Rafael Dolis

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Rafael Dolis

| image = 2016T98.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Dolis with the Hanshin Tigers in 2016

| team = Kōchi Fighting Dogs

| number = 98

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|1|10}}

| birth_place = La Romana, Dominican Republic

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 26

| debutyear = 2011

| debutteam = Chicago Cubs

| debut2league= NPB

| debut2date = April 19

| debut2year = 2016

| debut2team = Hanshin Tigers

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = 2021 season

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 6–9

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.57

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 95

| stat4label = Saves

| stat4value = 12

| stat2league = NPB

| stat2year = 2019 season

| stat21label = Win–loss record

| stat21value = 13–18

| stat22label = Earned run average

| stat22value = 2.49

| stat23label = Strikeouts

| stat23value = 227

| stat24label = Saves

| stat24value = 96

| teams =

Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2011}}–{{mlby|2013}})
Hanshin Tigers ({{npby|2016}}–{{npby|2019}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2021}})

| awards =

;NPB

Saves leader ({{npby|2017}})

}}

Rafael Jose Dolis Hernandez (born January 10, 1988) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Kōchi Fighting Dogs of the Shikoku Island League Plus. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers.

Professional career

=Chicago Cubs=

Dolis began his professional career in 2006 pitching for the AZL Cubs, going 0–2 with an 8.28 ERA in 13 games (three starts). In 25 innings of work, he struck out 33 batters. He pitched for the Peoria Chiefs in 2007, going 3–1 with a 1.80 ERA in six starts. After not pitching in 2008, Dolis pitched for the Daytona Cubs in 2009, going 3–9 with a 3.79 ERA in 27 games (25 starts).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=dolis-001raf|title=Rafael Dolis Minor, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History - Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} On November 20, 2009, the Cubs added Dolis to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web|title=Guess The 40-Man Roster Additions|url=https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2009/11/20/1167057/guess-the-40-man-roster-additions|access-date=June 1, 2024|website=bleedcubbieblue.com|date=November 20, 2009 |language=en}}

Dolis began the 2010 campaign with Daytona, recording a 2.92 ERA across 14 games (13 starts). He also made 12 starts for the Double–A Tennessee Smokies on the year, logging a 5–4 record and 4.07 ERA with 45 strikeouts across {{fraction|55|1|3}} innings pitched. Dolis returned to Tennessee in 2011, compiling an 8–5 record and 3.22 ERA with 48 strikeouts and 17 saves across 51 appearances.{{Cite web|title=Rafael Dolis - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/rafael-dolis/4185/stats?position=P|access-date=June 1, 2024|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}}

Dolis made Chicago's Opening Day roster in 2012.{{Cite web|title=The Chicago Cubs' 2012 Opening Day Roster is (Mostly) Set|url=https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2012/04/04/the-chicago-cubs-2012-opening-day-roster-is-mostly-set/|access-date=June 1, 2024|website=bleachernation.com|date=April 4, 2012 |language=en}} However, he was demoted to the team's Triple-A affiliate, the Iowa Cubs, in May after compiling a record of 2–4 with an ERA of 4.73. On the season, Dolis registered a 6.39 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 4 saves across 38 innings of work.

In 2013, Dolis made five scoreless appearances for the Cubs, recording no strikeouts in five innings pitched. On October 9, 2013, Dolis was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Iowa.{{Cite web|title=Cubs Outright McDonald, Dolis, Four Others|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/10/cubs-outright-mcdonald-boscan-four-others.html|access-date=June 1, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=October 9, 2013 |language=en}}

=San Francisco Giants=

On December 30, 2013, Dolis signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants. In four games for the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats, he struggled to a 16.62 ERA with 4 strikeouts across {{fraction|4|1|3}} innings pitched. On May 26, 2014, Dolis was released by the Giants.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/05/minor-moves-dolis-rodriguez-williams.html|title=Minor Moves: Loe, Dolis, Rodriguez, Williams|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=26 May 2014 }}

=Detroit Tigers=

On December 5, 2014, Dolis signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.{{cite web|url=http://beck.mlblogs.com/2014/12/06/tigers-sign-right-handers-alberto-cabrera-rafael-dolis/|title=Tigers sign right-handers Alberto Cabrera, Rafael Dolis|work=Beck's Blog |date=6 December 2014}} He elected free agency on November 6, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=117|title=International League Transactions|page=November 2015|work=milb.com|access-date=November 6, 2015}} During the 2015 season, Dolis pitched in 43 games out of the bullpen and posted a 7–5 record with one save, a 4.61 ERA and 54 strikeouts for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.

On December 8, 2015, Dolis re-signed with the Tigers on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/12/11/detroit-tigers-prospects-roster/77151446/|title=Tigers sign 17 minor leaguers, invite 6 to camp|first=James|last=Jahnke|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=December 11, 2015|access-date=December 11, 2015}}{{ cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dolisra01.shtml | title=Rafael Dolis Stats | website=Baseball Reference | access-date=January 25, 2020 }} However, he was released on January 15, 2016, in order to pursue a playing opportunity in Japan.{{ cite web | url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/01/royals-sign-lester-oliveros.html | title=Minor MLB Transactions: 1-25-16 | website=MLB Trade Rumors | date=25 January 2016 | access-date=January 25, 2020 }}

=Hanshin Tigers=

On January 18, 2016, Dolis signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).{{ cite web | url=https://hanshintigers.jp/news/topics/info_4164.html | title=外国人選手との契約締結について | work=阪神タイガース公式サイト | language=ja | date=January 18, 2016 | access-date=August 20, 2020 }}

