Raynel Espinal

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Raynel Espinal

|image = YS-Raynel Espinal20230502.jpg

|image_size = 250px

|caption = Espinal with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows

|team = Free agent

|number =

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|6}}

|birth_place = Villa González, Dominican Republic

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 30

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = Boston Red Sox

|debut2league= MLB

|debut2date = May 12

|debut2year = 2023

|debut2team = Tokyo Yakult Swallows

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2022 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 0–1

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 8.10

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 5

|stat2league = NPB

|stat2year = 2023 season

|stat21label = Win–loss record

|stat21value = 0–0

|stat22label = Earned run average

|stat22value = 5.40

|stat23label = Strikeouts

|stat23value = 4

|teams =

Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2021}})
Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2022}})
Tokyo Yakult Swallows ({{npby|2023}})

}}

Raynel Joseph Espinal (born October 6, 1991) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds. He has also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Listed at {{convert|6|ft|3|in}} and {{convert|215|lb|kg}}, he throws and bats right-handed.

Professional career

=New York Yankees=

Espinal began his professional career with the New York Yankees organization, first playing for the Dominican Summer League Yankees in 2013 and 2014. After not playing professionally during 2015, he played for four different Yankees farm teams during 2016, advancing to the Class A Short Season level with the Staten Island Yankees. In 2017, he played for three different teams and reached Double-A with the Trenton Thunder. Espinal then spent all of the 2018 and 2019 seasons in Triple-A with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. With the RailRiders, he appeared in 59 total games (15 starts) allowing 64 runs in 142 innings pitched for a 4.06 earned run average (ERA). In July 2019, Espinal underwent Tommy John surgery.{{cite web |url=https://soxprospects.com/players/espinal-raynel.htm |title=Raynel Espinal |website=SoxProspects.com |accessdate=August 30, 2021}}

=Boston Red Sox=

The Red Sox selected Espinal from the Yankees in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft after the 2019 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/worcesterredsox/2021/07/woosox-notebook-raynel-espinal-in-midst-of-a-seven-game-win-streak-gained-valuable-from-his-time-with-the-dominican-republic-national-team.html|title=Katie Morrison: WooSox notebook: Starter Raynel Espinal gained valuable from his time with the Dominican Republic national team|first=Katie|last=Morrison|date=July 6, 2021|website=masslive|url-access=limited}} He did not pitch during 2020, due to cancellation of the minor-league season, then began the 2021 season in Triple-A with the Worcester Red Sox. The Red Sox promoted Espinal to the major leagues on August 30, 2021, to add bullpen depth due to players being placed on the COVID-related list.{{cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/08/boston-red-sox-roster-moves-matt-barnes-martin-perez-placed-on-covid-related-il-raynel-espinal-selected-onto-the-40-man.html|title=Red Sox roster moves: Matt Barnes, Martin Pérez placed on COVID-related IL; Raynel Espinal selected onto 40-man|date=August 30, 2021|website=masslive}} He made his MLB debut that day, pitching in relief against the Tampa Bay Rays.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401229020 |title=Red Sox vs. Rays - Box Score |website=ESPN.com |date=August 30, 2021 |accessdate=August 30, 2021}} He was returned to Worcester the next day and removed from the 40-man roster.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/roster/transactions/2021/08 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions |website=MLB.com |publisher=Boston Red Sox |date=August 2021 |accessdate=August 31, 2021}} Worcester named Espinal their pitcher of the year, having gone 11–4 with a 3.55 ERA in Triple-A.{{cite news |url=http://news.soxprospects.com/2021/09/minor-notes-munoz-espinal-receive.html |title=Minor Notes: Munoz, Espinal receive awards from WooSox |first=Nick |last=Rabasco |website=soxprospects.com |date=September 28, 2021 |accessdate=September 29, 2021}}

Espinal became a free agent following the 2021 season.

=San Francisco Giants=

On February 5, 2022, Espinal signed a minor-league contract with the San Francisco Giants.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/02/giants-sign-raynel-espinal-to-minors-contract.html |title=Giants Sign Raynel Espinal To Minors Deal |first=Mark |last=Polishuk |website=mlbtraderumors.com |date=February 5, 2022 |accessdate=February 5, 2022}} He began the season in Triple-A with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League.

=Chicago Cubs=

On July 31, 2022, the Giants traded Espinal to the Chicago Cubs for Dixon Machado.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/giants-acquire-dixon-machado-cubs-trade-solve-shortstop-shortage |title=Giants acquire Dixon Machado in Cubs trade to solve shortstop shortage | RSN |publisher=Nbcsports.com |date= 31 July 2022|accessdate=2022-08-01}} In two appearances, he surrendered 6 runs on 6 hits with 4 strikeouts in {{fraction|3|1|3}} innings pitched. Espinal was released by the Cubs organization on August 16.{{Cite web|title=Raynel Espinal: Cut by Cubs|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/raynel-espinal-cut-by-cubs/amp/|access-date=June 13, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

=Cincinnati Reds=

On August 18, 2022, Espinal signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization. He had his contract selected to the major league roster on September 11. In 2 appearances for the Reds, Espinal allowed 4 runs on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts in {{fraction|4|2|3}} innings of work. On October 15, Espinal was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Louisville Bats.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Raynel Espinal: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-raynel-espinal-outrighted-to-triple-a/|access-date=June 29, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=14 October 2022 |language=en}} He elected free agency following the season on November 10.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=June 29, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=13 November 2022 |language=en}}

=Tokyo Yakult Swallows=

On December 5, 2022, Espinal signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball. {{cite web | url=https://www.yakult-swallows.co.jp/news/detail/27972 | title=新外国人選手獲得のお知らせ | date=5 December 2022 }} Espinal made only 3 appearances for the team in 2023, logging a 5.40 ERA with 4 strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work. On August 28, 2023, Espinal was released by the Swallows.{{Cite web|title=Yakult Rainel Espinal pitcher signed a free contract to join this season and pitched in 3 games, the second person this season after Kera|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f539b62e4da83d0041211551b26c1ae6f12c799e|access-date=August 31, 2023|website=news.yahoo.co.jp|language=en}}

=Rieleros de Aguascalientes=

On February 20, 2024, Espinal signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=Big League Right-Hander Raynel Espinal Joins Flock|url=https://liducks.com/big-league-right-hander-raynel-espinal-joins-flock/|access-date=February 21, 2024|website=liducks.com|language=en}} However, prior to the season on April 11, Espinal's contract was purchased by the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=2024 Transactions|url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/|access-date=April 12, 2024|website=atlanticleague.com|language=en}} In 6 games (4 starts), he struggled to an 0–4 record and 11.91 ERA with 7 strikeouts across {{fraction|11|1|3}} innings pitched. On June 19, Espinal was released by Aguascalientes.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 19 de junio de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-19-de-junio-de-2024|access-date=June 20, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}}

International career

Espinal pitched for the Dominican Republic national baseball team during qualification for the 2020 Summer Olympics. He has played several seasons of winter baseball with Gigantes del Cibao of the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM).{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=espina000ray |title=Raynel Espinal Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=July 9, 2022}}