Alfredo Aceves Martínez (born 8 December 1982) is a Mexican former professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
. He pitched in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) for the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
and
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
.
Aceves used a
fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch (baseball), pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. Its distinctive feature is its high speed. "Power pitchers," such as former major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, relied on the ...
, which could reach the mid 90s, a
curveball
In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curve ...
, a
changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball.
The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball, but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced spee ...
, and a
cut fastball
Cut or CUT may refer to:
Common uses
* The act of cutting, the separation of an object into two through acutely directed force
** A type of wound
** Cut (archaeology), a hole dug in the past
** Cut (clothing), the style or shape of a garment
** ...
. He was known for his control and his ability to throw any pitch in any count.
Career
Early career
Aceves was signed by the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
as an amateur free agent in . He made ten starts in the
Dominican Summer League
The Dominican Summer League (DSL) is a branch of affiliated Minor League Baseball which is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. After the demise of the Venezuelan Summer League after the 2015 season, it is the only ...
that year. However, Aceves felt isolated, and when the Blue Jays assigned him to stay in the DSL for , Aceves stayed in Mexico, and his contract was purchased by the
Yucatán Leones of the
Mexican League
The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country.
The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...
.
Aceves pitched for Yucatán and
Sultanes de Monterrey
The Sultanes de Monterrey (English: Monterrey Sultans) are a professional baseball club in the Mexican League (LMB) based in Monterrey, Mexico. Established in 1939 as Carta Blanca, the Sultanes have won ten LMB titles, most recently in 2018. Fro ...
for the next six seasons.
New York Yankees
Yankees scout Lee Sigman followed Aceves in the Mexican League, feeling he could achieve similar success as
Teddy Higuera, who Sigman had signed for the
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...
.
[ Feeling that he had developed well in the Mexican League, the Yankees purchased Aceves, along with Manny Banuelos and two other players, for $450,000 during the 2007–08 offseason.][ He began with the Single-A Advanced ]Tampa Yankees
Tampa ( ) is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Tampa's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the county seat of Hillsborough C ...
. He was quickly promoted to the Double-A Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Trenton, New Jersey, and play their home games at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
From 1994 to 2020, it was a Minor League Baseball team of the D ...
and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. He was named Eastern League pitcher of the week for the week ending 25 May 2008.
After going a combined 8–6 with a 2.62 earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA) on the three Yankee farm teams, Aceves was called up to the Yankees on 28 August, . On 31 August, Aceves made his Yankee and major league debut, pitching two scoreless innings in relief
Relief is a sculpture, sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''wikt:relief, relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give ...
as the Yankees lost to the Blue Jays, 6–2.
After pitching effectively through his first few relief appearances, Aceves was moved to the rotation in replacement of Darrell Rasner. In his first career start, he pitched seven innings of one-run ball with two strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...
s against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. Since 1966, the team has pl ...
, earning the win.
After starting the season in the minors, Aceves rejoined the Yankees on 4 May. Due to his ability to pitch effectively in any situation, Aceves has drawn comparisons to former Yankee reliever and spot starter Ramiro Mendoza.
Aceves made ten relief appearances in 2010 before succumbing to a strained lower back that ended his season. He suffered a broken collarbone in an off-season bicycle accident. He was non-tendered after the season.
Boston Red Sox
Aceves was signed to a major league deal by the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
on 8 February 2011. On 21 April, he was optioned to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox, known colloquially as the PawSox, were a professional minor league baseball club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1973 to 2020, the team was a member of the International League and served as the Triple-A affiliate ...
to make room for Matt Albers
Matthew James Albers (born January 20, 1983) is an Americans, American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indi ...
on the roster. On 6 May, Aceves was called back up, and on 16 May, he won his first game with the Red Sox. Between then and 1 September, Aceves had a 9–1 record out of the bullpen for Boston.
After an injury to Andrew Bailey, Aceves was named the acting closer for the beginning of the 2012 season, but had a slow start, surrendering the game-winning hit on Opening Day and allowing a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of the third game of the season. In late August, once Bailey returned from his injury, he took the closer role back. Aceves also had a year-long feud with manager Bobby Valentine
Robert John Valentine (born May 13, 1950), nicknamed "Bobby V", is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He also served as the athletic director at Sacred Heart University. Valentine played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (19 ...
that resulted in a brief suspension. There were also multiple on- and off-field confrontations.
