Michael Pineda has been a consistent pitcher in the Major League Baseball since his debut in 2011. The 6’7′ right-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic has played for the Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees before joining the Minnesota Twins in 2018.
We will analyze Pineda’s performance over the years and determine how good he has been.
Pineda’s Early Career
Michael Pineda, a native of the Dominican Republic, got his start in professional baseball in 2005 when he signed with the Seattle Mariners as an international free agent.
Pineda quickly made a name for himself in the Mariners’ minor league system, impressing scouts with his powerful fastball and sharp slider.
In his first full season in the minor leagues in 2007, Pineda posted a 3.31 ERA and struck out 128 batters in 146 innings pitched across three different levels.
He continued to dominate in the minors over the next few years, earning recognition as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.
Pineda made his MLB debut on April 5, 2011, as a member of the Seattle Mariners. The 22-year-old right-hander threw six innings of two-hit ball, striking out three and walking none in a 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. Pineda’s strong debut set the tone for what would be a very successful rookie campaign.
In his rookie season, Pineda started 28 games for the Mariners, compiling a 9-10 record with a 3.74 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 171 innings pitched. He was named to the American League All-Star team and finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting.
Pineda’s early success in the major leagues was due in large part to his ability to locate his fastball and slider effectively. His fastball regularly sat in the mid to upper-90s, and his slider had devastating movement, often inducing swings and misses from opposing hitters.
Overall, Pineda’s early career was marked by his dominance in the minor leagues and his immediate success at the major league level.
Although he has battled injuries throughout his career, he has remained a valuable pitcher and has continued to establish himself as one of the game’s most talented hurlers.
Success With the Mariners
Michael Pineda is a professional baseball player who has had a successful career in the MLB. He began his career with the Seattle Mariners in 2011 and played with the team for two seasons.
During this time, he had a breakout year and was named an All-Star and considered for the AL Rookie of the Year award. However, injuries and a trade to the New York Yankees cut his time with the Mariners short.
In 2011, Pineda had a remarkable season with the Mariners. He pitched in 28 games and recorded a 9-10 record with a 3.74 ERA. He also had 173 strikeouts in 171 innings pitched.
His performance earned him a spot on the American League All-Star team, making him one of the first three rookies in Mariners history to achieve this recognition.
Pineda’s success during the season also earned him consideration for the AL Rookie of the Year award. Ultimately, he finished fifth in the voting, but his performance was still impressive and showed his potential as a talented pitcher.
Unfortunately, Pineda’s time with the Mariners was limited due to injury troubles. He suffered a shoulder injury during the 2012 season that required surgery and kept him out for the rest of the year. He was then traded to the New York Yankees in 2012 for Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi.
Despite his injury setback, Pineda continued to be a solid pitcher for the Yankees. In 2014, he had his best season with the team, recording a 5-5 record with a 1.89 ERA in 13 starts before suffering another injury that kept him out for the rest of the year.
Overall, Michael Pineda has had a successful career in the MLB, with his time with the Mariners being a highlight.
While injuries cut his time with the team short, his breakout year in 2011 showed his potential as a talented pitcher and earned him recognition as an All-Star and consideration for the AL Rookie of the Year award.
Injury Woes With the Yankees
Michael Pineda’s career with the New York Yankees was marred by injury struggles, inconsistent performances, and a difficult road to recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Throughout his time with the Yankees, Pineda missed significant time due to various injuries, including shoulder issues and a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery in 2017.
These injuries prevented him from being a consistent contributor to the team, and he missed over a year of playtime due to his Tommy John surgery.
Even when Pineda was healthy, his performance on the mound was inconsistent. While he had flashes of brilliance, such as his dominant start to the 2016 season where he recorded a 2-2 record and a 3.32 ERA through six starts, he was just as likely to struggle on the mound.
In fact, he had a career 4.56 ERA and a 2-9 record during his time with the Yankees. Given his struggles, it’s not surprising that Pineda struggled to make a successful return from Tommy John surgery.
He was shut down in spring training in 2018 due to inflammation in his surgically repaired elbow and was forced to miss a significant portion of the season.
Even after returning to the team, his performance was inconsistent, and he struggled to regain his pre-injury form.
All in all, Michael Pineda’s time with the Yankees was marked by injury struggles, inconsistent performances, and a difficult road to recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Though he showed flashes of brilliance on the mound, he was never able to put together a consistent stretch of success due to his injuries and inconsistent performances when healthy.
