Deolis Alexander Guerra (born April 17, 1989) is a Venezuelan 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, ...
for the
Diablos Rojos del México 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 ...
. He has previously played 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
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 ...
,
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...
,
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...
,
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 ...
, and
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 ...
.
Career
New York Mets
Guerra signed with the
New York Mets
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2005. He was named
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its h ...
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, ...
of the Week on July 30, 2006. On July 8, 2007, Guerra represented the New York Mets' organization for the World Team 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 ...
's
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB) in conjunction with the mid-summer MLB All-Star Game. A team of American League-affiliated prospects competes against a team of National League- ...
.
Minnesota Twins
Along with outfielder
Carlos Gómez
Carlos Argelis Gómez Peña, nicknamed Go-Go, (; born December 4, 1985) is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. He played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Ra ...
and pitchers
Philip Humber and
Kevin Mulvey
Kevin John Mulvey (born May 26, 1985) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009 and 2010, and is the current head baseball coach at Villanova University.
Early l ...
, Guerra was traded to the
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
for
Johan Santana on January 29, 2008.
With the
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Fort Myers, Florida, and play their home games at the Lee County Sports Complex at ...
, he compiled a 7–2 record with a 4.83
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 ...
in the first half of the 2008 season—helping his team capture the
Florida State League
The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...
(FSL) first-half West Division title. Guerra's first start in the second half of the 2008 season (Tuesday, July 1) was a 4–0 complete game
shutout
In team sports, a shutout (North American English, US) or clean sheet (Commonwealth English, UK) is a game in which the losing team fails to score. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketba ...
of the
Tampa Yankees. He allowed only three hits, and retired 19 in a row between a first
inning
In baseball, softball, and similar games, an inning is the basic unit of play, consisting of two halves or frames, the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). In each half, one team bats until three outs are made, with the other tea ...
single by James Cooper and a one-out single by Andres Perez in the seventh. It marked the first shutout of Guerra’ professional career. For the second half, he went 4–7 with a 6.08 ERA in 13 starts.
The Miracle again captured the first half division title in 2009, this time in the FSL's newly realigned Southern Division, and Guerra brought a
no hitter into the eighth inning of a July 3 game against the
Charlotte Stone Crabs. With one out, Christian López broke it up with a
double
Double, The Double or Dubble may refer to:
Mathematics and computing
* Multiplication by 2
* Double precision, a floating-point representation of numbers that is typically 64 bits in length
* A double number of the form x+yj, where j^2=+1
* A ...
down the
left field line. Guerra was promoted to the
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats were a minor league baseball team that competed in the Eastern League (1938–2020), Eastern League. They were the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox for 12 years, the Minnesota Twins for 20 years and the Colorado ...
immediately after this game (July 7). He was named FSL pitcher of the week for the week of June 29 through July 5. His combined record for Fort Myers and New Britain was 12–11 with a 4.89 ERA and 106
strikeouts
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 ...
.
On November 20, 2009, he was added to the Twins'
40-man roster
A Major League Baseball roster is a list of players who are allowed, by league agreement, to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Each MLB team maintains two rosters: an active roster of players eligible to participate in an MLB game, an ...
. He began the 2010 season with New Britain, going 1–1 with a 3.07 ERA in five starts prior to being promoted to triple-A. During the 2012 season, the Twins converted Guerra into a
relief pitcher
In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who pitches in the game after the starting pitcher or another relief pitcher has been removed from the game due to fatigue (medical), fatigue, injury, ineffectiveness, ejection ...
. The Twins removed Guerra from their 40-man roster after the 2012 season.
Guerra competed for the
Venezuelan national baseball team in the
2013 World Baseball Classic
The 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international professional baseball competition, held from March 2 to 19, 2013. This was the third iteration of the WBC, following the two previous tournaments, held in 2006 and 2009.
Unlike the tw ...
. He was hospitalized with a blood clot in his right shoulder in March 2013.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Guerra signed a minor league deal with the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...
in November 2014.
On June 27, 2015, The Pirates promoted him to the major leagues. He was
designated for assignment
Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...
on July 31. The
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
claimed Guerra off of waivers, but the claim was rescinded due to Guerra experiencing knee inflammation, and was placed on the Pirates' disabled list. The Pirates designated Guerra for assignment after the 2015 season, but signed him to a minor league contract with an invitation to 2016 spring training.
Los Angeles Angels
On December 10, 2015, Guerra was selected in the
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball (MLB) player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor lea ...
by the
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...
.
On May 30, 2016, Guerra was designated for assignment, and outrighted to Triple-A on June 3. The next day, the Angels re-selected Guerra's contract, adding him to the 25-man roster.
