Cecilio Guante liked relief best, saw 9 majors seasons
Pirates pitcher Cecilio Guante pitched in relief and he preferred it that way, he told The Honolulu Star-Advertiser in April 1983.
"I like to pitch relief best of all," Guante told The Star-Advertiser through an interpreter. "I like to be ready to pitch every day."
Guante then readied to pitch in his fourth professional season, having debuted in the majors his previous campaign. He went on to see the majors over nine seasons, with the Pirates, Yankees, Rangers and Indians.
Guante's career began in 1980, signed by the Pirates as a free agent out of his native Dominican Republic.
Guante started with the Pirates at single-A Shelby and single-A Salem. He made AA Buffalo and AAA Portland for 1981, then Portland and Pittsburgh for 1982.
Guante saw 10 outings for the Pirates in 1982, then returned for 49 in 1983. He went 2-6, with a 3.32 ERA that year.
He saw another 27 outings for Pittsburgh in 1984, then 63 in 1985 and 52 in 1986. He went 5-2, with a 3.35 ERA in 1986.
That April in 1986, Guante got out of a jam against the Cubs and focused on his pitching adjustments the reason, The Pittsburgh Press wrote.
"Only difference is I throw fast to the plate now," Guante told The Press. "I no think. And last year I was throwing too many breaking balls. This year I throw fastballs."
Guante moved to the Yankees for 1987 and saw 23 relief outings. He saw 56 for the Yankees in 1988 and went 5-6, with a 2.88 ERA before asking for a trade and landing with the Rangers by September.
"He has a good arm, and he gets right-handers out," Rangers manager Bobby Valentine told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram after the trade. "He's not a starter and not a long reliever. I'll use him sometime after the fifth inning."
Guante saw 50 outings for the Rangers in 1989. He then moved to the Indians for 26 outings in 1990. He also saw two outings that year with the Red Sox at AAA Pawtucket.
Guante's final recorded pro time came in 1992, with 20 relief outings in Taiwan with Uni-President.
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, April 6, 1983: Guante is ready to pitch - or travel
- Pittsburgh Press, April 19, 1986: Pirates hang together
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Sept. 1, 1988: New Ranger didn't like New York
Made the Majors:1,485-31.6%-X
Never Made Majors:3,221-68.4%