Jonathan Albaladejo

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Jonathan Albaladejo

| image = 001H7786 Jonathan Albaladejo.jpg

| caption = Albaladejo with the New York Yankees

| position = Pitcher / Coach / Manager

| team = Trois-Rivières Aigles

| number =

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|10|30}}

| birth_place = San Juan, Puerto Rico

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 5

| debutyear = 2007

| debutteam = Washington Nationals

| debut2league = NPB

| debut2date = April 14

| debut2year = 2011

| debut2team = Yomiuri Giants

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = July 20

| finalyear = 2012

| finalteam = Arizona Diamondbacks

| final2league = NPB

| final2date = October 16

| final2year = 2011

| final2team = Yomiuri Giants

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 6–3

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.34

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 56

| stat2league = NPB

| stat21label = Win–loss record

| stat21value = 2–2

| stat22label = Earned run average

| stat22value = 2.45

| stat23label = Strikeouts

| stat23value = 44

| teams =

Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2007}})
New York Yankees ({{mlby|2008}}–{{mlby|2010}})
Yomiuri Giants ({{npby|2011}})
Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2012}})

}}

Jonathan Albaladejo Santana ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|l|b|əl|ə|ˈ|d|eɪ|h|oʊ}} {{respell|AL|bə-lə|DAY|hoh}}; born October 30, 1982) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball coach and former pitcher who is currently the manager for the Trois-Rivières Aigles of the Frontier League. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals, New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks, as well in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants.

Career

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

Albaladejo was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 34th round (1,021st overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign.{{Cite web |title=2000 San Francisco Giants Draft Class - The Baseball Cube |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/draft_class/2000~25/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=TheBaseballCube.com |language=en}} In the following year he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 19th round (564th overall), and signed on June 6, 2001.

He spent a number of years in the minors in the Pirates system as a starting pitcher, and in 2005 was converted to a reliever. The Pirates released him on April 25, 2007.{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Albaladejo Trades and Transactions by Baseball Almanac |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=albaljo01 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.baseball-almanac.com}}

=Washington Nationals=

File:Jonathan Albaladejo.jpg in 2007]]

On May 3, 2007, Albaladejo signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. He played most of the season for the Class-AA Harrisburg Senators, compiling a 4.17 earned run average in 21 appearances. He moved up to the Class-AAA Columbus Clippers and finished the season extremely well, posting an ERA of 0.78 in 14 appearances. When rosters expanded in September, the Nationals, then leading the league in innings pitched by relievers, brought him up.{{Cite web |last=Heininger |first=Claire |date=2007-12-06 |title=It's official: Yanks trade Clippard to Nationals |url=https://www.nj.com/news/2007/12/yankees_make_nationals_trade_o.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=NJ.com |language=en}}

On September 5, 2007, Albaladejo made his Major League debut. In the top of the third inning, in a game against the Florida Marlins, Tim Redding was injured by a batted ball and needed to be replaced. Albaladejo entered the game with two men on and one out, and allowed a ground ball (where an inherited runner scored) and a pop up. In the fourth inning, Albaladejo struck out the side, and then was relieved.{{cite web|date=September 5, 2007|title=September 5, 2007 Florida Marlins at Washington Nationals Box Score and Play by Play|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WAS/WAS200709050.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|accessdate=August 27, 2010}}

=New York Yankees=

On December 4, 2007, he was traded to the New York Yankees for relief pitcher Tyler Clippard.{{cite news|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=December 4, 2007|title=Clippard dealt to Nats for Albaladejo|work=New York Yankees|publisher=MLB.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205181152/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071204&content_id=2317008&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|access-date=December 4, 2007|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071204&content_id=2317008&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy|archive-date=December 5, 2007}}{{Cite web|last=Putterman|first=Alex|date=November 2, 2015|title=Revisiting the Yankees' Tyler Clippard-for-Jonathan Albaladejo trade|url=http://bronx.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2015/11/02/revisiting-the-yankees-tyler-clippard-for-jonathan-albaladejo-trade/|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=Baseball Prospectus}}

