Esteban Loaiza #21

Esteban Antonio Loaiza Veyna...has a son, Sage (3/23/01)...was a special guest of Mexican President Vicente Fox at the Los Pinos Presidential compound in Mexico City in January 2004...also visited the Little Village Academy in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month...born in Tijuana, but graduated from Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach, California.

2007

Made just seven starts on the season, including five with the Dodgers after being claimed off waivers on Aug. 29...began the season with the Oakland Athletics and was on the 15-day disabled list with spasms in his right trapezius muscle (neck)...was transferred to the 60-day DL and was diagnosed with a bulging disc in his neck and a torn meniscus in his right knee...had surgery on the right knee on May 31...began a rehab assignment for Triple-A Sacramento and went 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in four starts before being reinstated from the disabled list on Aug. 22...made two starts for Oakland and went 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA (3 ER/14.2 IP) before being claimed off waivers by Los Angeles on Aug. 29...made his Dodger debut on Sept. 3 at Chicago and earned a victory, going 7.0 innings and allowing three earned runs...his victory on Sept. 3 gave him 125 career wins, the second most in Major League history by a Mexican pitcher behind former Dodger southpaw and Spanish-language broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela (173)...became just the 17th Dodger born in Mexico and ninth pitcher, joining Victor Alvarez, Elmer Dessens, Antonio Osuna, Jose Pena, Dennys Reyes, Vicente Romo, Ismael Valdez and Valenzuela...took the mound on Sept. 16, Mexican Independence Day, and squared off against Arizona's Edgar Gonzalez, another Mexico native...they were two of the 13 Mexican-born Major Leaguers to play at least one game in 2007.

2006

Loaiza was signed by the A's to a three-year contract as a free agent in the offseason. He went on the disabled list in May with a strained left trapezius muscle, and when he returned in June, he ranked among the American League pitching leaders. He went 0-3 with an 8.35 ERA in four starts in April. After being reinstated on June 8, he went 11-6 with a 4.42 ERA in 22 starts. The 11 wins tied for fourth most in the AL over that span. It was his seventh career season with 10 or more wins, and he now has 123 career wins. He went 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA in August, and earned the AL pitcher of the month award. In three starts from Aug. 18-28, he didn't give up an earned run. The A's were 15-11 when he was on the mound.

