Joel Peralta

Joel Peralta Gutiérrez (/dʒoʊˈɛl pəˈrɑːltə/; Spanish pronunciation: [xoˈel peˈɾalta]; born March 23, 1976) is a Dominican professional baseball relief pitcher who is with the Seattle Mariners organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals, Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Career

Oakland Athletics

Peralta signed with the Oakland Athletics as an amateur free agent in 1996. He was originally an outfielder and played in the Dominican Summer League for the Athletics. He hit .247 in 52 games for them in 1997 but missed the 1998 season with an injury and was released on June 4.

Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Peralta signed with the Anaheim Angels as a minor league free agent on February 25, 1999. The Angels converted him to a pitcher and he was 2-3 with 12 saves and a 2.50 ERA for the Angels affiliate in the DSL. He moved to the U.S. in 2000 to play for the Butte Copper Kings in the Pioneer Baseball League and the Boise Hawks of the Northwest League. Between the two leaguees he was in 14 games and was 2-1 with a 6.59 ERA in 14 games. In 2001 he pitched in 41 games for the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League with a 2.13 ERA and 23 saves, which ranked second in the Midwest League. He was promoted to the AA Arkansas Travelers of the Texas League where he had a 6.30 ERA in nine games with 2 saves. His 2002 season was also split between Cedar Rapids & Arkansas, appearing in 53 games with a 5-0 record, 2.49 ERA and 21 saves combined between the two leagues.