He made the Yankees' Opening Day roster in 2008,{{Cite web |last=Nekoukar |first=Dave |date=2008-03-29 |title=Opening Day, 2008: The Roster |url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2008/03/opening_day_2008_the_roster.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=nj |language=en}} but only pitched in seven games while recording a 3.95 ERA. He suffered a stress fracture in his elbow on May 9, 2008, and was ruled out for the season in June.{{Cite web|date=June 12, 2008|title=Hughes undergoes X-rays on injured rib|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=3440655|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=ESPN|language=en}} Albaladejo again made the Yankees' major league roster to start the 2009 season.{{Cite web |date=2009-03-29 |title=Long and short of it, Joe Girardi's bullpen plan may change |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2009/03/29/long-and-short-of-it-joe-girardis-bullpen-plan-may-change/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}} After posting an ERA of 6.00 in 18 appearances through May 22, he was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room on the roster for pitcher Chien-Ming Wang.{{cite news|date=May 22, 2009|title=Yankees put Wang in bullpen|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4200173|access-date=May 22, 2009}} In 17 innings at Triple-A, he compiled a 1.59 ERA and 0.65 WHIP, earning a promotion back to the majors when Wang was placed on the disabled list on July 5, 2009.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=July 5, 2009|title=Yankees' Wang goes on DL with shoulder injury|url=https://www.deseret.com/2009/7/5/20327345/yankees-wang-goes-on-dl-with-shoulder-injury|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=Deseret News|language=en}} Albaladejo was sent back down to Scranton on July 10, 2009, to make room for Mark Melancon.{{Cite web|last=Carig|first=Marc|date=July 11, 2009|title=Notebook: Reliever Mark Melancon excited for second chance with New York Yankees|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2009/07/reliever_mark_melancon_excited.html|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=NJ.com|language=en}}

Albaladejo began the 2010 season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. After a poor spring training, Albaladejo transitioned from his two-seam fastball to his four-seam fastball, which allowed him more control.{{cite news|last=Jennings|first=Chad|date=July 20, 2010|title=Pregame notes: Spring training blessing in disguise | The Lohud Yankees Blog|work=The LoHud Yankees Blog|publisher=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722101918/http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/07/20/pregame-notes-spring-training-blessing-in-disguise/|access-date=July 22, 2010|url=http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/07/20/pregame-notes-spring-training-blessing-in-disguise/|archive-date=July 22, 2010}} He was named International League Pitcher of the Week from July 5–12, and from July 12–18,{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Josh|date=July 19, 2010|title=Pitchers of the Week | MiLB.com News|work=Minor League Baseball|publisher=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722191323/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100719&content_id=12401468&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp|access-date=July 22, 2010|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-12401468|url-status=live|archive-date=July 22, 2010}} and pitched in the Triple-A All-Star Game.{{cite news|date=July 12, 2010|title=Albaladejo selected IL pitcher of the week | The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA|work=Times Leader|publisher=|url=http://www.timesleader.com/news/latest/Albaladejo-selected-IL-pitcher-of-the-week.html|url-status=dead|access-date=July 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717081533/http://www.timesleader.com/news/latest/Albaladejo-selected-IL-pitcher-of-the-week.html|archive-date=July 17, 2010|df=mdy-all}} After saving 31 games in 32 chances with a 0.96 ERA, he was called up to the Yankees on July 20.{{cite news|last=Collins|first=Donnie|date=July 21, 2010|title=Closer Albaladejo gets call to New York - Sports|work=The Times-Tribune|publisher=|url=http://thetimes-tribune.com/sports/closer-albaladejo-gets-call-to-new-york-1.897479|access-date=July 22, 2010}} However, he was optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 24 to make room for Sergio Mitre.{{cite web|date=July 24, 2010|title=Transactions {{!}} New York Yankees|url=https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/transactions/2010/07|access-date=August 27, 2010|website=New York Yankees|publisher=MLB.com}}

