Former Mid Ninties Mets Pitcher: Juan Acevedo (1997)

Juan Carlos Acevedo was born on May 2nd, 1970 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. His family came to the United States settling in Carpentersville, Illinois. The big six foot right hander was listed at 243 lbs on his MLB profile.

In 1992 he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 14th round while attending Parkland College. After an impressive 17-6 record at AA New Haven in 1994 he was promoted to AAA Colorado Springs in 1995 & was brought up to the Rockies staff after three games.

He debuted on April 30th getting no decision in a start at Houston, pitching five innings of shut out ball. He went 4-6 into July, then allowed six runs on nine hits in a horrific relief appearance against the New York Mets. A few days later he was sent to the New York Mets for a player to be named later & Bret Saberhagen. Acevedo finished the year at AAA Norfolk & went 4-8 there with a 5.96 ERA in 19 games for 1996.

In 1997 he improved his ERA a bit to 3.86 & was 6-6 with the Tides when he was called up to the Mets staff in mid June. He debuted in a Mets uniform in the subway series across town, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings in the Mets 3-2 loss.

Acevedo was used often from that point on out of the bullpen, he would get credit for three holds along the way. On July 6th he got his first Mets win when he benefited from Carl Everett's walk off RBI single against the Florida Marlins. A few days later he blew a save in Atlanta when Eddie Perez homered & Keith Lockhart had an RBI double.

He would blow three other saves along the way, one in Pittsburgh, one in Houston & another at home against the St. Louis Cardinals. In September he earned two wins, including a seven inning two run outing in a rare start on the last day of the season. That day the Mets beat the Braves 8-2. In 25 appearances he was 3-1 with 33 strike outs in 47 innings with a 3.59 ERA. In the off season he was traded to the Cardinals for pitcher Rigo Beltran.

In St. Louis he saved 15 games & went 83 having one of his best seasons to date, posting a 2.56 ERA in 50 appearances.

In 1999 he was used as a starter going 6-8 on the season, but then became a full time reliever the rest of his career.

He would become a journey man pitching in Colorado again (2001) Florida (2001) Detroit (2002) New York (A.L.) (2003) & Toronto (2003).

In Detroit he set a record for most saves by a Mexican born pitcher with 28. He was 1-5 with a 2.65 ERA as well that season.

In an eight year career Acevedo was 28-40 with 53 saves, 350 strike outs 226 walks & a 4.33 ERA in 570 innings of work over 367 games.

Retirement: In 2010 he was sentenced to six months for not contempt of court, related to a violation of his divorce settlement.