José Mijares

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = José Mijares

| image = 201205025-0876a José Mijares.jpg

| image_size = 240px

| caption = Mijares with the Kansas City Royals

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|10|29}}

| birth_place = Caracas, Venezuela

| bats = Left

| throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 13

| debutyear = 2008

| debutteam = Minnesota Twins

|finalleague=MLB

| finaldate = September 28

| finalyear = 2013

| finalteam = San Francisco Giants

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 6–11

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 3.23

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 229

| teams =

Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2008}}–{{mlby|2011}})
Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2012}})
San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}})

|awards=

World Series champion (2012)

}}

José Manuel Mijares (born October 29, 1984) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. Mijares pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, and San Francisco Giants.

Professional career

=Minnesota Twins=

File:AAAA7898 José Mijares.jpg in {{Mlby|2008}}.]]

Mijares signed with the Twins as a free agent on March 2, {{Baseball year|2002}} and bounced around every level of the Twins' farm system—having risen as high as the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings in {{Baseball year|2007}}. He was awarded the Gulf Coast League Rolaids Relief Man Award in {{Baseball year|2004}} and elected as an All-Star in the Eastern League in 2007.

On January 24, {{Baseball year|2008}}, Mijares was re-signed to a one-year deal,{{Cite web |last=Thesier |first=Kelly |date=January 25, 2008 |title=Guerrier agrees to one-year deal |url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080124&content_id=2354557&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201145433/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080124&content_id=2354557&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |archive-date=February 1, 2008 |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Minnesota Twins |publisher=MLB.com}} and on March 9, 2008, he was cut from spring training and optioned to the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats of the Eastern League. He also spent part of the 2008 season with the Gulf Coast League Twins and Fort Myers Miracle before ended the minor league season again assigned to the Rock Cats.{{cite web |date=March 9, 2008 |title=Twins option three players |url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080309&content_id=2414657&vkey=pr_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310190017/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080309&content_id=2414657&vkey=pr_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |archive-date=March 10, 2008 |access-date=March 12, 2009 |work=Minnesota Twins |publisher=MLB.com}}

In September 2008, Mijares received a call up to the Twins, and made his major league debut on September 13 against the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a doubleheader. The Twins won that game 12–2.{{Cite web |last=Comak |first=Amanda |date=September 13, 2008 |title=Baker clamps down on O's in opener |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080913&content_id=3467904&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917172028/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080913&content_id=3467904&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |archive-date=September 17, 2008 |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Minnesota Twins |publisher=MLB.com}} Mijares wound up becoming the Twins main set-up man for the remainder of the season.{{Cite web |last=Nystrom |first=Thor |date=September 25, 2008 |title=Mijares excels as bullpen steps up |url=http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080925&content_id=3548915&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003103228/http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080925&content_id=3548915&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |archive-date=October 3, 2008 |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Minnesota Twins |publisher=MLB.com}} He made 10 relief appearances, going 0–1 with an ERA of 0.87.{{Cite web |title=Jose Mijares Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mijarjo01.shtml |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Following a rocky {{Baseball year|2009}} spring training camp, he was reassigned to Triple-A Rochester.{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2009 |title=Twins option Mijares to Triple-A after rocky spring |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/03/31/twins.mijares.ap/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629124226/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/03/31/twins.mijares.ap/index.html |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |website=Sports Illustrated |publisher=CNN |agency=Associated Press}} On April 20, Twins set-up man Jesse Crain went on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation, and Mijares was brought back up to the big club to fill the roster spot.{{cite web |last=Thesier |first=Kelly |date=April 20, 2009 |title=Crain on DL with shoulder inflammation |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090420&content_id=4352110&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427034107/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090420&content_id=4352110&vkey=news_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min |archive-date=April 27, 2009 |access-date=April 30, 2009 |website=Minnesota Twins |publisher=MLB.com}} In his first appearance of the season on April 22, he pitched a perfect eighth inning in the Twins' 7–3 loss to the Boston Red Sox.{{Cite web |date=April 22, 2009 |title=Minnesota Twins vs Boston Red Sox Box Score: April 22, 2009 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS200904222.shtml |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} Mijares finished the season 2–2 with a 2.34 ERA in 71 relief appearances.

