James Pazos

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = James Pazos

| image = James Pazos 2018.jpg

| caption = Pazos with the Seattle Mariners

| team = Free agent

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|5|5}}

| birth_place = Gilbert, Arizona, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Left

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 5

| debutyear = 2015

| debutteam = New York Yankees

| statyear = 2020

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 9–6

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 3.95

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 127

|teams =

New York Yankees ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2016}})
Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2017}}–{{mlby|2018}})
Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2020}})

}}

James Manuel Pazos (pronounced PAH-zohse;{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/baseball-player-name-pronunciation-guide.shtml|title=Baseball Player Name Pronunciation Guide|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} born May 5, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and Colorado Rockies. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 13th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.

Early life

Pazos was born in Gilbert, Arizona, to Julio and Teresa Pazos.{{cite web|url=https://usdtoreros.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=220 |title=James Pazos – Baseball – University of San Diego Athletics |publisher=Usdtoreros.com |date= |access-date=December 30, 2018}}{{cite web|author=Year |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/james-pazos-572021 |title=James Pazos Stats, Fantasy & News |work=MLB.com |date= |access-date=December 30, 2018}} His mother competed in volleyball at South Carolina University, and his father competed in wrestling, football, and track at Arizona State University.

Amateur career

Pazos attended and played baseball for Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona, from which he graduated in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/chandler/chandler-gilbert-community-college-honors-alumnus-for-major-league-baseball/article_bba3db6c-d0d7-11e5-bea5-a3360191ebad.html |title=Chandler-Gilbert Community College honors alumnus for Major League Baseball debut | Chandler |publisher=eastvalleytribune.com |date= February 11, 2016|access-date=December 30, 2018}} He was second-team All-Region as a sophomore, All-Region as a junior, and All State and Fiesta Region Pitcher of the Year as a senior.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/james-pazos-572021|title=James Pazos Stats, Fantasy & News|website=MLB.com}} He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 40th round of the 2009 MLB draft. Pazos did not sign with Tampa Bay.{{Cite web |title=2009 Baseball Draft by Baseball Almanac |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/draft/baseball-draft.php?yr=2009 |access-date=December 3, 2023 |website=www.baseball-almanac.com}}

Pazos enrolled at Chandler–Gilbert Community College to play college baseball. He pitched for the Coyotes in 2010, and had a 9–4 win–loss record and a 1.94 earned run average (ERA) in 95 innings. After one year, he transferred to the University of San Diego to play for the Toreros for the next two seasons. As a sophomore, he was 3–5 with a 3.40 ERA and 41 strikeouts in {{frac|42|1|3}} innings. As a junior, he was 5–1 and had a 2.14 ERA in 63 innings, a WHIP of 0.94, and averaged a strikeout an inning.{{Cite web|url=https://sodomojo.com/2017/03/25/lefty-james-pazos-mariners/|title=Another Mariners Hard Throwing Lefty: James Pazos|date=March 25, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?ID=148486 |title=James Pazos |publisher=The Baseball Cube |date=June 18, 2012 |access-date=December 30, 2018}} He was named to the 2012 Rawlings All-West Coast Conference First Team.{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2012 |title=12 Toreros Earn Rawlings All-WCC Accolades |url=https://usdtoreros.com/story.aspx?filename=12_oreros_arn_awlings_ll__ccolades&file_date=5-30-2012 |access-date=December 3, 2023 |website=University of San Diego Athletics |language=en}}

Professional career

=New York Yankees=

The New York Yankees selected Pazos in the 13th round of the 2012 MLB draft, and he signed for a signing bonus of $100,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.usdtoreros.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060512aab.html|title=Sewald and Pazos Taken in Second Day of MLB Draft|work=usdtoreros.com|access-date=June 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726233448/http://www.usdtoreros.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060512aab.html|archive-date=July 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/37322/james-pazos/ |title=James Pazos Stats & Scouting Report |publisher=Baseball America |date=May 5, 1991 |access-date=December 30, 2018}} He made his professional debut with the Staten Island Yankees of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League, going 2–1 with three saves and a 1.79 ERA in 28 relief appearances, with 39 strikeouts in 40.1 innings, and was named a mid-season NYPL All Star.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/james-pazos-572021 |title=James Pazos Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date= |access-date=December 30, 2018}}

He spent 2013 with Staten Island and the Charleston RiverDogs in the Class A South Atlantic League. He pitched to a combined 3–1 record with one save and 33 strikeouts and a 3.93 ERA in {{frac|34|1|3}} innings pitched out of the bullpen. After the season, he played for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League, pitching 10.1 innings.{{Cite web |date=September 14, 2013 |title=Yankees name the four pitchers going to the Arizona Fall League |url=http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130912&content_id=60340746&oid=36019 |access-date=December 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914200857/http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130912&content_id=60340746&oid=36019 |archive-date=September 14, 2013 }}

Pazos played in 2014 with the Tampa Yankees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League and the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League. He compiled a combined 0–3 record with 10 saves (4th-most among Yankee minor leaguers) and a 2.42 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 67 relief innings, averaging 10.1 strikeouts per 9 innings.{{cite web|url=http://www.trentonian.com/sports/20150529/healthy-pazos-back-on-yankees-radar|title=Healthy Pazos back on Yankees' radar|work=trentonian.com|date=May 29, 2015 |access-date=June 20, 2015}}