In 2016, Dolis pitched 34 innings of 2.12 ERA ball for the Tigers. On December 2, 2016, he became a free agent.{{ cite web | url=https://npb.jp/announcement/2016/pn_released.html | title=2016年度自由契約選手 | work=NPB.jp 日本野球機構 | language=ja | access-date=August 20, 2020 }}

On February 22, 2017, Dolis re-signed with the Tigers.{{ cite web | url=https://hanshintigers.jp/news/topics/info_4836.html | title=外国人選手との契約締結について | work=阪神タイガース公式サイト | language=ja | date=February 22, 2017 | access-date=August 20, 2020 }} In 2017, Dolis pitched 63 innings for the Tigers with a 2.71 ERA. After the season, on December 11, 2017, he re-signed with the Tigers with Marcos Mateo.{{ cite web | url=https://hanshintigers.jp/news/topics/info_5341.html | title=マルコス・マテオ選手、ラファエル・ドリス選手との契約締結について | work=阪神タイガース公式サイト | language=ja | date=December 11, 2017 | access-date=August 20, 2020 }}

In 2018, Dolis pitched to a 2.85 ERA in 53{{frac|2|3}} innings. On December 2, 2018, he became a free agent.{{ cite web | url=https://npb.jp/announcement/2018/pn_released.html | title=2018年度自由契約選手 | work=NPB.jp 日本野球機構 | language=ja | access-date=August 20, 2020 }} On December 12, 2018, he re-signed with the Tigers.{{ cite web | url=https://hanshintigers.jp/news/topics/info_5984.html | title=ラファエル・ドリス選手との契約締結について | work=阪神タイガース公式サイト | language=ja | date=December 12, 2018 | access-date=August 20, 2020 }}

In 2019, his last year with the Tigers, he had a 2.11 ERA in 55{{frac|1|3}} innings of work. In his four years with the Tigers, Dolis had a 13–18 record, 2.49 ERA, 96 saves, and 227 strikeouts in 206 innings. On December 2, 2019, he became a free agent.{{ cite web | url=http://npb.jp/announcement/2019/pn_released.html | title=2019年度自由契約選手 | work=NPB.jp 日本野球機構 | language=ja | access-date=December 22, 2019 }}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On February 8, 2020, Dolis signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. His contract includes a club option for the 2021 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-blue-jays-sign-rhp-rafael-dolis|title=Blue Jays sign RHP Rafael Dolis|work=MLB.com|date=February 8, 2020|access-date=February 17, 2020}}

On July 24, 2020, Dolis made his Blue Jays debut and on August 19, 2020, he recorded his first MLB save since 2012.{{ cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/randal-grichuk-hits-two-homers-blue-jays-sweep-orioles | title=Grichuk wields broom, Blue Jays sweep O's | work=MLB.com | author=Keegan Matheson | date=August 19, 2020 | access-date=August 20, 2020 }} With the 2020 Toronto Blue Jays, Dolis appeared in 24 games, compiling a 2–2 record with 1.50 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 24.0 innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/rafael-dolis-503569|title = Rafael Dolis Stats, Fantasy & News|website = MLB.com}} In 32 appearances for the Blue Jays in 2021, Dolis posted a 2–3 record with a 5.63 ERA and 39 strikeouts. On August 18, 2021, Dolis was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/blue-jays-dfa-rafael-dolis.html|title = Blue Jays Designate Rafael Dolis for Assignment| date=18 August 2021 }} On August 20, Dolis cleared waivers and was assigned outright to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/rafael-dolis-503569|title = Rafael Dolis Stats, Fantasy & News|website = MLB.com}} On October 4, Dolis elected free agency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/baseball/mlb/player/19566/rafael-dolis|title = Rafael Dolis - Toronto Blue Jays - news and analysis, statistics, game logs, depth charts, contracts, injuries}}

=Chicago White Sox=

On April 29, 2022, Dolis signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.{{Cite web|title=White Sox Sign Rafael Dolis To Minor League Deal|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/05/white-sox-sign-rafael-dolis-to-minor-league-deal.html|access-date=April 11, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 13, 2022 |language=en}} He made 28 outings for the Triple–A Charlotte Knights, registering a 5.02 ERA with 28 strikeouts across {{fraction|28|2|3}} innings pitched. Dolis was released by the White Sox organization on September 8.{{Cite web|title=Rafael Dolis: Cut by ChiSox|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rafael-dolis-cut-by-chisox/amp/|access-date=April 11, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

=Pericos de Puebla=

On January 13, 2023, Dolis signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League.{{cite web|url=https://pericosdepuebla.com/se-fortalece-el-bullpen-emplumado-2/|title=SE FORTALECE EL BULLPEN EMPLUMADO|website=pericosdepuebla.com|date=13 January 2023 |language=ES|access-date=January 14, 2023}} In 25 appearances, he posted a 1–3 record with a 6.56 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. Dolis was waived on July 10.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-10-de-julio-de-2023|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 10 de julio de 2023|website=MiLB.com|language=ES|date=July 10, 2023|access-date=July 17, 2023}}

=Kōchi Fighting Dogs=

On April 8, 2024, Dolis signed with the Kōchi Fighting Dogs of the Shikoku Island League Plus.{{Cite web|title=Former Hanshin's Rafael Doris decided to join Kochi Fighting Dogs|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6a551ef62c4c1e9ad8ee6a133c2f11fd017e170c|access-date=April 9, 2024|website=news.yahoo.co.jp|language=en}}