Joel Peralta is a former professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on March 23, 1976, in Bonao, Dominican Republic. Peralta began his professional baseball career in 1996 when he signed with the Oakland Athletics as an amateur free agent. However, he did not make his MLB debut until 2005 when he was called up by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Over the course of his career, Peralta played for several MLB teams, including the Angels, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Seattle Mariners. He was primarily used as a relief pitcher and was known for his ability to throw a variety of pitches, including a fastball, curveball, and changeup.
Peralta's best season came in 2011 when he was playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. He appeared in 67 games and had a 2.93 earned run average (ERA) with 6 saves. He also struck out 61 batters in 67.2 innings pitched. Peralta was a key member of the Rays bullpen that season and helped the team reach the playoffs.
Throughout his career, Peralta was known for his durability and consistency. He appeared in at least 50 games in eight different seasons and had an ERA under 4.00 in six of those seasons. He also had a career strikeout rate of 8.5 per nine innings pitched.
In addition to his success on the field, Peralta was also known for his leadership and mentorship of younger players. He was often called upon to help younger pitchers develop their skills and was respected by his teammates for his work ethic and professionalism.
Peralta retired from baseball in 2017 after a 12-year career in the MLB. He finished his career with a 4.03 ERA, 20 saves, and 606 strikeouts in 647.2 innings pitched. He was a valuable member of several teams throughout his career and will be remembered as a reliable and consistent relief pitcher.
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