Michael Jose Ynoa Ventura ( Michel; born September 24, 1991) is a Dominican

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

who is a free agent. He has played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(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) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...

Career

Oakland Athletics

Ynoa signed with the

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...

(MLB) for the amount of $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-S ...

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 former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners from 2005 through 2019. On August 15, 2 ...

in 2002. Two MLB teams (

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

, 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 f ...

, Ynoa underwent

Tommy John surgery Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, colloquially known as Tommy John surgery (TJS), 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 bo ...

. 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 Jeffrey Alan Samardzija (; born January 23, 1985), nicknamed "Shark", is an American professional former baseball pitcher. He played college baseball and football for the University of Notre Dame, and was recognized as a two-time All-American w ...

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 of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics and ...

Chris Bassitt Christopher M. 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 played for the Oakland Athletics ...

Rangel Ravelo Rangel Ravelo (born April 24, 1992) is a Cuban professional baseball first baseman and outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) fo ...

, and

Josh Phegley Joshua Aaron Phegley (born February 12, 1988) is an American former professional baseball catcher and current director of player development for Michigan. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and C ...

. 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) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...

. He was assigned to AAA

Omaha Storm Chasers The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, and play their home games at Wer ...

to start the 2019 season. He was released on May 29.

Second stint with Athletics

On February 12, 2020, Ynoa signed a minor league deal with the

. He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

Philadelphia Phillies

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. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

organization. On March 27, 2021, Ynoa was released by the Phillies.

Acereros de Monclova

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 based in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico. Their home ballpark is Estadio de Béisbol Monclova, which has a capacity of 11,000 people. The Acere ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

. In 12 appearances out of the bullpen, Ynoa posted a 1–0 record with a 3.60 ERA over 10.0 innings pitched. He was released by the team on May 24, 2022.

Mariachis de Guadalajara

On May 25, 2022, Ynoa signed with the

Mariachis de Guadalajara The Mariachis de Guadalajara (English: Guadalajara Mariachis) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Zapopan, Jalisco. Their home ballpark is Estadio Panamericano, and has a capacity of 16,500 people. The Mariachis were e ...

of the

. He was released on July 9, 2022.

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 and 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 Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic Mariachis de Guadalajara players Omaha Storm Chasers players People from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Stockton Ports players Vermont Lake Monsters players Winston-Salem Dash players