All-Time Marlins Countdown: Chapter VIII

465. Yusmiero Petit

Petit is a 6’1", 250 lb. right-handed pitcher from Maracaibo, Venezuala. Born on November 22^nd, 1984, he was signed as a free agent by the New York Mets in 2001. In 2003 he joined the Kingsport Mets in the rookie-level Appalachian League, posting a 3-3 record with a 2.32 ERA. He made 12 starts, striking out 65 batters in 62 innings, with a 0.89 WHIP. After the rookie league concluded its season, he made two starts for the Brooklyn Cyclones, winning one and striking out 20 in 12.1 innings. He had a 2.19 ERA and a 0.57 WHIP.

In 2004, Petit started the season with the single-A Capital City Bombers and went 9-2 over 15 starts, with a 2.39 ERA, 122 strikeouts in 83 innings, and a 0.83 WHIP. He then joined the high-A St. Lucie Mets in the Florida State League and went 2-3 over nine starts, with 62 strikeouts in 44.1 innings. His WHIP was still below one, at 0.92. He ended the season with the Binghampton Mets in the double-A Eastern League, going 1-1 in two starts, striking out 16 in 12 innings with a 1.25 WHIP.

2005 would see Petit go 9-3 over 21 starts for Binghampton, striking out 130 in 117.2 innings and registering a 2.91 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP. Near the end of the year, he was much less effective when he earned a promotion to triple-A with the International League’s Norfolk Tides, where he lost all three starts and posted a 9.20 ERA, a 2.05 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 14.2 innings. On November 24^th, the Mets traded him with Grant Psomas and Mike Jacobs to the Marlins for Carlos Delgado and cash considerations.

2006 would see Petit start the year with the triple-A Albequerque Dukes in the Pacific Coast League, where he would go 4-6 in 17 starts with a 4.28 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts in 96.2 innings. He joined the Marlins first for six games in May, then went 0-1 over eight innings, striking out eight with a 3.38 ERA. He made his first career start on July 5^th, going six innings and allowing five earned runs on 11 hits, striking out five and earning an 18-9 victory over the Washington Nationals. Overall, he went 1-1 with a 9.57 ERA and a 2.089 WHIP.

Near the end of 2007 spring training, the Marlins traded Petit to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Jorge Julio and cash. Petit started the season with the Tuscon Toros in the PCL, going 8-4 with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.29 ERA over 17 starts. He posted his first career Quality Start at the major league level with the Diamondbacks on April 22^nd, earning a loss but allowing only four hits and two earned runs in seven innings in a 2-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants. He started 10 games overall, but his best start was on July 22^nd, when he pitched six shutout innings, striking out five and allowing three hits as Arizona blanked the Chicago Cubs, 3-0. He went 3-4 at baseball’s top level, with a 4.58 ERA, a 1.333 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts in 57 innings.

In 2008, Petit spent more time in the majors than in the minors. For the Toros, he started 11 games and went 3-3 with a 4.80 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 60 innings, along with a 1.20 WHIP. He appeared in 19 games for Arizona, starting eight and striking out 42 in 56.1 innings. His 1.047 WHIP was a career best at the time, and his ERA clocked in at a respectable 4.31. On July 2^nd, he pitched six innings of two hit ball, striking out four and allowing a single earned run in an eventual 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. On August 23^rd, he went six innings and struck out six Marlins, allowing a single run on two hits in a 7-1 win against Florida.

2009 would see Petit spend all but five games (with the Reno Aces) at the major league level with Arizona. His stats didn’t exactly jump off the page, as he posted a 3-10 record with a 5.82 ERA and a 1.517 WHIP with 74 strikeouts in 89.1 innings. He started in 17 of his 23 starts, including a gem on August 4^th, when he went eight shutout innings and allowed a single hit in a 6-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. After the season, the Seattle Mariners chose him off the waiver wire.

