Mike Munoz saw 12 ML seasons with Rockies, Dodgers, more
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Mike Munoz came on in relief for the Dodgers in this September 1989 game in Cincinnati and made his major league debut.
His very first pitch went for a home run, The Los Angeles Times wrote.
"I thought, man, it's kind of neat to hear all these people," Munoz joked The Times afterward. "I've never heard that kind of cheering before."
Munoz got through the rest of the appearance without further damage. He then went on to throw a good amount more major league pitches over the next decade-plus.
Overall, Munoz saw time in 12 major league seasons, with 453 total appearances.
Munoz' career began in 1986, taken by the Dodgers in the third round of the draft out of Cal Poly Pomona.
Munoz started with the Dodgers at rookie Great Falls as a starter. He then moved to Bakersfield and largely into relief.
He made AA San Antonio in 1988 and AAA Albuquerque in 1989. In September 1989, he made his major league debut. He got three outings and gave up five earned in 2.2 innings.
Munoz returned to Los Angeles for eight games in 1990, spending the rest of the year at Albuquerque. He then moved to the Tigers for 1991 and saw six games in Detroit.
For 1992, he finally became a major league regular. He got into 65 games and had a 3.00 ERA. The left-hander would often be brought in for one batter, something Munoz was fine with, The Associated Press wrote.
"That's my role on this team," Munoz told The AP early that September. "That's how I contribute. I'm happy with it because I've accepted it."
Munoz moved to the Rockies mid-year in 1993 and became a regular there. He saw 40 or more outings with the Rockies each year through 1998, including 64 twice.
In one August 1996 game, Munoz went three scoreless innings of relief and struck out five as his Rockies came back for the win, The AP wrote.
"Munoz was the savior for us," Rockies manager Don Baylor told The AP afterward. "He got some easy outs, threw strikes and did a marvelous job in picking us up."
Munoz signed with the Rangers for 1999 and saw 56 more outings that year with a 3.93 ERA. He returned for seven final outings in 2000, ending his career.
- Los Angeles Times, Sept. 7, 1989: Dodgers' Munoz Gets Rude Welcome
- Petoskey News-Review, Associated Press, Sept. 3, 1992: Munoz gives Sparky a tinkering option
- Latrobe Bulletin, Associated Press, Aug. 26, 1996: Rockies' Bullpen Withstands Bucs
Made the Majors:1,453-31.7%-X
Never Made Majors:3,131-68.3%