On February 10, 2017, Guerra was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A
Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team that plays in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. Based in South Jordan, Utah, the team plays its home games at The Ballpark at Am ...
on February 15.
Texas Rangers
On January 16, 2018, Guerra signed a minor league contract with the
Texas Rangers. He made 40 appearances for the Triple–A
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers. They are located in Round Rock, Texas, and play their home ...
, accumulating a 3.79 ERA with 71 strikeouts across innings pitched. Guerra elected free agency following the season on November 2.
Milwaukee Brewers
On December 8, 2018, Guerra signed a minor league deal with 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 ...
that included an invitation to
spring training
Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...
.
In 2019, Guerra opened the season with the
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a Minor League Baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The Missions compete in the Texas League as the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Nelson W. W ...
. On July 4, the Brewers selected his contract. On July 6, Guerra was designated for assignment. He elected free agency on October 1. On October 18, 2019, the Brewers signed Guerra to a one-year Major League contract. On January 30, 2020, Guerra was designated for assignment following the Brewers' signing of
David Phelps.
Philadelphia Phillies
On February 5, 2020, Guerra was claimed off outright waivers by 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 ...
. On August 22, Guerra was designated for assignment by the Phillies. In his time with the Phillies, Guerra pitched to a 1–3 record with an 8.59 ERA over 9 games. Guerra elected free agency on October 14.
Oakland Athletics
On February 2, 2021, Guerra signed a minor league contract with 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 ...
organization and was invited to Spring Training. On March 26, Guerra was released by the Athletics, but re-signed with the club the next day on a new minor league contract. On April 8, Guerra had his contract selected to the active roster to take the roster spot of the injured
A.J. Puk. Guerra made a career-high 53 appearances for Oakland in 2021, pitching to a 4.11 ERA with 62 strikeouts in innings pitched.
On April 7, 2022, Guerra was placed on the 60-day injured list with a sprained right
ulnar collateral ligament Ulnar collateral ligament (or UCL) may refer to:
* Ulnar carpal collateral ligament
* Ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint
The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) or internal lateral ligament is a thick triangular ligament at the medial aspec ...
. On April 13, it was announced that Guerra had undergone
Tommy John surgery
Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, ...
, and would miss the entire 2022 season. He was non–tendered and became a free agent on November 18.
On December 15, 2022, Guerra re–signed with Oakland on a minor league deal. Guerra returned to action in 2023 and posted a combined 9.95 ERA in 6 appearances between the rookie–level
Arizona Complex League Athletics and Triple–A
Las Vegas Aviators
The Las Vegas Aviators, formerly known as the Las Vegas 51s and Las Vegas Stars, are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics. They are located in Summerlin South, Nevada, a comm ...
. On August 5, 2023, he was released by the Athletics organization.
Saraperos de Saltillo
On February 8, 2024, Guerra signed with the
Saraperos de Saltillo 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 ...
. In 42 appearances for Saltillo, he logged a 1–1 record and 6.03 ERA with 50 strikeouts over innings pitched.
On April 26, 2025, Guerra, Kurt Heyer,
Mario Meza, Danis Correa, and
Ryan Meisinger combined to no-hit the
Dorados de Chihuahua. In 13 appearances for Saltillo in 2025, he posted a 1-0 record and 3.31 ERA with 18 strikeouts across innings pitched.
Diablos Rojos del México
On May 21, 2025, Guerra was traded to the
Diablos Rojos del México in exchange for
Ricky Karcher,
Ian Krol, and
Alex Claudio.
See also
*
List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
Since 1939, over 400 Venezuelan baseball players have played in Major League Baseball. This list shows players who appeared in at least one game in MLB, including number indicating order of arrival, name of player, position, starting team, and dat ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guerra, Deolis
1989 births
Living people
Arizona Complex League Athletics players
Fort Myers Miracle players
Gulf Coast Twins players
Hagerstown Suns players
Indianapolis Indians players
Las Vegas Aviators players
Los Angeles Angels players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
21st-century Venezuelan sportsmen
Milwaukee Brewers players
Navegantes del Magallanes players
New Britain Rock Cats players
Oakland Athletics players
Sportspeople from Ciudad Guayana
Baseball players from Bolívar (state)
Philadelphia Phillies players
Pittsburgh Pirates players
Rochester Red Wings players
Round Rock Express players
Salt Lake Bees players
San Antonio Missions players
Saraperos de Saltillo players
St. Lucie Mets players
Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Mexico
Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States
World Baseball Classic players of Venezuela
2013 World Baseball Classic players
2017 World Baseball Classic players