Petit spent the 2010 entirely at the triple-A level with the Tacoma Raniers in the PCL, starting in six of his 24 starts and going 4-2 with a 4.85 ERA. He struck out 55 batters in 59.1 innings and had a 1.18 WHIP. He was subsequently released, signed, and again released by Seattle. Petit was not tendered a contract with any major league team in 2011, so spent part of the season in the Mexican League with the Oaxaca Guerreros. He went 1-2 with a 4.17 ERA over six starts for the team.

Prior to the 2012 campaign, the Giants took a flyer on Petit, signing him for relative peanuts to a two-way contract. He would spend most of the season in the PCL with the Fresno Grizzlies, where he went 7-7 with a 3.46 ERA over 28 starts, with 153 strikeouts in 166.1 innings pitched and a 1.28 WHIP. He also made his first major league appearance in three seasons, getting a start for the Giants on September 23^rd. He went 4.2 innings and got a no-decision, giving up two earned runs on seven hits and four walks.

In 2013, Petit went 5-6 for Fresno with a 4.52 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts in 87.2 innings over 15 starts. He also appeared in eight games for the Giants. On September 1^st, he earned an 8-2 win over the Diamondbacks by striking out 10 and allowing two runs over six innings. One start later, he came within a single pitch of a perfect game, allowing the 27^th batter (Eric Chavez, on a full count, no less) a single to right. He struck out seven Diamondbacks in the 3-0 win. He would end the season with a 4-1 record and a 3.56 ERA.

In 2014, Petit finally spent an entire season at the major league level. The Giants would see him go 5-5 with a 3.69 ERA, a 1.017 WHIP, and 133 strikeouts in 117 innings. Between July 22^nd and August 28^th, Petit set down 46 consecutive batters over eight appearances, a major league record. On April 29^th, he pitched six shutout innings and allowed only three hits while striking out four for a 6-0 victory over the San Diego Padres. On August 28^th, he struck out nine in six innings, allowing one run on four hits as the Giants topped the Colorado Rockies, 4-1. He pitched a complete game on September 9^th, allowing zero walks and four hits while striking out nine in a 5-1 win over the Diamondbacks. In the postseason, Petit made four appearances overall, earning three wins and posting a 1.42 ERA over 12.2 innings, striking out 13 in helping the Giants to their third World Series title in five seasons.

Petit returned to the Giants in 2015, where he appeared 42 times through the season, going 1-1 with a 3.67 ERA, a 1.184 WHIP, and 59 strikeouts in 76 innings. He is arbitration eligible entering this offseason.

All-Time Statline: 15 games, one start, zero saves, 1-1, 9.57 ERA, 26.1 IP, nine BB, 20 SO, 2.089 WHIP, -0.8 WAR

464. Gerónimo Berroa

Berroa, a 6’, 165 lb. right fielder, was born on March 18^th, 1965 in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Toronto Blue Jays picked him up as a free agent in 1983. He spent his first five professional seasons at various levels of the Blue Jays minor league feeder system, with the Blue Jays (GULF, 62 games, .251/.291/.366/.657), the Medicine Hat Blue Jays (PION, 54 games, .343/.404/.562/.966), the Florence Blue Jays (SALL, 19 games, .318/.370/.485/.855), the Kinston Blue Jays (CARL, 19 games, .186/.250/.256/.506), the Ventura County Gulls (CALL, 128 games, .298/.353/.505/.858), the Knoxville Blue Jays (SOUL, 135 games, .285/.344/.564/.907), and the Syracuse Chiefs (IL, 131 games, .260/.323/.377/.700).

Berroa was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 1988 Rule 5 draft. He spent the entire 1989 season with Atlanta, playing in 81 games and hitting .265/.301/.338/.639. He hit four doubles and two home runs along with nine RBI and seven walks. He also struck out 32 times in 143 plate appearances. Aside from four hitless at bats for the Braves in 1990, he played the majority of the season back in the minors with the Richmond Braves (IL, 135 games, .269/.322/.383/.704).

1991 would see Berroa fail to surface at the major league level. He played the entire year with the Cleveland Indians’ Pacific Coast League affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (125 games, .322/.369/.529/.898). He played 1992 mostly with the Cincinnati Reds’ American Association affiliate, the Nashville Sounds (112 games, .328/.378/.551/.929). He also played in 13 games with the Reds, hitting safely four times in 18 plate appearances with two walks and only one strikeout.

