Joel Pineiro is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. Pineiro was born on September 25, 1978, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 12th round of the 1997 MLB draft and made his debut in the major leagues in 2000.
Pineiro played for several teams during his career, including the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Los Angeles Angels. He was known for his sinkerball, which was his signature pitch. Pineiro was a reliable starting pitcher who could also come out of the bullpen when needed.
During his career, Pineiro had a record of 104 wins and 93 losses with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.41. He pitched in 377 games, starting 335 of them, and threw 1,910 innings. Pineiro struck out 1,072 batters and walked 498.
Pineiro's best season came in 2003 when he was with the Mariners. He had a record of 16 wins and 11 losses with an ERA of 3.78. He pitched 211 innings and struck out 137 batters. Pineiro was also named the American League Pitcher of the Month in July of that year.
In 2007, Pineiro signed with the Cardinals as a free agent. He had a solid season, going 6-4 with a 3.96 ERA in 32 games, including 11 starts. Pineiro helped the Cardinals win the National League Central division that year and pitched in the playoffs.
Pineiro's last season in the major leagues was in 2011 when he played for the Angels. He had a record of 7 wins and 7 losses with an ERA of 5.13 in 27 games, including 24 starts. Pineiro became a free agent after the season and did not sign with another team.
After his playing career, Pineiro became a pitching coach for the Puerto Rican national baseball team. He also worked as a special assistant to the general manager for the Angels.
In conclusion, Joel Pineiro was a reliable starting pitcher who played in the major leagues for over a decade. He had a solid career, winning over 100 games and pitching in the playoffs. Pineiro was known for his sinkerball and was a valuable asset to any team he played for.
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