2005

Won 12 games after signing with the Nationals as a free agent on January 19...turned out to be one of the top free agent bargains among the free-agent pitching class of 2004 (Odalis Perez, Eric Milton, Russ Ortiz, David Wells, Derek Lowe, Woody Williams and Kevin Millwood, among thers)...posted the 12 wins despite suffering from the eighth worst run support in the National League at 3.90...tied for sixth in the Majors with a team-high 24 quality starts...paced Nationals starters in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.15 to 1)...led the ML in called third strikes (89) and percentage of third strikes called (51.4%)...won at least 10 games for the sixth time in his career...11 of his 12 wins came after June 1...allowed two earned runs or less nine times in his 10 losses and 12 no decisions....capped the season ranked second among Mexican-born pitchers with 112 wins...Fernando Valenzuela (173) is Mexico's all-time ML wins leader...finished 2005 with 99 career losses as he staved off career loss number 100 for his final six starts of the season...among active pitchers, only four were able to put off their 100th loss for six-or-more starts: Tom Glavine (9 starts), Jamie Moyer (7), Tim Wakefield (7), David Wells (7)...averaged 6.4 innings per assignment and failed to last at least 5.0 innings only twice...went 5-5 with a 3.57 ERA before the All-Star break and 7-5 with a 3.99 ERA after the break...led the Nationals in post-All-Star break wins (7)...closed strong, going 3-0 with a 3.95 ERA in September with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 7.6 to 1 (5 bb, 38 so)...was 5-4 with a 4.28 ERA (49 er in 103.0 ip) in 16 starts against NL East foes...pitched on three days rest on three occasions in 2005, going 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA (4 er in 21.1 ip)...the two wins on three days rest came August 21 at New York and September 4 vs. Philadelphia...is now 12-2 with a 3.91 ERA (53 er in 122.0 ip) in 20 career starts on three days rest...has more wins on three days rest than any ML pitcher since 1995...went four-plus games and 33.0 innings without walking a batter, September 4-28...his 287 ground-ball outs were his most since inducing 307 in 2001 for Toronto...won three consecutive starts, June 24-July 5...threw 100 or more pitches 16 times, including a season-high 128 on September 4 vs. Philadelphia...posted three wins against New York but did not beat any other club more than once...went 6-4 with a 2.86 ERA at RFK Stadium...Washington went 18-16 with Loaiza on the mound, including 14-6 when he did not allow a home run...retired 12 straight to begin the game in his Nationals debut, April 7 at Philadelphia...settled for no decision as Philadelphia plated three in the sixth inning...in all, allowed four runs on five hits in 6.2 innings...walked three and fanned four...matched his career high with 11 strikeouts and took a shutout into the ninth inning on April 27 vs. Philadelphia, but suffered the loss when Jimmy Rollins led off the final inning with a home run...pitching in front of fellow countryman Fernando Valenzuela, spun 6.0 strong innings of three-hit, one-run ball to nab the win, May 2 at Los Angeles...worked 8.0 scoreless innings but did not get a decision in an eventual 1-0 victory vs. Milwaukee, May 18...finally received run support and nabbed the win on June 8 vs. Oakland in a 7-2 decision...went without a win for six straight starts from May 8 to June 2, despite posting a solid 3.40 ERA...missed a scheduled start on June 19 at Texas with a sore neck...pitched (6.0 scoreless innings) and hit (two-run double in the second inning was game-winning RBI and his first RBI of any kind since July 2, 1998 vs. Detroit) the Nationals to a 3-0 win on June 24 vs. Toronto...with his 103rd career win on June 24 vs. Toronto-which came in front of President Bush who was attending the game-claimed sole possession of second place on the all-time win list among Mexican-born pitchers...moved past Ismael Valdez, who was on Florida's DL at the time...ended a four-start winless string by nabbing the win, August 12 at Colorado...allowed only one run in 6.1 Mile High innings to pocket his third career win at Coors Field...pitching on three days rest (first Nationals starter to do so), he earned the win on August 21 in a 7-4 victory at New York...fanned seven (six "looking") in 7.0 innings to earn the win over first-place St. Louis, August 26 at RFK...earned the win and matched his career high with 11 strikeouts in a 6-1 win on September 4 vs. Philadelphia...earned the win, his 12th, in his final start on September 28 at Florida.

2004

Pitched for CWS and NYY and was named to 2nd straight AL All-Star team, but struggled thanks in part to fatigue, especially in 2nd half...won at least 10 games for 4th time in 5 years...10th and final win of season, which came while pitching for the Yanks on September 21 vs. TOR, was also career victory No. 100...100th win came on 7th try. With CWS: Won each of first 3 starts, April 7-18, including 2nd career 2-hit shutout, April 18 at TBR...did not take a loss until May 4 at BAL...season-best 9-strikeout performance on May 26 vs. TEX included 1,000th career K (Alfonso Soriano)...won 4 consecutive decision, May 20-June 27...was 8-4 with a 4.77 ERA upon being named an AL All-Star by ANA-skipper Mike Scioscia...representing the ChiSox, worked 1.0 scoreless inning in Mid-Summer Classic at Minute Maid Park...was acquired by NYY at trade deadline, July 31, in exchange for RHP Jose Contreras and cash considerations...went 0-2 with a 7.30 ERA in 5 August starts for the Bronx Bombers before making first relief appearance of season on August 31 vs. CLE. With NYY: Went 1-2 with an 8.50 ERA in 10 games (6 starts) for NYY...rebounded by posting a 1.08 ERA in 3 postseason games for the Yankees...worked team season-high 4.2 innings of relief on September 26 at BOS.