Albaladejo set an International League single-season record for saves in 2010 with 43 (the previous record was 38).{{cite news|date=August 13, 2010|title=Albaladejo ties IL saves record|work=The Scranton Times-Tribune|publisher=Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees Blog|url=http://blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/yankees/?p=6787|url-status=dead|access-date=August 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717041033/http://blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/yankees/?p=6787|archive-date=July 17, 2011|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite web |date=2010-08-31 |title=International League notebook |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-13805422 |access-date=2023-11-27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831060637/http://international.league.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100822&content_id=13805422&vkey=news_l117&fext=.jsp&sid=l117 |archive-date=August 31, 2010 }} He was named to the International League Postseason All-Star team.{{Cite web|date=August 31, 2010|title=Durham's Johnson named 2010 IL MVP; Hellickson, Freeman & Montoyo round out award winners|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714093714/http://international.league.milb.com/documents/2010/08/31/14137364/1/2010_IL_All-Star_Team_Announcement.pdf|url=http://international.league.milb.com/documents/2010/08/31/14137364/1/2010_IL_All-Star_Team_Announcement.pdf|archive-date=July 14, 2011|access-date=August 31, 2010|website=Minor League Baseball}}{{Cite web |date=2010-07-15 |title=Triple-A All-Star Game: IL stars slip past PCL 2-1 |url=https://www.deseret.com/2010/7/15/20128101/triple-a-all-star-game-il-stars-slip-past-pcl-2-1 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Deseret News |language=en}} He was called up by the Yankees when the rosters expanded at the start of September and pitched {{frac|11|1|3}} innings for the team during the 2010 season, recording a 3.97 ERA. During the offseason, Albaladejo asked the Yankees to release him so he could pursue a career in Japan.{{cite web|last=Jennings|first=Chad|date=November 19, 2010|title=Yankees release Jonathan Albaladejo | The Lohud Yankees Blog|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122092448/http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/11/19/yankees-release-jonathan-albaladejo/|url=http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/11/19/yankees-release-jonathan-albaladejo/|archive-date=November 22, 2010|access-date=September 25, 2011|website=The LoHud Yankees Blog}}

=Yomiuri Giants=

Albaladejo signed a one-year contract with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League.{{cite news|last=Hoch|first=Bryan|date=November 19, 2010|title=Released by Yanks, Albaladejo off to Japan | MLB.com: News|work=MLB.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105200115/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101119&content_id=16159112&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|access-date=September 25, 2011|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101119&content_id=16159112&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|archive-date=November 5, 2012}} In 46 games in Japan, he was 2–2 with a 2.45 ERA.

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed Albaladejo on December 13, 2011.{{Cite web|last=Benvie|first=Christopher|date=December 14, 2011|title=Jonathan Albaladejo Signs with Arizona Diamondbacks|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/982593-mlb-free-agent-signings-diamondbacks-sign-another-former-yankee|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=Bleacher Report|language=en}} In 49 games with the club's AAA affiliate in Reno, Albaladejo recorded 25 saves and struck out 60 in {{frac|56|2|3}} innings of work. He was called up by the Diamondbacks at the end of the minor league season,{{Cite web |date=2012-07-18 |title=Arizona calls up Albaladejo, sends down Bauer |url=https://news.yahoo.com/news/arizona-calls-albaladejo-sends-down-222006742--mlb.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}} and posted an ERA of 9.00 in three games.{{Cite web|title=Jonathan Albaladejo Minor, Winter, Japanese, Mexican & Independent Leagues Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=albala001jon|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=Baseball-Reference|language=en}}

=Miami Marlins=

On December 16, 2012, Albaladejo signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins.{{Cite web|last=A.|first=Nate|date=December 17, 2012|title=Marlins sign 3|url=https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2012/12/17/3776110/marlins-sign-albaladejo-rivas-lucas-mlb|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=MLB Daily Dish|language=en}} He spent the entirety of the 2013 season with their AAA club, the New Orleans Zephyrs, recording a 3.80 ERA and 72 strikeouts in {{frac|73|1|3}} innings. He was granted free agency after the season.

=Broncos de Reynosa=

On April 1, 2016, Albaladejo signed with the Broncos de Reynosa of the Mexican Baseball League.{{Cite web |title=Ex ligamayorista Albaladejo refuerza a Broncos de Reynosa |url=https://www.elmanana.com/ex-ligamayorista-albaladejo-refuerza-a-broncos-de-reynosa/3192727 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=El Mañana |language=es-MX}} He was released on April 9, 2016.{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Albaladejo Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/jonathan-albaladejo-452293 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

