Nelson Figueroa #27

Nelson Walter Figueroa...Married to Alisa...has a daughter, Renee...Is a 1998 graduate of Brandeis University with a degree in American Studies...Graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1992...Received the 2001 March of Dimes award...designed T-shirts that raised money for families of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

2012

Combined to go 12-5 with a 3.89 ERA (50 ER in 115.2 IP) in 25 games (15 starts) with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees) and Triple-A Pawtucket (Red Sox)...Was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training with Toronto and was released on March 31...Signed by New York-AL on April 17 and went 7-2 with a 3.96 ERA (32 ER in 72.2 IP) in 17 games (9 starts) with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre...released on July 19...Signed by Boston on July 23 and was 5-3 with a 3.77 ERA (18 ER in 43.0 IP) in 8 games (6 starts).

2011

Began the season with Houston and appeared in eight games, including five starts... OKLAHOMA: Was outrighted to Oklahoma on May 12 and made 16 appearances, including 15 starts... Posted a 3.71 ERA during day games as opposed to a 7.85 ERA in night contests.... A STEELTOWN INVITE: Was released by the Astros on Aug. 18 and signed to a minor league contract by Pittsburgh on Aug. 23... Spent September in Indianapolis in the Pirates system making three starts... On Aug. 29 tossed a one-run complete game at Toledo... Overall was 7-8 with a 6.05 ERA in 19 minor league outings...WINTER BALL: Appeared in Puerto Rican, Dominican and Carribean Series during the off-season... Combined to post a 3-1 record with a 2.03 ERA in six starts.

2010

Went 7-4 with a 3.29 ERA (34ER/93IP) in 31 combined games, 11 starts, with Philadelphia and Houston...appeared in 13 games, one start, for PHI, posting a 2-1 record with one save and a 3.46 ERA (10ER/26IP), before being claimed by Houston off waivers on July 21...for the Astros, was 5-3 with a 3.22 ERA (24ER/67IP) in 18 games, including 10 starts...tossed at least 6.0 innings in five of his Astros starts, posting a 1.99 ERA (7ER/31.2IP) in those games...set new career highs in ERA (3.29), wins (7), strikeouts (73) and appearances (31)...tied his career high in innings pitched with 93.0, also accomplished in 2002...his 11 starts were his most since also starting 11 in 2002 for MIL and were two shy of his career-high 13 started in 2001 with PHI...did not allow an earned run in 12.2 consecutive innings over his final two starts of the season (Sept. 29, 6.2IP; Oct. 3, 6.0IP)...pitched the final game of the season on Oct. 3, replacing Wandy Rodriguez, who was scratched from his scheduled start due to back spasms...pitched on three days rest and tossed 6.0 scoreless innings with a season-high eight strikeouts...had 31 strikeouts in his final 32.2 innings pitched over his last six starts of the season (3-2, 4.13 ERA)...was 6-1 with a 3.02 ERA (14ER/41.2IP) in 15 games, five starts, against NL Central opponents during the season...his team is 9-3 in his last 12 starts dating back to Oct. 4, 2009, and he is 5-3 in that span...earned his first win as an Astro starter on Sept. 1 vs. STL...also won his next start on Sept. 7, marking the first time since 2003 for him to win back-to-back outings...moved into the Astros rotation with a start on Aug. 17 vs. NYM (1ER/5IP)...had gone 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA (4ER/11.1IP) in his eight appearances from the Astros bullpen...spent most of the first half of the season in the Phillies bullpen, making 12 relief appearances...also started one game, on April 24 at ARI, his first for PHI in a span of eight seasons (last: Aug. 31, 2001)...according to Elias, it was the longest such span between starts for any Phillie since Ed Farmer went eight years, 29 days between starts - Aug. 24, 1974 to June 25, 1982...the last Major League pitcher to go eight-or-more years in between starts for the same club was Carlos Pulido for Minnesota, who went nine years, 33 days - Aug. 7, 1994 to Sept. 9, 2003...made three starts at Triple A Lehigh Valley from June 7-19, posting a 3-0 record and a 0.95 ERA (2ER/19IP)...began the 2010 season in the Mets organization before being designated for assignment following Spring Training...acquired by PHI off waivers to begin the season...designated for assignment on July 13 and acquired off waivers by the Astros on July 21.

