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 ...

(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

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

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

. 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

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