2003

Finished second in American League Cy Young Award voting after going 21-9 with a 2.90 ERA in his first season with the Chicago White Sox...his second-place finish was the highest by a Sox pitcher since Jack McDowell won in 1993...became the seventh pitcher (11th time) in ChiSox history to win 20 games, the first since McDowell went 22-10 in 1993...also joined fellow countryman Fernando Valenzuela as the only Mexican-born pitchers to win as many as 21 games in a season...with 207 strikeouts, he became the first Sox pitcher since Early Wynn (179 in 1958) to lead the AL in that category and the first since Alex Fernandez (200 in 1996) to record at least 200 strikeouts in one season...his strikeout total was the eighth-highest in club history and the most since Tom Bradley fanned 209 in 1972...was named to Baseball America's First Team postseason All-Star Team...received votes for the AL Most Valuable Player Award, finishing in a tie for 23rd...set career highs in every category...21 wins were 10 more than his previous best of 11 (1997 and 2001), 207 strikeouts were 70 more than his best of 137 (2000), and 226.1 inning were 27.0 more than his best of 199.1 (2000)...ranked among the AL leaders in quality starts (tied for first, 27), strikeouts per nine innings (2nd, 8.23), wins (tied for 2nd), ERA (3rd), batting average against with RISP (3rd, .192), batting average against (4th, .233), hits per nine innings (4th, 7.8), opponents slugging (4th, .350), on-base percentage allowed (5th, .286), baserunners per nine innings (5th, 10.4), starts (tied for 5th, 34), innings (6th, 226.1), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6th, 3.7 to 1) and winning percentage (tied for 7th, .700)...paced the AL in ERA most of the season...also ranked among the AL leaders in wins at home (t-1st, 12), average with men on base (3rd, .189), home runs per nine innings (3rd, 0.68) and walks per nine innings (10th, 2.23)...posted an ERA of 2.65 or lower in four of the season's six months...was named to his first All-Star Team, becoming the first White Sox pitcher since Wynn in 1959 to earn the starting nod at the Midsummer Classic...threw 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with one strikeout but did not figure in the decision...was 11-5 with an AL-best 2.21 ERA at the break...79.4 percent (27 of 34) of his starts were quality, the highest percentage by a Sox starter since 1974...his 27 quality starts tied for the most by a Sox pitcher since 1974 and tied Valenzuela for the most ever by a Mexican pitcher...went 10-5 with three no-decisions when pitching after a Sox loss...right-handers hit .191 (63 for 329), which ranked second lowest in the AL, and lefties batted .259 (133 for 514)...Sox were 23-11 in his starts...was 4-0 with a 1.19 ERA combined vs. Boston, Toronto and New York, the three highest scoring teams in the AL...allowed two earned runs or less in 21 of his 34 starts...was touched for fewer hits than innings 19 times...failed to reach the sixth inning in just 4 of his 34 starts...lost a pair of 1-0 games (both to Detroit) and left with the lead in three of his four no-decisions...struck out eight or more batters 11 times, including a career-high tying 11 on April 17 vs. Kansas City...yielded three or fewer walks 31 times, including no walks on seven occasions...earned his 21st win in the final game of the season on September 28 at Kansas City...did not allow a hit until one out in the seventh inning...went 9-4 with a 2.46 ERA in 16 road starts...his road ERA ranked second in the AL and the wins tied for fourth...went 5-0 with a 1.25 ERA in April to earn AL Pepsi Pitcher of the Month honors, his first career award...was the first Sox pitcher since Cal Eldred (June 2000) to win the award...the five wins in April and August matched his career best for single month...was named AL Pepsi Pitcher of the Week for April 21-27, going 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA (no walks, 16 strikeouts)...it was the first weekly honor by a Sox pitcher since McDowell (August 16-22, 1993)...tossed his 10th career complete game in a 1-0 loss on July 10 at Detroit...earned his career-high 12th win on July 20 vs. Detroit...earned the win in his ChiSox debut, and home opener, on April 4 vs. Detroit...was the first White Sox pitcher since Danny Darwin in 1997 to make the starting rotation as a non-roster invitee.

2002

Led Toronto's staff in complete games (3) and was second in innings (151.1)...walked two or fewer batters in 20 of his 25 starts...received an average of 6.2 runs of support per nine innings...his ERA was 4.90 at home and 6.90 on the road...averaged 5.2 strikeouts (87 so) and 2.3 walks (38 bb) per nine innings...was 2-3 with a 3.75 ERA during the day compared to 7-7 with a 6.62 ERA at night...Toronto went 13-12 in his starts...made 12 quality starts...opponents hit .309 overall...opened the season on the 15-Day DL with tightness in his right shoulder...made five rehabilitation starts between Single-A Dunedin, Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Syracuse, going 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA and 19 strikeouts...was activated from the DL on May 14 and made his season debut the same day vs. Seattle...earned the win, allowing three runs in 6.1 innings...tossed a career best two-hit com- plete-game shutout on May 19 vs. Oakland...his career-best 18.1 consecutive scoreless innings streak ended on May 25 vs. Cleveland when Travis Fryman hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning...was 3-1 with a 2.40 ERA (8 er in 30.0 ip) in May but was 0-4 with a 7.55 ERA in his next four decisions...tossed his second and third complete games on August 29 vs. New York and September 26 vs. Baltimore.

