Edinson Volquez is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on July 3, 1983, in Barahona, Dominican Republic. Volquez began his professional baseball career in 2001 when he signed with the Texas Rangers as an amateur free agent.
Volquez made his MLB debut with the Rangers in 2005, but he struggled in his first few seasons. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2007, where he began to show his potential as a starting pitcher. In 2008, he had a breakout season, finishing with a 17-6 record and a 3.21 ERA. He was named an All-Star that year and finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting.
Volquez continued to pitch well for the Reds over the next few seasons, but he was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2011. He struggled in his first season with the Padres, but he bounced back in 2012, finishing with a 11-11 record and a 4.14 ERA. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, but he only made six starts for them before being traded again, this time to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Volquez had a solid season for the Pirates in 2014, finishing with a 13-7 record and a 3.04 ERA. He helped lead the team to the playoffs, where they lost in the National League Wild Card Game. He signed with the Kansas City Royals in 2015, and he played a key role in their World Series championship that year. He started three games in the World Series, including the decisive Game 5, and he finished with a 1-1 record and a 3.46 ERA.
Volquez continued to pitch for the Royals over the next few seasons, but he struggled with injuries and inconsistency. He signed with the Miami Marlins in 2017, where he pitched for two seasons before being released in 2018. He signed with the Texas Rangers in 2019, but he only made eight starts for them before being released again.
Volquez announced his retirement from baseball in 2020. Over his career, he finished with a 93-87 record and a 4.44 ERA. He was known for his fastball, which could reach speeds of up to 98 miles per hour, as well as his changeup and curveball. He was also known for his resilience and determination, having overcome several setbacks and injuries throughout his career.
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