Joe Roa was a professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. He was born on October 11, 1971, in Southfield, Michigan, and attended Lake Orion High School in Michigan. Roa was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 22nd round of the 1990 MLB draft, but he did not sign with the team. Instead, he attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where he played college baseball for the Bradley Braves.
Roa began his professional baseball career in 1993 when he signed with the Houston Astros as an undrafted free agent. He spent several years in the Astros' minor league system before making his MLB debut on June 6, 1997, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Roa pitched six innings in his debut, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out four batters. He earned his first MLB win in his next start against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Roa played for the Astros for two seasons before being traded to the Montreal Expos in 1999. He had a career-best season with the Expos in 2000, posting a 3.56 ERA in 29 starts. Roa was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2001, where he struggled with injuries and inconsistency. He was released by the Orioles in 2002 and signed with the Colorado Rockies, where he played for one season.
Roa's final MLB season was in 2004, when he played for the Toronto Blue Jays. He appeared in 22 games for the Blue Jays, starting 11 of them and posting a 5.77 ERA. Roa became a free agent after the season and did not sign with another MLB team.
Overall, Roa played in 132 MLB games, starting 77 of them. He had a career record of 28-31 with a 5.14 ERA and 326 strikeouts. Roa was known for his sinkerball, which he used to induce ground balls and keep hitters off balance. He was also a good fielder, winning a Gold Glove award in 2000 for his defensive skills.
After his playing career, Roa became a coach and instructor. He worked as a pitching coach for the Traverse City Beach Bums of the Frontier League and the Normal CornBelters of the Frontier League. Roa also worked as a pitching instructor for the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs. In 2018, he was named the pitching coach for the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League.
In conclusion, Joe Roa was a professional baseball player who had a solid career as a pitcher in the MLB. He played for several teams over the course of his career and was known for his sinkerball and defensive skills. After his playing career, Roa became a coach and instructor, helping to develop young pitchers in the minor leagues.
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