Héctor Luis Rondón (born February 26, 1988) is a Venezuelan former

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 leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professional ...

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 ...

. He 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 Cubs, Houston Astros, and

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The ...

. Rondón signed as an international

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

with the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...

in 2004.

Professional career

Cleveland Indians

Rondón signed as an international

with the

on August 3, 2004. He had Tommy John surgery in 2010, and fractured his elbow in 2011.

Chicago Cubs

Rondón was selected by the Chicago Cubs from the Indians in the 2012 Rule 5 Draft. He made the Cubs' 2013 Opening Day roster and made his major league debut on April 3. In his first season with the Cubs, he had a 2–1 record with a 4.77 ERA with 44 SO. After struggles by Cubs closer José Veras early in the 2014 season, Rondón was named the new Cubs closer. He had a breakout 2014 season. He earned two saves in the

2015 National League Division Series The 2015 National League Division Series were two best-of-five-game series to determine the participating teams in the 2015 National League Championship Series. The three divisional winners (seeded 1-3) and a fourth team—the winner of a one-g ...

against the

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

, including a save in the series-clinching game 4. With the addition of

Aroldis Chapman Albertín Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz (; born February 28, 1988) is a Cuban-born American professional baseball relief pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees and C ...

in late July 2016, Rondon was moved to the setup role in the bullpen. Rondon finished 2016 with a 2–3 record and a 3.53 ERA in 54 appearances. The Cubs won the

2016 World Series The 2016 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2016 season. The 112th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the National League (NL) champion Chicago Cubs and the American Leag ...

over the

, ending the Cubs' 108-year drought. He was non-tendered and became a free agent on December 1, 2017.

Houston Astros

On December 15, 2017, Rondón signed a two-year contract with the Houston Astros. In 2018, he was 2–5 with 15 saves and a 3.20 ERA, pitching 59 innings in 63 relief appearances. In 2019, Rondón was 3–2 with a 3.71 ERA, appearing in 62 games (one start) and pitching innings.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On January 9, 2020, Rondón and the

agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract. During the shortened 2020 season, he made 23 relief appearances with the Diamondbacks, compiling a 7.65 ERA while striking out 23 batters in 20 innings; he recorded one win and no losses.

Philadelphia Phillies

On February 2, 2021, Rondón signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization and was invited to spring training. On March 25, 2021, Rondón requested and was granted his release by the Phillies.

Boston Red Sox

On April 3, 2021, Rondón signed a minor league contract with the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...

organization. On April 9, 2021, Rondón retired from professional baseball.

Pitching repertoire

Rondón relies primarily on his

four-seam fastball A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the hardest (i.e., fastest) ball thrown by a pitcher. It is c ...

(95 mph),

slider Slider or Sliders may refer to: Arts * K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise * '' The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex * ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy television series * ...

(85 mph), and also mixing in a sinker (96 mph). He also rarely throws a

changeup A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball. The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced speed ...

(90 mph).

References

External links

Héctor Rondón
at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League) {{DEFAULTSORT:Rondon, Hector 1988 births Living people Akron Aeros players Arizona Diamondbacks players Arizona League Indians players Chicago Cubs players Columbus Clippers players Gulf Coast Indians players Houston Astros players Kinston Indians players Lake County Captains players Leones del Caracas players Mahoning Valley Scrappers players Major League Baseball players from Venezuela People from Guatire Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States World Baseball Classic players of Venezuela 2017 World Baseball Classic players