On December 9^th, 1992, Berroa signed a free agent contract to play for the inaugural version of the Florida Marlins. He played most of the year with the Edmonton Trappers (90 games, .327/.397/.599/.997), joining the Marlins in mid-May for 14 games. He collected four hits in 34 at bats, including one double and two walks. He also struck out seven times, ending his Florida career with a .118/.167/.147/.314 statline. Florida granted him free agency soon after the conclusion of the season.

Berroa’s extremely long minor league incubation period may have fooled some into thinking he was washed up before his time, but the Oakland Athletics seemed to know something that everyone else didn’t. They picked him up prior to the 1994 campaign, and he went on to hit .293/.361/.499/.859 over a four year stay. He hit 87 home runs in 463 games, including 36 with 106 RBI in 1996. He totaled 340 RBI with 84 doubles, 187 walks, and 340 strikeouts in 1949 plate appearances with Oakland. He later also played with the Baltimore Orioles (83 games, .260/.347/.403/.750, 10 home runs, 48 RBI), the Cleveland Indians (20 games, .200/.278/.277/.555, three RBI), the Detroit Tigers (52 games, .238/.338/.310/.647), the Blue Jays (22 games, .194/.315/.290/.605) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (24 games, .258/.343/.323/.665). He would later show up in the Mexican League with the Campeche Piratas and the Monterrey Sultanes and in the Korean Association with the Lotte Giants.

All-Time Statline: 14 games, four-for-34, three runs, one double, zero triples, zero home runs, zero RBI, zero stolen bases, two walks, seven strikeouts, .118/.167/.147/.314, -0.8 win shares.

463. Brian Flynn

Flynn is a 6’7", 250 lb. left-handed pitcher from Tulsa, OK. Born on April 19^th, 1990, he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the seventh round of the 2011 amateur draft.

Flynn reported to the West Michigan Whitecaps after his selection, joining the single-A level Midwest League and posting a 7-2 record with a 3.46 ERA over 13 starts. He had a 1.20 WHIP and struck out 57 in 67.2 innings.

In 2012, Flynn started his season with the Lakeland Tigers in the high-A Florida State League, and went 8-4 over 18 starts, with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP, striking out 84 in 102 innings pitched. He made a single start with the Erie SeaWolves in the double-A Eastern League, taking the loss and giving up five earned runs over five innings. On July 23^rd, the Tigers sent him with Rob Brantly and Jacob Turner to the Marlins for Omar Infante and Anibal Sanchez. Miami kept him at the double-A level, with the Jacksonville Suns in the Southern League. Flynn made eight starts for the Suns through the close of the campaign, going 3-0 with a 3.80 ERA, a 1.36 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts in 45 innings.

2013 would see Flynn start the year in Jacksonville, where he went 1-1 with a 1.57 ERA over four starts, with 25 strikeouts in 23 innings and a 0.91 WHIP. He then joined the triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs in the Pacific Coast League, posting a misleading 6-11 record with a 2.80 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP, striking out 122 in 138 innings. He made his major league debut with the Marlins in September, making four starts for the parent club. Although he struck out 15 opponents over 18 innings pitched, he also allowed 27 hits and 13 walks for an alarming 2.222 WHIP. He went 0-2 with an 8.50 ERA.

In 2014, Flynn was set to spend another season honing his craft at the triple-A level with the Zephyrs, and totaled an 8-10 record and a 4.06 ERA over 25 starts, with a 1.57 WHIP. He was twice called up to the Marlins due to injury, making two appearances (one start) and allowing 12 hits and three walks over seven innings. He went 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and an only very slightly improved 2.143 WHIP. After the season, the Marlins traded him with Reid Redman to the Kansas City Royals for Aaron Crow.