After five games in 2013, which included three starts, Aceves was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on 25 April two days after giving away eight runs in innings against the Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
. Aceves was recalled on 24 May for a one-off start against the Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
. Despite the win, he was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on 28 May. He was recalled again on 12 June, and returned to Pawtucket the next day. He was recalled on 7 July when Andrew Miller suffered a year-ending foot injury. He was optioned three days later. On 14 July, Aceves was outrighted off the 40-man roster after clearing waivers. He elected free agency on 4 October.
Baltimore Orioles
Aceves signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
in January 2014. Aceves took a short break from 2014 Spring training to return to Mexico to obtain a work visa. After learning that he would not make the Orioles roster near the end of Spring training, Aceves elected to opt out of his contract, making him a free agent.
New York Yankees (second stint)
Aceves signed a minor league deal with the Yankees on 28 March 2014. He received a promotion to the major leagues on 3 May, and was designated for assignment on 4 June. On 3 July, he was suspended for 50 games for failing a drug test for recreational drugs. He was released on 27 August.
Sultanes de Monterrey
Aceves signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
on 7 March 2015. The Giants assigned him to the Sultanes de Monterrey
The Sultanes de Monterrey (English: Monterrey Sultans) are a professional baseball club in the Mexican League (LMB) based in Monterrey, Mexico. Established in 1939 as Carta Blanca, the Sultanes have won ten LMB titles, most recently in 2018. Fro ...
of the Mexican League
The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country.
The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...
for the 2015 season. He was suspended for the remainder of the season in June for his confrontation with an umpire
An umpire is an official in a variety of sports and competition, responsible for enforcing the rules of the sport, including sportsmanship decisions such as ejection.
The term derives from the Old French , , and , : (as evidenced in cricke ...
. In 2015 he pitched in 11 games 10 starts and threw 53 innings going 3–4 with a 3.40 ERA and 25 strikeouts. He resigned on 5 April 2015. In 2016 he made 10 starts throwing 56.2 innings going 4–3 with a 3.81 ERA and 29 strikeouts. He was released on 16 May 2017 after struggling in 3 starts 11.1 innings going 0–0 with a 6.35 ERA and 6 strikeouts.
Saraperos de Saltillo
On 19 May 2017, Aceves signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican Baseball League
The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country.
The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...
. He was released on 11 July 2017. In 8 games 7 starts and 39.1 innings he struggled going 1–5 with a 6.41 ERA and 18 strikeouts.
Personal life
Aceves married his wife Arley in November 2008, after proposing to her during a Trenton Thunder game during the 2008 season.[ His father, Alfredo Aceves Sr., was a ]first baseman
A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...
in the Mexican League. His older brother, Jonathan Aceves, was a minor league catcher
Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catc ...
in the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
organization, for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo
The Naranjeros de Hermosillo () are a professional baseball team based in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. They compete in the Mexican Pacific League (LMP). The team plays at the Estadio Fernando Valenzuela with a capacity of 16,000 seated spectators. ...
in the Mexican Pacific League and for the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. Aceves wears #91, a number worn by Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman (born May 13, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. Renowned for his defensive and rebounding abilities, his biography on the official NBA website states that he is "arguably the best rebounding forw ...
, whom Aceves admires.[ Aceves' son Apollo was born on 1 August 2013.]
See also
* List of Major League Baseball players from Mexico
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aceves, Alfredo
1982 births
Living people
Baseball players from Sonora
Boston Red Sox players
Gulf Coast Red Sox players
Leones de Yucatán players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball players from Mexico
21st-century Mexican sportsmen
Mexican expatriate baseball players in the United States
Mexican League baseball pitchers
Naranjeros de Hermosillo players
New York Yankees players
Pawtucket Red Sox players
Saraperos de Saltillo players
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees players
Sultanes de Monterrey players
Tampa Yankees players
Tomateros de Culiacán players
Trenton Thunder players
2013 World Baseball Classic players
Sportspeople from San Luis Río Colorado
World Baseball Classic players of Mexico