In 2015, between Trenton and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Class AAA International League, he was 3–1 with three saves and a 1.27 ERA, and 49 strikeouts in {{frac|42|2|3}} innings, averaging 10.3 strikeouts per 9 innings. The Yankees promoted Pazos to the major leagues on September 1, and he made his major league debut on September 5.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2015/08/yankees_september_call-ups_include_rob_refsnyder_a.html |title=Yankees' September call-ups include Rob Refsnyder, Andrew Bailey |publisher=NJ.com |date= September 2015|access-date=December 4, 2018}} With the Yankees in 2015, he pitched five scoreless innings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pazosja01.shtml|title=James Pazos Stats|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

In 2016, Pazos split time between the Yankees and the minors. In the minors, pitching primarily for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he was 2–2 with one save and a 2.32 ERA, and 47 strikeouts in 31 innings, averaging 13.6 strikeouts per 9 innings. In {{frac|3|1|3}} innings for the Yankees, he gave up five earned runs while winning one game.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/scott-hurst-656568|title=James Pazos Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=December 3, 2018}}

=Seattle Mariners=

The Yankees traded Pazos to the Seattle Mariners for Zack Littell on November 18, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-acquire-a-pair-of-players-in-a-trade-with-the-rays-on-a-busy-day-of-roster-moves/ |title=Mariners make two trades for three players, add three minor leaguers to the 40-man roster and move on from three others |publisher=The Seattle Times |date=November 18, 2016 |access-date=December 4, 2018}} In 2017 with Seattle, he was 4–5 with a 3.86 ERA, as in 53.2 innings he had 65 strikeouts, averaging 10.9 strikeouts per 9 innings.

In 2018 with Seattle, he was 4–1 with a 2.88 ERA. In 50 innings in a career-high 60 games he gave up 47 hits and 15 walks, and had 45 strikeouts.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pazos-001jam |title=James Pazos Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=December 30, 2018}} He threw a sinker 91.8% of the time, second only to Zack Britton.{{Cite web|url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/pitch-arsenals?year=2018&min=500&type=n_&hand=|title=Statcast Pitch Arsenals Leaderboard|website=baseballsavant.com}}

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On December 3, 2018, the Mariners traded Pazos, Jean Segura, and Juan Nicasio to the Philadelphia Phillies for Carlos Santana and J. P. Crawford.{{cite web|last=Axisa |first=Mike |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/phillies-acquire-jean-segura-from-mariners-as-seattle-continues-fire-sale/ |title=Phillies acquire Jean Segura from Mariners as Seattle continues fire sale |publisher=CBSSports.com |date=November 2, 2018 |access-date=December 4, 2018}} He began the 2019 season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the International League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/sports/ironpigs-phillies/mc-spt-ironpigs-railriders-20190409-bjleupzssbfbzlz5eqjexu5fwy-story.html|title=Flexible, experienced bullpen a strength early on for IronPigs|first=Tom|last=Housenick|website=mcall.com|date=April 9, 2019 }} Pazos was designated for assignment on April 24, 2019, after pitching to a 6.14 ERA in both spring training and AAA.{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2019 |title=Phillies call up shortstop Sean Rodriguez, who's known for his competitive fire |url=https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/mlb/phillies-call-up-shortstop-sean-rodriguez-whos-known-for-his-competitive-fire/398739/ |access-date=December 3, 2023 |website=NBC Sports Philadelphia |language=en-US}}

=Colorado Rockies=

On April 26, 2019, Pazos was traded to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for infielder Hunter Stovall.{{Cite web |title=Rockies acquire lefty reliever Pazos from Phils |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rockies-acquire-james-pazos-from-phillies |access-date=December 3, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Pitching for the Albuquerque Isotopes in 2019 he was 1–3 with one save and a 8.80 ERA in 39 games (44.0 innings). He had a 1.74 ERA in 12 games (10.1 innings) for the major league team.{{cite web |date= |title=James Pazos Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pazos-001jam |access-date=October 5, 2019 |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}} With the 2020 Colorado Rockies, Pazos appeared in 6 games, compiling a 16.88 ERA and 1 strikeout in 5.1 innings pitched. Pazos was designated for assignment by the Rockies on September 28, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/rockies-designate-james-pazos-for-assignment.html|title=Rockies Designate James Pazos For Assignment|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=September 28, 2020 }} Pazos elected free agency on October 9.

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

On December 11, 2020, Pazos signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/12/dodgers-brandon-morrow-agree-to-minor-league-deal.html|title=Dodgers Agree To Minor League Deals With Morrow, Nelson, Stewart, Pazos|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=December 11, 2020 }} He spent the entire 2021 season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, where he was 1–6 in 48 games for a 3.72 ERA. He elected free agency on November 7, 2021.

=Staten Island FerryHawks=

After sitting out the 2022 season, Pazos signed with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball on April 22, 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/ | title=Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions }} Pazos made 17 appearances for the FerryHawks, but struggled immensely to an 11.48 ERA with 13 strikeouts in {{fraction|13|1|3}} innings pitched. He was released by Staten Island on June 20.{{cite web | url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/ | title=Transactions – Atlantic League Pro Baseball }}

References

External links

{{Baseballstats|mlb=572021|espn=33426|br=p/pazosja01|fangraphs=13323|brm=pazos-001jam|retro=P/Ppazoj001}}

[http://www.usdtoreros.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/james_pazos_740916.html San Diego Toreros bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611153012/http://www.usdtoreros.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/james_pazos_740916.html |date=June 11, 2015 }}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Gilbert, Arizona

Category:Baseball players from Maricopa County, Arizona

Category:Major League Baseball pitchers

Category:New York Yankees players

Category:Seattle Mariners players

Category:Colorado Rockies players

Category:Chandler–Gilbert Coyotes baseball players

Category:San Diego Toreros baseball players

Category:Staten Island Yankees players

Category:Charleston RiverDogs players