2009

His contract was purchased from Buffalo (AAA) of the International League on April 18th to take Mike Pelfrey's (right forearm tendinitis) rotation turn the next day...Designated for Assignment after the game on April 19th and was outrighted to Buffalo on April 22nd...His contract was purchased on August 3rd...Made 10 starts, going 2-8 with a 4.19 ERA (27 earned runs/58.0 innings pitched)...Struck out 47 and allowed 62 hits as a starter...Worked six games out of the bullpen and was 1-0 with 3.65 ERA (five earned runs/12.1 innings pitched)...Struck out 12 and walked five while allowing 18 hits in relief...Limited major league batters to one hit in 12 at-bats with the bases loaded...While with the Mets, held the opposition to a .221 (17-77) batting average with runners in scoring position...Finished 3-2 with a 2.60 ERA (10 earned runs/34.2 innings pitched) in day games...Made a spot start on August 3rd at home against Arizona...Went 1.2 innings, allowing six runs and 10 hits to take the loss in the 6-5 defeat...Earned the win with 4.1 shutout innings out of the bullpen against St. Louis on August 5th...Set a seasonhigh with five strikeouts in the 9-0 win...Had a two-run triple in that game...It was his first career triple and tied his career-high RBI for a single game...Also had two RBI on April 30, 2002 with Milwaukee vs. Atlanta...Became the first relief pitcher to earn a victory, pitch at least 4.0 innings without allowing a run and hit a triple in the same game since Jim Colborn on May 12, 1972...Colborn pitched 7.0 scoreless innings to pick up the win in a 22-inning Brewers victory at Minnesota...Did not walk a batter and threw 5.0 innings in his start at Florida on August 25th...Took the loss in the 2-1 defeat...It was his first start since August 3rd and the righthander made six appearances out of the bullpen in between starts...Struck out a career-best 10 in his start on August 30th against the Cubs at Wrigley Field...Picked up the win after going 7.0 innings in the 4-1 victory...It was Figueroa's first win since April 27, 2008 and he became the second Mets pitcher to strike out double-digits in a single game in 2009...Johan Santana did it four times...Tied a career-high with five walks over 5.1 innings in his start at Philadelphia on September 11th...Fell to 1-3 since joining the rotation on August 25th, despite 23 strikeouts in 23.1 innings and a 3.09 ERA...Had a five-game losing streak from September 5th-September 28th despite allowing two runs in three of those losses...Threw his first career complete game shutout in his last game of the season, beating the Astros 4-0 on October 4th...Allowed just four hits, did not walk a batter and struck out seven...Was winless in his first seven starts of the season at Buffalo, despite a 3.54 ERA and only once allowed more than three earned runs in a start...Struck out a season-high nine batters three different times: June 13th vs. Durham, July 9th at Pawtucket, July 28th vs. Pawtucket...Named International League Pitcher of the Week twice...Won for the week of June 8th-June 14th (1-0, 1.98 ERA, 16 strikeouts) and July 16th-July 19th (7.0 inning complete game shutout vs. Toledo)...Named an International League All-Star...Over 1.0 scoreless inning, he struck out two and allowed one hit in the 6-5 win over the Pacific Coast League on July 15th...Posted a season-high six-game winning streak from June 2nd-July 18th...His streak came to an end on July 23rd at Louisville, despite allowing just three earned runs over 7.0 innings in a 3-1 loss...Over his final 10 starts at Buffalo, he went 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA (12 earned/71.1innings pitched) and one complete game...Struck out 66 over this span and walked just 12...His 2.25 ERA at the time of his promotion ranked third in the International League...Tossed a complete-game three-hitter and picked up the win against Mexico for the Dominican Republic in the second game of the Caribbean Series...Was named to the Caribbean All-Tournament team.

