Elih Villanueva #99

Elih (EEE-lie) Christopher Villanueva (Vee-ah-nue-way-vuh)...was a 2004 graduate of Westminster Academy in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla....earned Second Team All-State honors following a senior season in which he went 10-3 with a 1.15 ERA...pitched one season for Florida International before attending Miami Dade Community College...named FCCAA Pitcher of the Year, NJCAA Second Team All-American and First Team All-State, helping Miami Dade win Southern Conference championship...earned First Team All-ACC honors in only season at Florida State, finishing 7-4 with 95 strikeouts.

2011

Had contract selected from triple-A New Orleans on June 15 and made Major League debut that afternoon with a start in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Philadelphia. Took loss, allowing eight runs on five hits and five walks over 3.0 innings, and was optioned back to Zephyrs prior to Game 2...Aside from first pro start, spent season with New Orleans. Was 4-7 with a 4.64 ERA (99.0 IP/51 ER) in first half, and 3-4 with a 6.41 ERA (66.0/47) in second half...Won three consecutive starts from May 3-13...Went winless in 11 starts between May 19 and July 19, suffering five losses in span. Ended drought on July 24 with a win at Albuquerque...During losing streak, still managed Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week honors for June 20-26. Went 0-1 in two starts but struck out 12 and allowed only seven hits and two earned runs over 14.0 innings (1.29 ERA)...Struck out a season-high eight batters on June 25 at Nashville, and pitched a season- high 8.2 innings on August 15 vs. Reno.

2010

Named Marlins' Minor League PItcher of the Year after posting a 14-4 record and 2.26 ERA in 28 starts for double-A Jacksonville. Tossed four complete games, three of which were shutouts ... Led the Southern League in innings pitched, complete games, shutouts, WHIP (0.96), average against (.212), fewest walks per 9.0 IP (1.71) and fewest baserunners per 9.0 IP (9.00). Was tied for the league lead in starts and ranked second in wins ... Set Marlins' double-A records for ERA, shutouts and innings pitched ... Earned Marlins' Pitcher of the Month honors for both July and August. In July, posted a 4-0 record and 1.85 ERA (43.2 IP/9 ER) with two complete games and one shutout in six starts. In five August starts, went 3-0 with a 1.55 ERA (29.0 IP/5 ER) and one complete game shutout ... Held left-handed hitters to a .182 average (56x307), while righties posted a .238 average (81x340) ... Took his first loss of the season on April 14 at Hudson Valley. Allowed five runs on a season-high 10 hits with two walks and five strikeouts in his shortest start of the season (3.2 IP) ... Earned his first win on April 24 vs. Carolina, holding the Mudcats scoreless on seven hits over 6.2 innings. Issued two walks while striking out seven ... Won three straight starts from May 26-June 5, allowing just two runs (one earned) in 23.1 innings (0.39 ERA) ... Earned Southern League Player of the Week honors for June 9-15 after going 1-0 with no ERA in two starts. Allowed one run (unearned) to Mobile in 5.0 innings on August 10 and held Carolina scoreless in his fourth complete game (third shutout) of the season on August 15 ... Finished the season with eight conscutive wins. In that time, tossed all four complete games and owned a 1.84 ERA (83.0 IP/17 ER) ... Tossed at least 6.0 innings in 19 of his 28 starts and allowed three earned runs or less 24 times ... Surrendered a season-high six runs on June 22 vs. Hudson Valley. Allowed six runs (three earned) in his final start of the year on September 4 vs. Montgomery.

2009

Earned Florida State League Player of the Week honors for June 8-14, 2009 after posting two wins and 0.00 ERA in two starts (14.0 IP)...Named Marlins' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June after going 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA (33.1/9) and one complete-game shutout in five starts...Led all Marlins' minor leaguers in innings pitched, losses and shutouts, and ranked second in strikeouts and complete games.