All-Time Statline: six games, five starts, zero saves, 0-3, 8.64 ERA, 25.0 IP, 16 BB, 21 SO, 2.200 WHIP, -0.8 WAR

462. Óscar Henriquez

Henriquez was a 6’6", 220 lb. right-handed pitcher from La Guaira, Venezuala. Born on January 28^th, 1974, he signed on with the Houston Astros as a free agent in 1991. He made his professional debut in 1993 with the single-A Asheville Tourists in the South Atlantic League, where he started 26 of his 27 appearances and went 9-10 with a 4.44 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. The starts he made that season were the only starts he ever made at the minor and major league level.

In 1995, Henriquez joined the Kissimmee Cobras in the high-A Florida State League, then compiled a 3-4 record with a 5.04 ERA in 44.2 innings stretching over 20 appearances. He struck out 36 oppenents and registered a 1.57 WHIP. He would remain with Kissimmee in 1996, making the transition from long reliever to short reliever and going 0-4 with a 3.97 ERA, a 1.68 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts in 34 innings, over 37 appearances.

1997 would see Henriquez graduate to the triple-A level, reporting to the New Orleans Zephyrs (now a PCL team for the Marlins, but back then they were an Astro affiliate in the American Association). He appeared in 60 games for the Zephyrs, spanning 74 innings and racking up 80 strikeouts. He went 4-5 with a 2.80 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP during his time there. In September, he was called up to join the Astros, and didn’t allow a baserunner until his third appearance. In total, he pitched four innings, allowing five baserunners and two runs while striking out three. After the season, the Astros traded him with Manuel Barrios and Mark Johnson to the Marlins for Moises Alou.

In 1998, Henriquez began his campaign on the Marlins opening day roster. He appeared in 15 games through the first part of the season. On April 1^st, in his debut with the club, he gave up five earned runs on four walks and a hit in just 0.1 innings in an eventual 10-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. He settled down a little after that. On May 23^rd he had his best showing with Florida, when he went 3.1 innings and struck out four allowing only one hit in a 10-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Near the beginning of June he was sent down to the triple-A Charlotte Knights in the IL, where he went 1-0 with a 2.56 ERA in 26 games over the rest of the season. He struck out 37 in 31.2 innings for the Knights, with a 1.29 WHIP. The Marlins traded him to the New York Mets for Jorge Fabregas after the season.

1999 would see Henriquez spend the season with the Norfolk Tides in the IL for the Mets, compiling a 3-4 record with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP over 54 innings. He struck out 65 batters in 53 games for the minor league outfit, but was not tendered a contract by the club.

Prior to the 2000 season, the San Diego Padres gave Henriquez a look for spring training, but was released before opening day. He began the season with the triple-A level Mexico City Red Devils in the Mexican League, and went 7-2 in 36 games, striking out 65 in 46.2 innings. He had a 3.86 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP while with the club. On July 10^th, the Mets purchased his contract from the Red Devils, sending Henriquez back to the Tides. He pitched 14 innings for Norfolk over 16 games through the season, striking out 14 and going 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA.

In 2001, Henriquez played just over half of the season with Norfolk, going 2-4 with a 2.82 ERA. He struck out 44 in 38.1 innings over 39 contests, with a 1.28 WHIP. The Mets released him on July 24^th. He signed a deal with the Detroit Tigers following the season.

Henriquez started 2002 with the Toledo MudHens in the IL for Detroit, going 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA over 33 games. He struck out 39 in 32.2 innings and allowed 1.35 walks and hits per nine innings. Near the end of June, he was called up to the Tigers. Henriquez appeared in 30 games for Detroit, allowing zero earned runs in 23 of those appearances, closing the season with a 4.50 ERA over 28 innings. He allowed only 19 hits, ending with a more than acceptable 1.214 WHIP and 23 strikeouts. Somehow, no one signed him again.

2003 would see Henriquez play in 27 games for the Long Island Ducks in the independent Atlantic League, going 1-3 with a 7.07 ERA. Later, he appeared with the Cameche Piratas in the Mexican League and then with the Lancaster Barnstormers for three games in 2006. It would be his last appearance in competitive baseball.

