Neftali Feliz is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on May 2, 1988, in Azua, Dominican Republic. Feliz began his professional baseball career in 2005 when he signed with the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent. However, he was traded to the Texas Rangers in 2007, where he made his MLB debut in 2009.
Feliz quickly established himself as a dominant closer for the Rangers, earning the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2010. He recorded 40 saves that season, helping the Rangers reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Feliz continued to be a reliable closer for the Rangers over the next few seasons, earning an All-Star selection in 2011.
In 2012, Feliz underwent Tommy John surgery, which forced him to miss the majority of the season. He returned to the Rangers in 2013 but struggled with injuries and inconsistency. The Rangers eventually moved Feliz to the starting rotation in 2015, but he struggled in that role as well.
After the 2015 season, Feliz became a free agent and signed with the Detroit Tigers. He had a solid season with the Tigers in 2016, posting a 3.52 ERA in 53 appearances. However, he struggled in 2017 and was released by the Tigers in August.
Feliz then signed with the Kansas City Royals, where he pitched for the remainder of the 2017 season. He signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018 but was released in June after struggling in the minor leagues.
Feliz then signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2019 but was released in May after struggling in the minor leagues. He signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020 but did not make an appearance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Feliz signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres and was called up to the major leagues in May. He pitched in 22 games for the Padres, posting a 4.58 ERA in 19.2 innings pitched. However, he was designated for assignment in July and became a free agent.
Overall, Feliz had a successful career as a closer for the Texas Rangers, earning an All-Star selection and helping the team reach the World Series. However, injuries and inconsistency derailed his career in the later years, and he struggled to find success with other teams.
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