For more great baseball stories like this one, 'like' us on Facebook - Facebook.com/Greatest21Days

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Jose Ventura started shutout timidly, then got aggressive; Saw six pro seasons, made AA


South Bend manager Rick Patterson's young hurler Jose Ventura turned in a gem this night in July 1989 as he threw a two-hit shutout, The South Bend Tribune wrote.

His manager Rick Patterson explained to The Tribune how Ventura did it, after a slow start.

"Ventura was timid early," Patterson told The Tribune. "He was feeling his way. He didn't turn it loose until he got a couple runs and got some confidence, then he got a little more aggressive."

Ventura picked up nine other starts for South Bend that year, to go with 19 relief appearances. He went on to make AA Birmingham two seasons later. But, in a career that spanned six campaigns, he didn't make it higher.

Ventura's career began in 1988, signed by the White Sox out of his native Dominican Republic.

Ventura started with the White Sox in the rookie Gulf Coast League. he went 3-3, with a 2.62 ERA over 12 starts.

He then moved to South Bend for 1989 and turned in a 1.57 mark over those 29 outings. He also threw a second shutout.

Ventura played 1990 mostly at high-A Sarasota. He went 12-8, with a 3.39 ERA. He also got one outing at AA Birmingham.

He played all of 1991 at Birmingham, then started 1992 there. He finished the 1992 campaign with the Royals at AA Memphis. He returned to Memphis for 1993. He went 2-5, with a 3.94 ERA over 20 outings, 12 starts, to end his career.

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:3,833
Made the Majors:1,288-33.6%
Never Made Majors:2,545-66.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:526
10+ Seasons in the Minors:322

No comments:

Post a Comment