2008

Had his contract purchased on April 2nd...Designated for Assignment on May 13th...Had his contract purchased for a second time on August 27th...Made his first major league appearance since September 24, 2004 on April 2nd at Florida...Worked 1.0 scoreless inning in that contest...On April 11th vs. Milwaukee, he made his first major league start since September 23, 2004 and retired the first 14 batters he faced before walking Corey Hart in the fifth inning...He collected the win, his first since August 15, 2003 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, also against the Brewers...Became the 11th New York City-born pitcher to start a game for the Mets and the first to do so since Allen Watson (Queens) in 1999...The others (in reverse chronological order): Frank Seminara (Brooklyn), John Candelaria (Brooklyn), Ed Lynch (Brooklyn), Pete Falcone (Brooklyn), John Pacella (Brooklyn), Mike Bruhert (Queens), Charlie Williams (Queens), Bob Shaw (Bronx), Larry Bearnarth (Staten Island)...Was the first New York City-born player to win his Mets starting debut since Ed Lynch beat the Chicago Cubs on September 13, 1980.

2007

Went to spring training with the Seattle Mariners and was released on the final day...Joined Los Dorados de Chihuahua of the Mexican League...Started 19 games for Chihuahua...Had 10 complete games on the year...Went 9.0 innings seven times, 8.1 innings once and 8.0 innings five times...After the season in Mexico was completed, he went to Taiwan to pitch for the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional League (CPBL)...Started four games for the Lions and won them all, with eight walks and 21 strikeouts in 30.0 innings with an ERA of 3.00...Was named the Most Valuable Player of the postseason in Taiwan after posting a 3-0 record...Pitched for Mexico in the Caribbean World Series.

2006

Began the season with Long Island of the independent Atlantic League... Signed with WSH as a minor league free agent on May 9, and was assigned to Triple A New Orleans... Was on the DL, June 16-July 17 (right lat strain).

2005

Spent the entire season rehabilitating from the previous October's labrum and rotator cuff surgery.

2004

Figueroa made big league season debut in a start against St. Louis on August 20 after going 12-8 with a 4.19 ERA at Triple-A Nashville. He was 0-2 with a 0-2 with an 8.25 ERA in three starts and he was scored upon in eight of his 10 outings with Pittsburgh. Figueroa has a 3.47 ERA in 41 career relief appearances.

2003

Attended spring training as a non-roster invitee with Pittsburgh...Spent a majority of the season with Nashville (AAA)...Went 7-1 with a 1.77 ERA (86.2ip/17er) in 12 starts at home and 5-4 with a 4.59 ERA (64.2ip/33er) in 11 starts on the road while pitching with the Sounds...Tied for third in Pacific Coast League in wins with teammate Ryan Vogelsong and ranked fifth in strikeouts...Also placed third in the PCL in ERA...Went 2-0 and did not allow a run in his first two starts (10.0ip)...Was tagged for a season-high eight runs and had his shortest outing of the season (3.0ip) while suffering his first loss on 4/27 @Salt Lake. ...Whiffed a season-high tying nine batters, but lost his second straight decision on 5/9 vs. Sacramento (game one)...Won three straight starts from 5/17-27...Did not allow a home run in five straight starts (36.0ip) from 6/16 thru 7/7...Allowed one run or less in five consecutive starts from 6/21 thru 7/12...Tossed three-hitter on 6/21 vs. Colorado Springs...Hurled four-hitter and allowed just one run on 7/12 vs. Tucson...Whiffed a season-high tying nine batters but did not factor in the decision on 7/30 vs. Albuquerque. ...Retired the first 14 batters he faced and twirled three-hit shutout in final start with Sounds on 8/4 vs. Colorado Springs...Was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher-of-the-Week for the week of 8/4-10...Had his contract purchased by the Pirates on 8/10 and started that afternoon @Colorado, winning a 5-3 decision (6.0ip/7h/2r/2er/1bb/4so) over Shawn Chacon...Won his second straight start on 8/15 over Milwaukee's Matt Kinney @PNC Park (5.0ip/2er)...Made his final start on 8/21 @St. Louis but had a no-decision in Pittsburgh's 6-3 "last at bat" loss...Made first relief appearance with Pittsburgh on 8/30 vs. Atlanta and allowed two runs in 2.2 innings of work...Was scored upon in three straight outings from 9/16-21...Went 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA (16.0ip/6er) in three starts and 0-1 with a 3.26 ERA (19.1ip/7er) in nine relief appearances with the Pirates...Held batters to a .149 average (10-for-67) in relief, but the opposition hit .300 (18-for-60) when he started...Went 0-for-7 with four K's as a batter in the majors.

