Juan Guzman was a Dominican-born pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for 12 seasons. He began his career with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1987 and quickly established himself as one of the team's top pitchers. Guzman was known for his fastball, curveball, and changeup, which he used to keep batters off balance.
Guzman's best season came in 1992, when he went 16-5 with a 2.64 ERA and helped lead the Blue Jays to their first World Series championship. He followed that up with another strong season in 1993, going 14-3 with a 3.99 ERA and helping the Blue Jays win their second consecutive World Series title.
Guzman continued to pitch well for the Blue Jays over the next few seasons, but injuries began to take their toll. He missed significant time in 1995 and 1996 with shoulder and elbow problems, and his performance suffered as a result. Guzman was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 1998, but he struggled in his brief stint with the team and was released after the season.
Guzman signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 1999 and had a solid season, going 7-10 with a 4.64 ERA. He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays the following year but struggled in his brief time with the team, going 2-5 with a 6.63 ERA before being released.
Guzman attempted a comeback in 2002 with the Baltimore Orioles, but he was released during spring training and never pitched in the majors again. He finished his career with a record of 91-79 and a 4.08 ERA.
Despite his injury troubles, Guzman was a talented pitcher who had a knack for pitching in big games. He was a two-time All-Star and finished in the top 10 in Cy Young voting three times. Guzman's success helped pave the way for other Dominican pitchers to make their mark in the majors, and he remains a beloved figure in Toronto for his contributions to the Blue Jays' championship teams.
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