Adam Liberatore
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1987)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Adam Liberatore
|image=Adam Liberatore 1 cropped.jpg
|image_size=270px
|caption=Liberatore with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016
|position=Pitcher
|team=
|number=
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1987|5|12}}
|birth_place=Bellflower, California, U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate= April 17
|debutyear= 2015
|debutteam= Los Angeles Dodgers
| finalleague=MLB
|finaldate=June 20
|finalyear=2018
|finalteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
|statleague = MLB
| stat1label = Win–loss record
| stat1value = 6–5
| stat2label = Earned run average
| stat2value = 3.55
| stat3label = Strikeouts
| stat3value = 93
| baseball_ref =
|teams=
- Los Angeles Dodgers ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2018}})
|awards =
- Pitched a combined no-hitter on May 4, 2018
}}
Adam Joseph Liberatore (born May 12, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Career
=Amateur=
Liberatore is of Italian descent and attended Quigley Catholic High School in Baden, Pennsylvania, for three years, and transferred to Blackhawk High School in Chippewa Township, Pennsylvania, for his senior year. He pitched 6{{fraction|1|3}} innings as a senior and graduated from Blackhawk in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.post-gazette.com/sports/varsity-blog/44086-he-pitched-six-innings-at-blackhawk-and-now-he-s-a-major-league-pitcher|title=He pitched six innings at Blackhawk --- and now he's a major-league pitcher|first=Mike|last=White|date=April 19, 2015|access-date=June 4, 2015|work=post-gazette.com}} He played for the American Legion team after his senior year and the coach thought he was more comfortable in the outfield than at pitcher.
In the summer of 2005, he received a scholarship attend Tennessee Technological University and play college baseball for the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles.{{cite web|url=http://sportstown.post-gazette.com/blackhawk/47443-baseball-minor-league-update-adam-liberatore-blackhawk|title=Baseball: Minor League Update – Adam Liberatore (Blackhawk)|author=Brad Everett|publisher=|access-date=October 25, 2014}}
Liberatore appeared in only six games and made one start as a freshman, while allowing twelve earned runs in 10 innings.{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Adam-Liberatore |title=Adam Liberatore player profile |work=Baseball Cube |access-date=June 5, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323075005/http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Adam-Liberatore |archive-date=March 23, 2015 }} In 2007, as a sophomore, he appeared in 15 games with four starts and an 8.42 earned run average (ERA) and as a junior he had an 8.68 ERA in 13 appearances (eight starts). He participated in the Valley Baseball League over the summer between his junior and senior seasons and won the pitcher of the year honors while leading the league with a .170 batting average against.{{cite web|url=http://www.ttusports.com/sports/bsb/2009-10/bios/liberatore%20adam|title=Tennessee Tech Adam Liberatore bio|work=Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles|access-date=June 5, 2015}} In 2009, he was 2-0 with a perfect 0.00 ERA in three starts, with 21 strikeouts when he left his last game with a season-ending elbow injury. Liberatore underwent Tommy John surgery{{cite web|url=http://www.sportstalkflorida.com/future-rays-reliever-adam-liberatore/|title=Future Rays: Lefty Reliever Adam Liberatore|work=Sportstalk Florida|first=Steve|last=Kinsella|publisher=Genesis Communications Network|access-date=October 25, 2014}} and received a medical redshirt season. In 2010, as a redshirt senior, he was 6-4 with a 5.30 ERA in 13 starts.
=Tampa Bay Rays=
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Liberatore in the 21st round of the 2010 MLB draft.{{cite web|url=http://blog.triblive.com/high-school-sports-insider/2010/06/09/will-they-go-pro-and-other-draft-day-thoughts/#axzz3HAtYJRh8|title=Will they go pro? And other draft day thoughts|work=Trib Live|date=June 9, 2010|first=Chris|last=Harlan|access-date=October 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025173510/http://blog.triblive.com/high-school-sports-insider/2010/06/09/will-they-go-pro-and-other-draft-day-thoughts/#axzz3HAtYJRh8|archive-date=October 25, 2014|url-status=dead}} A starting pitcher in college, the Rays transitioned Liberatore into a relief pitcher. He made his professional debut with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League in 2010, and played for the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=libera001ada|title=Adam Liberatore Minor League Statistics & History|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=June 5, 2015}} Liberatore split the 2012 season between the Montgomery Biscuits of the Class AA Southern League and the Durham Bulls of the Class AAA International League, with a combined 4-5 record and 2.47 ERA in 49 games. He played for Durham in 2013 and 2014. Liberatore had a 1.66 earned run average in the 2014 season, after which the Rays named him their Minor League Reliever of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/tampa-bay-rays-prospect-johnny-field-minor-league-player-of-year-091914|title=Tampa Bay Rays prospect Johnny Field wins team's minor league top player award|work=Fox Sports|access-date=October 25, 2014}}
=Los Angeles Dodgers=
On November 20, 2014, Liberatore was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, along with Joel Peralta, in exchange for Jose Dominguez and Greg Harris. He was also added to the Dodgers 40-man roster.{{cite web|url=http://www.truebluela.com/2014/11/20/7258259/joel-peralta-adam-liberatore-trade-dodgers-rays-jose-dominguez-greg-harris|title=Dodgers acquire Joel Peralta, Adam Liberatore in 4-player trade with Rays|work=truebluela.com|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=November 20, 2014|access-date=November 20, 2014}} At the conclusion of spring training, he was optioned to the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers.{{cite web|url=http://www.truebluela.com/2015/4/4/8344535/dodgers-roster-moves-opening-day|title=Dodgers make final spring roster moves, all but finalize opening day roster|work=truebluela.com|date=April 4, 2015|first=Eric|last=Stephen|access-date=April 7, 2015}}
Liberatore began the 2015 season with the Oklahoma City Dodgers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. The Dodgers called him up to the major leagues for the first time on April 17, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/25153082/dodgers-recall-p-adam-liberatore|title=Dodgers recall P Adam Liberatore|work=CBS Sports|first=Jason|last=Butt|date=April 17, 2015|access-date=April 17, 2015}} He made his debut by pitching the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies that night, retiring all three batters he faced.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN201504170.shtml|title=April 17, 2015 Colorado Rockies at Los Angeles Dodgers play-by-play and box score|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=April 18, 2015}} Liberatore pitched in 39 games for the Dodgers with a 2–2 record and 4.25 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/liberad01.shtml|title=Adam Liberatore Statistics & History|work=Baseball Reference}} He also pitched in 19 games for Oklahoma City, with a 3.74 ERA.