2001

Matched his then career best with 11 wins...ranked third in the American League in hits allowed (239), sixth with a 2.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio (110 so, 40 bb) and tied for sixth in home runs allowed (27)...set a club record for Opening Day with nine strikeouts in an 8-1 victory, April 1 vs. Texas in Puerto Rico...his four April wins tied a club record...went 5-9 with a 5.60 ERA in the first half and 6-2 with a 4.26 ERA after the break...held opponents to a .237 average with RISP...tossed 29.2 innings without a walk from July 25-August 22...tossed a five-hit complete game shutout, September 2 vs. Detroit...posted a 3.86 ERA in six relief appearances.

2000

Combined to go 10-13 with a 4.56 ERA in 34 games between Texas and Toronto...began the season with the Rangers, appearing in 20 games (17 starts) ...made 16 quality starts for the two clubs...was traded to Toronto on July 19 in exchange for Darwin Cubillan and Mike Young...made 14 starts with Toronto...ERA was 5.19 prior to the break and 3.90 after...posted his second career shutout and fanned a career-high 11 on September 8 vs. Detroit...tossed 2.0 scoreless innings for his first Major League save on June 25 against Tampa Bay.

1999

Worked in starter and relief role for Texas...was 8-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 15 starts...went 1-1 with a 6.91 ERA in 15 relief appearances...all nine wins came after the All-Star break...issued just 2.99 walks per nine innings...retired 14 of 15 first batters faced out of the bullpen...allowed 6 of 19 (31.6%) of inherited runners to score...won a career-high seven straight games from July 19-August 25...posted quality starts in 10 of his 15 assignments...missed nearly two months (May 12 to July 4) with a broken right hand...made two rehabilitation starts with Triple-A Oklahoma of the Pacific Coast League...started and pitched well, but took the loss in Game 3 of the ALDS vs. New York...was touched for three earned runs in 7.0 innings.

1998

Spent time with both Pittsburgh and Texas...appeared in 21 games (14 starts) with Pittsburgh...also made 14 starts with Texas...opened the season in the Pirates rotation...went 4-5 with a 4.94 ERA as a starter and 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in relief...was traded to the Rangers on July 17 in exchange for right handed pitcher Todd Van Poppel and infielder Warren Morris...started on one day of rest on September 15 after allowing six earned runs in a 1.2-inning start on September 13 at Tampa Bay.

1997

Won a then career-high 11 games with Pittsburgh...tied for third in the National League in hit batters (12)...started the season 4-0...became the first Pittsburgh pitcher to win his first four decisions since Randy Tomlin in 1992...made 21 quality starts...went 4-0 with a 4.91 ERA during the day and 7-11 with a 3.95 ERA at night...averaged 2.6 walks and 5.6 strikeouts per nine innings...Pittsburgh went 18-15 in his starts.

1996

Was recalled by Pittsburgh on June 7 and made his 1996 debut on June 10 at San Francisco...made two starts before being optioned to Triple-A Calgary of the International League on June 19...was recalled a second time on August 22...went 0-3 with a 9.95 ERA at home, as opposed to 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA on the road...tossed his first career complete-game shutout on September 13 at San Francisco...went 2-1 with a 2.10 ERA over final five starts...began the season at Calgary...ranked fourth in the Pacific Coast League in shutouts (1)...was loaned to Mexico City from June 19-August 13.

1995

Tied for the National League lead in starts (31) and tied for fourth among NL rookies with eight wins...earned the victory in his Major League debut on April 29 at Philadelphia...also recorded his first ML hit, a single off Tyler Green, in the same game...posted a 2.88 ERA during a four-game win streak from June 20-July 9, including his first career complete game on July 9 vs. New York.

1994

Spent the entire season at Double-A Carolina in the Southern League...led his team in wins (10) and ranked fifth in the SL in strikeouts (115)...compiled a 3.8 to 1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

1993

Split the season between Single-A Salem of the South Atlantic League, Double-A Carolina of the Southern League and Mexico City of the independent Mexican Summer League...began the year at Salem...ranked fifth in the Carolina League with three complete games...was selected to pitch in the Carolina League All-Star Game.

1992

Spent the entire season at Single-A Augusta of the South Atlantic League...led the club in wins (10), starts (25) and complete games (3)...allowed 8.4 hits per nine innings (134 hits in 143.1 innings).

1991

Made an impressive professional debut with Bradenton of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League...paced the GCL with one shutout...his five wins ranked fifth in the GCL.