=Bridgeport Bluefish=

On April 19, 2016, Albaladejo signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He was named an All-Star and won Pitcher of the Year during the 2016 season after setting the record for most wins by a Bluefish player (15) and most strikeouts in the league (164). Albaladejo re-signed with Bridgeport for the 2017 season.{{Cite web |title=Atlantic League Professional Baseball: News |url=http://www.atlanticleague.com/news/index.html?article_id=724 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.atlanticleague.com |language=en}}

=New York Mets=

On July 25, 2017, Albaladejo signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets.{{Cite web|last=Borek|first=Jesse|date=July 24, 2017|title=Mets sign Jonathan Albaladejo to minor-league deal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109023235/https://www.fanragsports.com/mets-sign-jonathon-albaladejo-to-minor-league-deal/|url=https://www.fanragsports.com/mets-sign-jonathon-albaladejo-to-minor-league-deal/|archive-date=November 9, 2017|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=FanRag Sports}} He made 9 appearances (8 starts) for the Triple–A Las Vegas 51s, logging a 4.50 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 52.0 innings of work. He was named the PCL's Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 24 after throwing 11 1/3 scoreless innings.{{Cite web |last=Review-Journal |first=Betsy Helfand Las Vegas |date=2017-07-31 |title=Las Vegas 51s' Jonathan Albaladejo given PCL weekly honor {{!}} Aviators/Baseball {{!}} Sports |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/aviatorsbaseball/las-vegas-51s-jonathan-albaladejo-given-pcl-weekly-honor/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |language=en-US}} Albaladejo elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=June 27, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 7, 2017 |language=en}}

=Lancaster Barnstormers=

On November 1, 2017, Albaladejo was drafted by the Lancaster Barnstormers in the Bridgeport Bluefish dispersal draft. On February 26, 2018, he signed with the team for the 2018 season.{{cite web|title=Former Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year Signs with Lancaster|url=http://www.lancasterbarnstormers.com/former-atlantic-league-pitcher-of-the-year-signs-with-lancaster/|access-date=February 26, 2018|work=Lancaster Barnstormers|date=February 26, 2018}} Albaladejo re-signed for the 2019 season as a player-coach.{{Cite web|date=February 20, 2019|title=ALBALADEJO NAMED PLAYER/COACH, DE LA ROSA RETURNS|url=https://www.lancasterbarnstormers.com/albaladejo-named-player-coach-de-la-rosa-returns/|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=Lancaster Barnstormers}} He coached Bryan Harper, the older brother of Bryce Harper.{{Cite web |last=Brookover |first=Bob |date=2019-05-23 |title=Bryce Harper's brother makes $2,000 a month playing independent ball in Lancaster. He loves it. |url=https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/bryce-harper-brother-bryan-pitcher-lancaster-barnstormers-20190523.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Inquirer |language=en}}

Coaching career

He retired as an active player following the 2019 season and was later hired as bullpen coach for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|date=January 6, 2020|title=Afinará Howard Johnson bateo de Toros de Tijuana|url=https://www.milb.com/news/afinara-howard-johnson-bateo-de-toros-de-tijuana-312343138|access-date=June 17, 2021|website=Minor League Baseball|language=es}}

He managed the Tupper Lake Riverpigs of the independent Empire Baseball League in 2020 and 2021.{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Albaladejo – Tupper Lake Riverpigs |url=https://tupperlakeriverpigs.com/staff/jonathanalbaladejo/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |language=en}} He was the pitching coach for the Empire State Greys during the 2022 season where they were a road team for the Frontier League.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-28 |title=Empire State Greys – Empire State Greys |url=http://empirestategreys.com/team/empire-state-greys/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928072953/http://empirestategreys.com/team/empire-state-greys/ |archive-date=September 28, 2022 }}

On February 12, 2024, Albaladejo was announced as the pitching coach for the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League.{{Cite web|title=Crushers Coaching Staff Update|url=https://lakeeriecrushers.com/news/coaching-staff-update/|access-date=April 17, 2024|website=lakeeriecrushers.com|language=en}}

In October 2024 Albaladejo was named the Manager of Trois-Rivières Aigles.{{cite web | url=https://empireproleague.com/2024/10/17/ambassador-albaladejo-to-manage-in-mlb-partnered-league/ | title=Ambassador Alabaldejo to manage Aigles in MLB Partnered Frontier League – Empire Baseball League | date=October 17, 2024 }}