On July 9, 2016, Liberatore set a Dodgers franchise record with his 24th consecutive scoreless appearance, breaking the mark previously set by John Candelaria in 1991.{{cite web|url=http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/189014356/adam-liberatore-sets-dodgers-scoreless-record/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711120813/http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/189014356/adam-liberatore-sets-dodgers-scoreless-record/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 11, 2016|title=Scoreless again, Liberatore sets Dodgers record|first=Ken|last=Gurnick|work=mlb.com|date=July 9, 2016|access-date=July 10, 2016}} In 2016, he appeared in 58 games with a 3.38 ERA. He underwent left elbow debridement surgery after the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.insidesocal.com/dodgers/2016/10/03/adam-liberatore-to-have-surgery-wont-pitch-until-next-season/|title=Adam Liberatore to have surgery, won't pitch until next season|work=LA Daily News|first=J.P.|last=Hoornstra|date=October 3, 2016|access-date=October 3, 2016}}
Liberatore was again optioned to Oklahoma City to begin the 2017 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-20170329-story.html|title=Brandon McCarthy gets Dodgers' final rotation spot; Alex Wood goes to bullpen|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Andy|last=McCullough|date=March 29, 2017|access-date=April 5, 2017}} After pitching in six games in the minors, he was recalled to the Dodgers on April 23.{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2017/4/23/15399732/adam-liberatore-recalled-brett-eibner-optioned-dodgers|title=Dodgers recall Adam Liberatore from Triple-A, option Brett Eibner to Oklahoma City|work=SB Nation|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=April 23, 2017|access-date=November 17, 2017}} He was sidelined with a groin injury in May{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2017/5/10/15619374/brett-eibner-scott-van-slyke-recalled-dodgers-adam-liberatore-disabled-list|title=Dodgers recall Brett Eibner, Scott Van Slyke, place Adam Liberatore on DL|work=SB Nation|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=May 10, 2017|access-date=November 17, 2017}} and then came down with left forearm tightness shortly afterwards.{{cite web|url=http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/233769322/dodgers-place-adam-liberatore-on-10-day-dl/|title=Dodgers place Liberatore on DL, recall Dayton|work=MLB.com|first=Scott|last=Chasen|date=June 1, 2017|access-date=November 17, 2017|archive-date=June 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605075443/http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/233769322/dodgers-place-adam-liberatore-on-10-day-dl/|url-status=dead}} That injury wound up keeping him on the disabled list for the rest of the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.dodgersnation.com/dodgers-news-adam-libratore-franklin-gutierrez-seasons-mc0907/2017/09/08/|title=Dodgers News: Adam Liberatore and Franklin Gutierrez; Season's Over|work=Dodgers Nation|first=Mason|last=Cratch|date=September 8, 2017|access-date=November 17, 2017}} He only pitched 3{{fraction|1|3}} innings over four games for the Dodgers in 2017, allowing one run on three hits.
On May 4, 2018, against the San Diego Padres at Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey, Liberatore was one of four pitchers involved in a combined no-hitter as the Dodgers won 4–0, pitching the ninth inning to finish off the game.{{cite web|title=Dodgers combine for no-hitter against Padres in Mexico|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/four-dodgers-combine-for-no-hitter-vs-padres/c-275327552|first=Ken|last=Gurnick|date=May 4, 2018|publisher=MLB|access-date=May 4, 2018}} The Dodgers designated him for assignment on August 31, 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/08/dodgers-designate-adam-liberatore-for-assignment.html|title=Dodgers Designate Adam Liberatore For Assignment|work=MLB Trade Rumors|date=August 31, 2018|access-date=August 31, 2018|first=Steve|last=Adams}} and released him on September 5.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/09/dodgers-release-adam-liberatore.html|title=Dodgers Release Adam Liberatore|work=MLB Trade Rumors|first=Steve|last=Adams|date=September 5, 2018|access-date=September 6, 2018}} In 17 major league games in 2018, he allowed four earned runs in 13 innings for a 2.77 ERA.
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Baseballstats|mlb=571893|espn=32622|br=l/liberad01|fangraphs=10637|brm=libera001ada}}
- {{Twitter}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.ttusports.com/sports/bsb/2009-10/bios/liberatore_adam|title=Adam Liberatore|work=Tennessee Technological University}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{Succession box|title=No-hit game |before=Sean Manaea|years=May 4, 2018
(with Buehler, Cingrani & García|after=James Paxton}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liberatore, Adam}}
Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players
Category:Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles baseball players
Category:Hudson Valley Renegades players
Category:Charlotte Stone Crabs players
Category:Surprise Saguaros players
Category:Montgomery Biscuits players
Category:Estrellas Orientales players
Category:American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic
Category:Oklahoma City Dodgers players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers