Edwin Daniel Uceta (born January 9, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Mets.

Edwin Uceta
Tampa Bay Rays
Pitcher
Born: (1998-01-09) January 9, 1998 (age 26)
Villa Los Almácigos, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 30, 2021, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record0–3
Earned run average5.80
Strikeouts41
Teams

Career edit

Los Angeles Dodgers edit

Uceta signed with the Dodgers organization on July 2, 2016, for $10,000, when he was 16 years old by Dodger Scout Matthew Doppelt[1] and spent that season with the Dominican Summer League Dodgers, where he was 2–1 with a 1.72 ERA in 31+13 innings over 11 games (3 starts)[2] The following season, he was assigned to the Ogden Raptors of the rookie-class Pioneer League, where he was the starting pitcher in the league championship game that the Raptors won.[3] In 2018, he was promoted to the Class-A Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League and recognized as one of the Dodgers top-30 prospects by MLB Pipeline.[1] He was 5–6 with a 3.2 ERA in 20 starts for the Loons.[2] He split the 2019 season between the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League and the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League, pitching to a combined 11–2 record and 2.77 ERA in 26 games (24 of them starts).[2] He was a mid-season all-star for the Quakes[4] and started the Texas League Championship Game and pitched four scoreless innings though the Drillers lost the game late.[5]

The Dodgers added Uceta to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.[6] On April 29, 2021, Uceta was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[7] He made his debut the next day as the starting pitcher against the Milwaukee Brewers. In the game, he took the loss as he allowed four hits and two runs in two innings while recording his first MLB strikeout of Travis Shaw.[8] He pitched in 14 games for the Dodgers major league squad, with a record of 0–3 and a 6.64 ERA over 20+13 innings.[9] In the minor leagues, he appeared in 10 games (with three starts) for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, with a 4.71 ERA and a 2–3 record.[2] He was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on October 21, 2021.[10]

Arizona Diamondbacks edit

On October 27, 2021, Uceta was claimed off of waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks.[11] He made 10 appearances for the Diamondbacks in 2022, logging a 5.82 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 17.0 innings pitched and compiled a 6–1 record and 4.86 ERA in 28 appearances in his time with the Triple-A Reno Aces.

On January 5, 2023, Uceta was designated for assignment by Arizona to make space on the 40-man roster for the newly signed Evan Longoria.[12]

New York Mets edit

On January 11, 2023, Uceta was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers.[13] Uceta was optioned to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens to begin the 2023 season.[14] He was designated for assignment on March 30.[15] On April 2, Uceta was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates and optioned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.[16] He was designated for assignment on April 4, after Tyler Heineman was selected to the roster.[17]

On April 6, 2023, Uceta was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets and optioned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets.[18] On April 17, Uceta was recalled to the major league roster after José Butto was sent down.[19] On April 22, Uceta suffered a left ankle sprain in a game against the San Francisco Giants, and was replaced on the active roster by Butto.[20] He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on May 8.[21] On June 9, Uceta underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, and was ruled out for at least eight weeks.[22] After rehabbing with the Single–A St. Lucie Mets,[23] he was activated on August 13, and subsequently optioned to Triple–A Syracuse.[24] He only made one appearance for the Mets, tossing a scoreless inning, striking out three in three innings of work. On August 16, Uceta was designated for assignment following the promotion of Dennis Santana. [25]

Chicago Cubs edit

On August 18, 2023, Uceta was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.[26] On August 25, Uceta was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Iowa Cubs.[27] After struggling to a 16.20 ERA across 5 games for Iowa, Uceta was released by the Cubs organization on September 12.[28]

Tampa Bay Rays edit

On December 10, 2023, Uceta signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.[29]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Petzold, Evan (July 24, 2018). "Edwin Uceta completes journey from gas station attendant to Dodgers prospect list". Great Lakes Loons. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Edwin Uceta Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  3. ^ Leboff, Michael (September 17, 2017). "Raptors nab first Pioneer League championship". milb.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  4. ^ Lindskog, Mike (June 7, 2019). "Seven Quakes Named 2019 Mid-Season All Stars". milb.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  5. ^ Minami, Craig (September 16, 2019). "Tulsa loses late, Ogden drops finale". SB Nation. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  6. ^ Gurnick, Ken (November 20, 2020). "Dodgers protect 4 prospects from Rule 5". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  7. ^ Byrne, Connor (April 29, 2021). "Dodgers Place Brusdar Graterol On 10-Day IL". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  8. ^ Toribio, Juan (April 30, 2021). "Dodgers 'pen does its job, but bats stay cold". mlb.com. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  9. ^ "Edwin Uceta Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  10. ^ Hicks, James (October 21, 2021). "Dodgers To Designate Edwin Uceta For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  11. ^ Adams, Steve (October 27, 2021). "Diamondbacks Claim Edwin Uceta". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  12. ^ "D-backs sign 3-time All-Star Evan Longoria to 1-year deal". espn.com. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  13. ^ "Tigers' Edwin Uceta: Picked up by Detroit". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  14. ^ "Tigers' Edwin Uceta: Moves to Triple-A". cbssports.com. March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  15. ^ "Tigers Designate Edwin Uceta for Assignment". March 30, 2023.
  16. ^ "Pirates Claim Edwin Uceta, Transfer JT Brubaker to 60-Day IL". April 2, 2023.
  17. ^ "Pirates' Edwin Uceta: Designated for assignment". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  18. ^ "Mets' Edwin Uceta: Claimed off waivers by NYM". cbssports.com. April 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  19. ^ "Mets' Edwin Uceta: Recalled from Syracuse". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  20. ^ "Mets' Edwin Uceta: Goes on IL with ankle sprain". cbssports.com. June 9, 2023.
  21. ^ "Mets' Edwin Uceta: Starts up rehab assignment". cbssports.com. May 8, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  22. ^ "Mets' Edwin Uceta: Undergoes meniscus surgery". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  23. ^ "Mets' Edwin Uceta: Rehabbing at Single-A". cbssports.com. August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  24. ^ "Mets' Edwin Uceta: Reinstated from IL, sent down". cbssports.com. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  25. ^ "Mets' Edwin Uceta: Moves off 40-man roster". cbssports.com. August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  26. ^ "Chicago Cubs Claim Reliever Edwin Uceta Off of Waivers from the New York Mets". bleachernation.com. August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  27. ^ "Cubs Clear Another 40-Man Spot After Waiving, Outrighting Edwin Uceta". cubsinsider.com. August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  28. ^ "Edwin Uceta: Cut loose by Cubs". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  29. ^ https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/rays-reportedly-sign-edwin-uceta-to-minor-league-deal.html

External links edit