Derek Botelho's first look at major league hitting came in winter ball in Venezuela. It came against Dave Concepcion, he told his hometown Boca Raton News in May 1978.It didn't go well.
"It was a good pitch," Botelho told The News. "I threw it right where I wanted it - low and inside. But Concepcion opened up and God! He must've drove that ball out 450 feet at least. I mean he crushed that thing."
Botelho went on to face major league hitters in two seasons, 19 total games. He went on to a long career trying to prepare other pitchers to face major league hitting serving as a minor league pitching coach for more than two decades.
Botelho's long career began in 1976, taken by the Phillies in the second round of the January draft out of Miami-Dade College.
He returned in 1981 with the Royals, playing between single-A Fort Myers and AA Jacksonville. By July 1982, Botelho had come back from that shoulder surgery all the way to the majors.
In his major league debut, Botelho threw seven shutout innings for his first major league win.
"I'm on a cloud; I feel super," Botelho told The Associated Press after that win.
Botelho got into eight games for the Royals that year, starting four. He had a 4.13 ERA.
After a season back in the minors, Botelho returned to the majors in 1985 with the Cubs. In 11 games, seven starts, Botelho had a 5.32 ERA. It was the extent of his major league career.
His minor league career continued through 1988, ending with the Cardinals at AAA Louisville.
Botelho then started his coaching career. By 1990, he was at rookie Martinsville with the Phillies. In 1996, it was high-A Winston-Salem. In 2006, it was AAA Richmond. In between, he coached at single-A and rookie ball. He hasn't made the majors as a coach.
In 2011, Botelho watched over future major leaguer Arodys Vizcaino as pitching coach for the high-A Lynchburg Hillcats.
"His fastball was explosive and he threw a few outstanding curves," Botelho told MiLB.com after Vizcaino had a rocky beginning turn into a quality start. "He showed a lot of maturity for a guy as young as he is, changing speed with his breaking balls early and getting ahead in the count with the curveball. His command of all three of his pitches was sharp after the first."
- Boca Raton News, May 25, 1978: Shaky start didn't hamper Derek Botelho
- Prescott Courier, Associated Press, July 19, 1982: Royals' rookie hurls shutout
- MiLB.com, April 10, 2011: Vizcaino gains momentum in '11 debut
Players/Coaches Featured:1,914
Made the Majors: 878 - 45.9%
Never Made Majors: 1,036-54.1%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 375
10+ Seasons in the Minors:218
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