Diamondbacks sign relief pitcher Neftali Feliz
Jan 28, 2018, 6:22 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2018, 6:29 pm
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Neftali Feliz delivers in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 7, 2017. The Brewers won 6-2. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed right-handed relief pitcher 29-year-old Neftali Feliz.
The deal, a minor league contract, includes an invitation to this year’s MLB spring training.
In 2017, Feliz posted a 6.00 ERA in 27 innings with the Milwaukee Brewers and the reliever put up a 4.74 ERA in 20 games with the Kansas City Royals.
Feliz broke into the big leagues in 2009, seeing action in 20 games out of the Texas Rangers bullpen. The next season, Feliz became one of the best relievers in baseball, converting 40 saves while posting a 2.73 ERA for a Texas team that won the American League pennant before losing to the San Francisco Giants in five games in the World Series.
The Dominican right-hander won the AL Rookie of the Year Award and was named to his first and only All-Star team that year.
After a solid 2011 campaign in the bullpen, that ended in another World Series loss (this one to St. Louis), the Rangers tinkered with the idea of making Feliz a starter in 2012. That season lasted just eight games — Feliz underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2012.
Since returning from the surgery in September of 2013, Feliz has posted an 11-12 record with 33 saves and a 4.40 ERA in 184 innings with the Rangers, Tigers, Pirates, Brewers and Royals.