On December 12, 2011, Mijares was non-tendered by the Twins.{{Cite web |last=Christensen |first=Joe |date=December 12, 2011 |title=Twins non-tender Mijares |url=https://www.startribune.com/twins-non-tender-mijares/135475033/ |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Star Tribune}}

=Kansas City Royals=

The Kansas City Royals signed Mijares to a one-year contract on December 21, 2011.{{cite web |author= |date=December 21, 2011 |title=Royals sign left-handed reliever Jose Mijares to a one-year contract |url=http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111221&content_id=26220588&vkey=pr_kc&c_id=kc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221225151/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111221&content_id=26220588&vkey=pr_kc&c_id=kc |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=February 21, 2014 |work=Kansas City Royals |publisher=MLB.com}} He had a 2–2 record with a 2.56 ERA and a 1.267 WHIP in 51 games with the Royals.

=San Francisco Giants=

Mijares was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants on August 6, 2012.{{cite news |last=Schulman |first=Henry |date=August 7, 2012 |title=Giants add Mijares to bullpen |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Giants-add-Mijares-to-bullpen-3767273.php}} He pitched in 27 games with the Giants in 2012, going 1–0 with a 2.55 ERA in 27 appearances. In the postseason, Mijares pitched in six games, including in Game 1 of the World Series. He gave up three earned runs in {{frac|2|2|3}} innings with three strikeouts. Mijares won his first World Series with the Giants after they defeated the Detroit Tigers in the 2012 World Series.{{Cite web |title=2012 World Series - San Francisco Giants over Detroit Tigers (4-0) |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2012_WS.shtml |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

File:José Mijares on August 19, 2012.jpg

Mijares pitched 2013 in the Giants bullpen. He was placed on the bereavement list on April 29 after the passing of his grandmother, and he wound up on the restricted list after not arriving to the game on May 6 in time.{{cite web |last=Eymer |first=Rick |date=May 6, 2013 |title=Mijares on restricted list after return delayed |url=http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130506&content_id=46802206&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001743/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130506&content_id=46802206&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=December 3, 2013 |work=San Francisco Giants |publisher=MLB.com}} He was activated the next day. Mijares pitched very well in the first half of the season, going 0–2 with a 2.48 ERA in {{frac|32|2|3}} innings. However, his August was very rocky, as he gave up 12 runs (11 earned) in 11 innings (13 games).{{Cite web |title=Jose Mijares 2013 Pitching Splits |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=mijarjo01&t=p&year=2013 |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He pitched in only five games in September, including going three appearances in a row without retiring a batter.{{Cite web |title=Jose Mijares 2013 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=mijarjo01&t=p&year=2013 |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} In 60 relief appearances, Mijares was 0–3 with a 4.22 ERA.

After the Giants re-signed Javier López to a contract on November 26, the team chose to non-tender Mijares, making him a free agent.{{cite news |last=Schulman |first=Henry |date=November 26, 2013 |title=Mijares released to make room for Lopez |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Mijares-released-to-make-room-for-Lopez-5014852.php}}

=Boston Red Sox=

On January 24, 2014, the Boston Red Sox signed Mijares to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.{{Cite web |last=Todd |first=Jeff |date=January 24, 2014 |title=Red Sox To Sign Jose Mijares |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/01/red-sox-to-sign-jose-mijares.html |access-date=September 20, 2019 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}} He opted out of his deal and became a free agent on March 23, 2014.{{Cite web |last=Silva |first=Drew |date=March 23, 2014 |title=Jose Mijares opts out of deal with Red Sox |url=https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2014/03/23/jose-mijares-opts-out-of-deal-with-red-sox/ |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}

=Cincinnati Reds=

On December 24, 2014, the Cincinnati Reds signed Mijares to a minor league deal.{{cite web |last=Polishuk |first=Mark |date=December 24, 2014 |title=Minor Moves: Mijares, Bowden, Runzler |url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/12/minor-moves-sierra-coleman-albers.html |access-date=December 25, 2014 |work=MLB Trade Rumors}} On March 23, 2015, Mijares was released by the Reds.{{cite web |last=Wilmoth |first=Charlie |date=March 23, 2015 |title=Minor Moves: Reds Release Jose Mijares |url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/03/minor-moves-reds-release-jose-mijares.html |access-date=March 23, 2015 |work=MLB Trade Rumors}}

On March 31, 2015, Mijares was suspended 50 games for drug abuse.{{cite web |last=Wild |first=Danny |date=March 31, 2015 |title=Veteran reliever Mijares suspended |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-115740394 |access-date=October 29, 2021 |work=Minor League Baseball}}

Repertoire

Mijares throws a fastball that hits 91–94 mph and can touch 95. He also throws a hard curveball in the upper 70s and a mid 80s slider.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}