2002

Began the season in MIL's bullpen and made three appearances before being moved into the rotation... Made nine consecutive starts (1-4, 6.38 ERA) before moving back into the bullpen... Posted a 2.97 ERA (11ER/33.1IP) with a .212 opponents average in 19 relief appearances; went 1-5, 6.18 ERA in 11 starts... Spent time on the 15-day DL, May 6-20 (right ankle sprain)... Spent all of August with Triple A Indianapolis.

2001

Began the season with Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre... Tied for third in the International League in CG (3)... Was recalled on May 13 and made his Phillies debut on May 15 vs. MIL, his first career ML relief outing (1ER/2.2IP, 4 H, 5 SO)... Did not pitch in another game before being optioned back to Scranton on May 25... Selected to the IL All-Star team... Named IL Pitcher of the Week and Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week, June 18-24 (1-0, 0.82 ERA, 2 GS)... Recalled on June 26 and started that night vs ATL (7.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO); at time of his recall, led the IL in CG (3), ranked second in ERA (2.47) and tied for third in SO (74)... Six of his first eight career ML starts were quality starts... Earned his first ML win, July 1 vs FLA... Pitched a career-high 7.2 innings and had a career-high three hits and three runs on Jult 24 vs. MTL... Collected his first ML extra-base hit (double), Aug. 10 vs. LAD and first ML RBI, Aug. 6 at MIL... Moved into the bullpen following Aug. 31 start vs MTL (5.0 IP, 8H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO)... Made five more appearances, all out of the bullpen... Finished fifth among NL rookies in ERA (3.94) and had the 10th-lowest opponents avg (.275).

2000

Began the season with Triple A Tucson... Named Diamondbacks Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April (4-0, 1.67 ERA)... Was recalled by ARI on June 3 and made his ML debut that night in a start at TEX (6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 2 WP)... Optioned back to Tucson on June 5 before being recalled on July 3... Made just two starts before being optioned back to Tucson... Recalled for the third time on July 16 to replace Travis Lee, who had been optioned to Tucson... Got his first ML hit and run scored that night vs. SEA... Optioned back to Tucson on July 17... Traded to PHI on July 26 and was assigned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre... Named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week, Aug. 14-20... Went 2-0, 0.53 ERA with a SHO in two IL playoff starts (17.0 IP, 1 ER, 18 SO).

1999

Pitched for Tucson and was twice sidelined by a right shoulder strain... His 11 wins were tied second in ARI's minor league system... Named Diamondbacks Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April (3-1, 4.07 ERA)... Placed on the DL, June 12, with a right shoulder strain; was activated on June 23 and made three starts before being put back on the DL with another right shoulder strain until the end of July... Pitched 3.0 innings in one rehab start for the Rookie League club in Tucson... Played winter ball for Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League (4-2, 2.66 ERA, 11 GS, 58 SO, 67.2 IP).

1998

Began the season at Double A Binghamton... Had three CG, including a two-hit, 12-SO shutout on June 10 at Reading...Traded to ARI on July 31 and was assigned to Tucson.

1997

Spent the entire season with Binghamton... Finished second on the team in SO (116)... Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week, April 21-27.

1996

Spent the season with Columbia (A) and was named Pitcher of the Year in the South Atlantic League... Also named to the SAL All-Star team and was the Capital City Doubleday Award winner... Led the SAL in ERA (2.04), CG (8), SHO (4) and SO (200)... Led all minor league pitchers in SO, tied for first in SHO and second in ERA.

1995

Made his pro debut with Kingsport (R)... Led the Appalachian League in SHO (2) and tied for the team lead in wins (7).