Resurgence With the Twins
Michael Pineda, a Dominican professional baseball pitcher, joined the Minnesota Twins as a free agent in December 2017. After undergoing Tommy John surgery, Pineda missed the entire 2018 season.
In 2019, he made 26 starts for the Twins and had a 11-5 record with a 4.01 ERA. However, it was in 2020 where Pineda started to show his potential.
Pineda only pitched in five games during the shortened 2020 MLB season due to a suspension and health protocols. In those five games, Pineda recorded a 2-0 record with a 3.38 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 26 and 2/3 innings pitched.
Although his amount of innings might be small, his performance in those innings showed that he was back to form after suffering injuries in the past.
In 2021, Pineda pitched 22 games, 21 of which he started. He finished the season with a 9-8 record, a 3.62 ERA, and 88 strikeouts in 109 and a third innings. Despite missing time due to injury, Pineda was still able to provide consistent solid performances on the mound.
His ERA was lower than his career average, and his strikeout rate per nine innings pitched (K/9) was close to his career average, showing that he can handle a workhorse role in the Twins’ rotation as a mainstay.
Pineda’s move to the Twins in 2018 was a good decision for both parties. After struggling with injuries, Pineda has been able to regain his form in a new environment.
His strong performances in 2020 and his solid season as a rotation mainstay in 2021 have shown that he can still be a reliable starting pitcher in the MLB.
With Pineda set to become a free agent in 2022, his resurgence with the Twins might have earned him a new contract with the team or with another franchise for the 2022 season.
How Heavy is Michael Pineda?
Michael Pineda’s Height and Weight Michael Pineda stands at 6 feet and 7 inches tall and weighs around 280 pounds.
Pineda’s Weight Gain Pineda’s weight gain has been a point of concern in the past, but he shed 20 pounds before the 2021 season.
Impact on Pitching Performance Pineda’s weight has been linked to his pitching performance, affects his stamina and mobility on the mound.
Efforts to Maintain Weight Despite shedding weight before the 2021 season, Pineda admits he has a hard time maintaining a consistent weight.
Importance of Weight Management Weight management is a crucial aspect of a professional athlete’s career and can impact their overall performance.
Why Was Pineda Suspended?
Pineda was suspended for using a foreign substance on his neck during a game. MLB’s Official Rule 8.02(a)(2) states that this warrants an automatic 10-game suspension. Pineda said that he knew he made a mistake.
He reportedly apologized to his teammates and the organization. The substance was believed to be pine tar, which can help pitchers grip the ball. This is not the first time Pineda has been accused of using a foreign substance on the mound.
Yankee manager Joe Girardi said he did not notice the substance until the fourth inning. Pineda’s suspension will cost him approximately $35,000 in lost salary. The Yankees will have to play without Pineda for ten games, which could impact their performance.
Pitchers using foreign substances is a longstanding issue in baseball and has led to changes in regulations.
Who Did Pineda Pitch for?
Early Career and Trade to Yankees Michael Pineda is a Dominican-born professional baseball player who began his career with the Seattle Mariners in 2011. In January 2012, Pineda was traded to the New York Yankees in exchange for catcher Jesús Montero and pitcher Héctor Noesí.
Success and Injury Pineda was a promising young pitcher and quickly found success with the Yankees, including being selected to the All-Star team in 2014. However, he suffered a serious injury that year and missed the entire 2013 and 2014 seasons.
Return and Struggles After missing two seasons, Pineda returned to the Yankees in 2015 but struggled to find consistency on the mound. He showed flashes of his previous success, such as a 16-strikeout game in 2016, but also had several rough outings, leading to questions about his future with the team.
Pine Tar Incident On April 23, 2014, during a game against the Boston Red Sox, Pineda was caught with pine tar on his neck. Pine tar is a sticky substance that is sometimes used by pitchers to improve their grip on the ball, but is against the rules of Major League Baseball. Pineda was ejected from the game and eventually suspended for 10 games.
Later Career and Retirement Pineda went on to pitch for the Minnesota Twins from 2018 to 2020, before signing with the San Diego Padres for the 2021 season. In August 2021, Pineda announced his retirement from baseball at the age of 32 due to a recurring elbow injury.
To Recap
It is evident that Michael Pineda is a solid pitcher with an impressive track record in the Major League Baseball. Throughout his career, he has shown that he can pitch at a high level and consistently deliver good results.
Despite some setbacks due to injuries, Pineda has managed to maintain his performance and remains a valuable asset for the Minnesota Twins.
With his impressive record, it is clear that Michael Pineda is a top-class pitcher who can compete with the best in the game.
