Michael Jose Ynoa Ventura ( Michel;
born September 24, 1991) is a
Dominican 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 has 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
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 ...
.
Career
Oakland Athletics
Ynoa signed 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 ...
of
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 $4.25 million, setting a new record for the A's organization after lefty pitcher
Mark Mulder
Mark Alan Mulder (born August 5, 1977) is an American former professional baseball player. A left-handed starting pitcher, Mulder pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals. He is a two-time All-Sta ...
was signed for 3.2 million in 1998. Ynoa was named the "Number One" and the "crown jewel" in the "Best Latino Prospects of 2008." Ynoa was said to be the most impressive Latin American player prospect since
Félix Hernández
Félix Abraham Hernández García (born April 8, 1986), nicknamed "King Félix", is a Venezuelan-American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners from 2005 through 2019. Hernánd ...
in 2002. Two MLB teams (
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
,
Texas Rangers) "reportedly offered Ynoa about $5 million." It was reported that Ynoa signed with Oakland after a deal fell through with the New York Yankees. The Yankees reportedly broke off talks with Ynoa after agent Adam Katz sought to renegotiate a handshake agreement with the club.
In August 2010, after pitching nine innings in the
Arizona League
The Arizona Complex League (ACL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona, since 1988. Prior to 2021, it was known as the Arizona League (AZL). Along with the Florida Complex League (FCL), it fo ...
, Ynoa underwent
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, ...
. Ynoa's contract was selected by the Athletics on November 20, 2012, and he was added to the 40-man roster.
Chicago White Sox
After the 2014 season, the Athletics traded Ynoa and
Jeff Samardzija to 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 ...
in exchange for
Marcus Semien
Marcus Andrew Semien (born September 17, 1990) is an American professional baseball shortstop and second baseman for the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox ...
,
Chris Bassitt
Christopher Michael Bassitt (born February 22, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox in 2014 and has also played for the Oakl ...
,
Rangel Ravelo, and
Josh Phegley.
On June 14, 2016, the White Sox promoted Ynoa to the major leagues. In 45 games over the 2016-2017 seasons, Ynoa compiled a 2-0 record, with a 4.42 ERA in 59 innings. He was released on March 15, 2018.
Kansas City Royals
On November 13, 2018, Ynoa signed a minor league contract with the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
. He was assigned to the Triple–A
Omaha Storm Chasers
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, Nebraska, Omah ...
to start the 2019 season. He was released on May 29.
Oakland Athletics (second stint)
On February 12, 2020, Ynoa 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. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. Ynoa became a free agent on November 2.
Acereros de Monclova
On December 29, 2020, Ynoa signed a minor league contract with 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 ...
organization. Prior to the start of the season on March 27, 2021, Ynoa was released by the Phillies.
On April 20, 2022, Ynoa signed with the
Acereros de Monclova
The Acereros de Monclova (English: Monclova Steelers) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League
The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports l ...
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 12 appearances out of the bullpen, Ynoa posted a 1–0 record with a 3.60 ERA over 10 innings pitched. He was released by the team on May 24.
[
]
Mariachis de Guadalajara
On May 25, 2022, Ynoa signed with the Mariachis de Guadalajara
The Mariachis de Guadalajara ( English: Guadalajara Mariachis) were a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Zapopan, Jalisco, in the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Their home ballpark was the Estadio Panamericano, with a capaci ...
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 13 games for Guadalajara, he logged a 1–2 record and 2.57 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 14 innings pitched. Ynoa was released by the Mariachis on July 9.][
]
Spelling of name
"Michel Ynoa" is the original spelling of Ynoa's name. His first name was anglicized from "Michel" to "Michael" after he signed as an amateur 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 ...
in July 2008. Early in his career, Ynoa's last name was mistakenly spelled "Inoa." He and the Athletics corrected the error in February 2009. His surname reverted to the original spelling, although he maintained the anglicized forename.
Personal life
Ynoa's younger brother, Huascar, is also a professional baseball pitcher.[ ]
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ynoa, Michael
1991 births
Living people
Acereros de Monclova players
Águilas Cibaeñas players
Arizona League Athletics players
Beloit Snappers players
Birmingham Barons players
Charlotte Knights players
Chicago White Sox players
Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Mexico
Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States
Gigantes del Cibao players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic
21st-century Dominican Republic sportsmen
Mariachis de Guadalajara players
Omaha Storm Chasers players
Baseball players from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Stockton Ports players
Vermont Lake Monsters players
Winston-Salem Dash players
Leones del Escogido players