers, Villanueva had a record of 27 wins and 28 losses, with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.34.
In 2011, Villanueva signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent. He played for the Blue Jays for two seasons, from 2011 to 2012, and was used as both a starter and a reliever. During his time with the Blue Jays, Villanueva had a record of 16 wins and 14 losses, with an ERA of 4.16.
After his stint with the Blue Jays, Villanueva signed with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent in 2013. He played for the Cubs for two seasons, from 2013 to 2014, and was primarily used as a relief pitcher. During his time with the Cubs, Villanueva had a record of 8 wins and 16 losses, with an ERA of 4.64.
In 2015, Villanueva signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent. He played for the Cardinals for one season, in 2015, and was primarily used as a relief pitcher. During his time with the Cardinals, Villanueva had a record of 4 wins and 3 losses, with an ERA of 2.95.
Villanueva's final season in MLB was in 2016, when he signed with the San Diego Padres as a free agent. He played for the Padres for one season, in 2016, and was primarily used as a relief pitcher. During his time with the Padres, Villanueva had a record of 3 wins and 8 losses, with an ERA of 5.96.
Overall, Villanueva had a career record of 58 wins and 69 losses, with an ERA of 4.26. He appeared in 384 games, including 91 starts, and pitched a total of 1,064 innings. Villanueva was known for his versatility as a pitcher, as he was able to pitch effectively as both a starter and a reliever. He was also known for his ability to throw multiple pitches, including a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup.
After retiring from baseball, Villanueva became a baseball analyst for ESPN Deportes. He also founded the Carlos Villanueva Foundation, which aims to provide educational opportunities for underprivileged children in the Dominican Republic.
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