All-Time Statline: 15 games, zero starts, zero saves, 0-0, 8.55 ERA, 20.0 IP, 12 BB, 19 SO, 1.900 WHIP, -0.8 WAR

461. Justin Speier

Justin Speier was born on November 6^th, 1973. A right-handed pitcher, he served in the US Marine Corps Reserve before getting selected in the 55^th round of the 1995 amateur draft by the Chicago Cubs. He then joined the Williamsport Cubs in the low-A New York-Penn League. He went 2-1 with a 1.49 ERA, a dozen saves, and 39 strikeouts in 36.1 innings.

In 1996, Speier graduated to the high-A Florida State League, making his debut with the Daytona Cubs. He saved 13 games in his 33 appearances, going 2-4 with a 3.76 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He struck out 34 in 38.1 innings. His next promotion didn’t result in him relocating very far, to the double-A Orlando Cubs in the Southern League for the second half of that season. He saved six games and played in 24 overall, going 4-1 with a 2.05 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.

Speier, owner of a sweet forkball he used for an out pitch, appeared in 50 games for Orlando in 1997, going 6-5 with a 4.48 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 78.1 innings. He was called up to the triple-A Iowa Cubs in the American Association with a month left in the season. In eight appearances, he went 2-0 and didn’t allow a run in 12.1 innings, striking out nine and allowing one walk and five hits.

1998 would see Speier begin his season with Iowa, and play in 45 games over the first three months of the campaign. He compiled a 3-3 record with a 5.05 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 51.2 innings. He was called up for a brief spell with the Cubs near the end of May, and made one appearance. He allowed two earned runs in 1.1 innings of a 10-5 loss to the Philadelphia Philles. On July 31^st, he was traded with Todd Noel and Kevin Orie to Florida for Steve Hoff and Felix Heredia. Speier joined Florida on their major league roster immediately and would remain there through the season. The high point of his season was probably August 12^th, when he pitched a scoreless inning of relief to hold a 3-2 Florida lead in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After 1999 spring training, the Marlins traded Speier to the Atlanta Braves for a player to be named later (Matt Targac). Speier split the season between the Richmond Braves at the triple-A level in the International League (27 games, 2-4, 5.62, 41.2 IP, 39 SO, 1.75 WHIP) and Atlanta. He played in 19 games with the parent club, but did not earn any wins, losses, holds, saves, or blown saves. He struck out 22 in 28.2 innings, allowing 18 earned runs for a 5.65 ERA and a corresponding 1.430 WHIP. Just after the end of the season, the Cleveland Indians selected him off waivers from Atlanta.

In 2000, Speier played 13 games for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons in the IL, going 0-0 with a 4.15 ERA in 13 innings pitched. He joined the Indians near the end of May, and stayed with them throughout the campaign. He went 5-2 over 47 games, pitching 68.1 innings as Cleveland’s preferred long reliever, and racking up a respectable 3.29 ERA along with 69 strikeouts. On August 9^th, in a 6-4 win over the Texas Rangers, he relieved struggling starter Dave Burba (10 baserunners in four innings) to pitch a perfect fifth and sixth inning while striking out four. On September 29^th, he earned a win by pitching 3.1 innings of one-hit ball in an 8-4 triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays.

2001 would debut with Speier sitting in Cleveland’s bullpen. He got into 12 games through mid-May, going 2-0 with a 6.97 ERA before joining his fifth major league team in four seasons. The Indians traded him to the New York Mets for a player to be named later (Brian Jenkins) on May 19th. The Mets waived him without ceremony 10 days later, where the Colorado Rockies made it six teams in four years.

Speier spent two and a half seasons with the Rockies, posting a 12-5 record, 10 saves, and a 4.04 ERA over 177 games. He struck out 160 in 191.1 innings, along with a 1.174 WHIP. Later, he played three seasons for the Blue Jays (185 games, 8-10, seven saves, 3.18 ERA, 187 IP, 163 SO, 1.160 WHIP) and three more for the Los Angeles Angels (154 games, 8-13, 4.39 ERA, 158 IP, 142 SO, 1.285 WHIP).

All-Time Statline: 18 games, zero starts, zero saves, 0-3, 8.38 ERA, 19.1 IP, 12 BB, 15 SO, 1.914 WHIP, -0.8 WAR