Pedro Feliciano: Second on The Mets All Time List in Appearances (2004 - 2010)
While pitching the minor leagues he was granted free agency & signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 2001. In 2002 he was traded to the New York Mets along with Brady Clark & Raul Gonzalez in exchange for Shawn Estes.
Feliciano was a lifelong middle relief pitcher, although he did save 17 games at AA Jackson in 2001. He would pitch for the Mets AAA Norfolk Tides from 2002-2004, making brief appearances with the big-league club.
Mets Career: Feliciano made his MLB debut on September 4th, 2002, pitching two scoreless innings of relief at Shea Stadium in an 11-3 Mets win over the Marlins. He would make six appearances & get roughed up by the Atlanta Braves & Montreal Expos, giving him a 7.50 ERA.
In the off season he was placed on waivers picked up & was released by the Detroit Tigers. In December of 2003 he resigned with the Mets. 2004: In 2004 he got his first career win, it came on August 4th at Milwaukee, pitching a scoreless 6th inning in a 6-5 win over the Brewers. That year he made 22 appearances & went 1-1 for the 4th place Mets. In 2005 he signed a one year deal to pitch in Japan for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks but after one year, signed again with the new & improved New York Mets.
Feliciano would be part of a strong Mets bullpen in 2006, as the team went on to win the NL Eastern Division. He was primarily a left-handed specialist. Feliciano saw regular action right away & kept his ERA under two until June.
After starting the year at 1-2 by early June, Feliciano went on a roll winning his last six decisions out of the bull pen. In July he was credited with three wins from July 9th- July 20th, he added two holds in the final four games of the month as well.
In August he got two more wins & two more holds as ERA dropped to 1.86 by September 1st. September brought two more holds & a victory on September 29th over the Washington Nationals.
In August he got two more wins & two more holds as ERA dropped to 1.86 by September 1st. September brought two more holds & a victory on September 29th over the Washington Nationals.
On the year he was one of the game's best & most reliable middle relief men. In 64 appearances he was 7-2 with a 2.09 ERA, striking out 54 batters in 60 innings of work.
2006 Post Season-NLDS: In the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he appeared in all three games, earning the victory in the final Game #3 of the Mets sweep. In that game he pitched to just two batters in the 5th inning, before the Mets bats exploded for three runs in the 6th inning.
2006 Post Season-NLCS: In the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, he made three more appearances, serving up a HR to Chris Duncan in the 4-2 loss at Busch Stadium.
2007: Feliciano was back in the Mets pen, making 78 appearances, second to only Aaron Heilman on the club. In 2008 he became the Mets top middle reliever, a true work horse, as a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen. He would begin a stretch where he would lead the National League in appearances for three straight seasons, beginning with 86 in 2008.
2006 Post Season-NLDS: In the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he appeared in all three games, earning the victory in the final Game #3 of the Mets sweep. In that game he pitched to just two batters in the 5th inning, before the Mets bats exploded for three runs in the 6th inning. 2006 Post Season-NLCS: In the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, he made three more appearances, serving up a HR to Chris Duncan in the 4-2 loss at Busch Stadium.
2007: Feliciano was back in the Mets pen, making 78 appearances, second to only Aaron Heilman on the club. In 2008 he became the Mets top middle reliever, a true work horse, as a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen. He would begin a stretch where he would lead the National League in appearances for three straight seasons, beginning with 86 in 2008.
Feliciano would set a Mets record in games that year & continue to break & reset the record in each of the next two seasons as well. He would go 3-4 posting a 4.05 ERA striking out 50 batters in 53 innings.
2009: This season, he made a league leading 88 appearances, going 6-4 with the staffs best winning percentage at .600%. He struck out 59 batters in 59 innings for the 4th place club that lost 92 games.
2010- Record Breaker: In a dismal 2010 Mets season, Feliciano set a new Mets record with 92 appearances, once again the most appearances in the NL.
Feliciano went 3-6 with a 3.30 ERA in 2010 but it turned out to be his last season in the big
leagues. That season he also passed Tom Seaver in all time Mets games pitched & was second to just John Franco.
Trivia: Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen has used the nickname "Perpetual Pedro" to describe him & his large number of appearances.
Post Mets Career: He signed with the AL New York club in 2011 but arm trouble side lined him & he never pitched high than the AA level. He suffered a torn capsule & torn rotator cuff, as the AL New York club blamed the Mets for overusing him. This also led to GM Brian Cashman making negative comments on how Joe Torre had also overused his pitchers in the past.
In January 2013 Feliciano signed with the Mets but was released. Then at the end of Spring Training he signed once again, with the Mets, for the fifth time in his career.
He began the year A ball St. Lucie & was promoted after posting a 1.93 ERA in five games. At AA Binghamton he made 14 appearances posting a 1.26 ERA. He then got promoted to AAA Las Vegas in late July & after three games there was called back up to the Mets big league club.
On August 14th, he took a loss to the hot L.A. Dodgers, serving up a walk off 12th inning double. Later that week he took another loss in San Diego on a walk off HR to Will Venable.
In 2014 he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals but was cut three months later. In February of 2015 he signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs but did not make the club.
The Mets issued this statement: "The Mets are so saddened to hear of the loss of their family today. Pedro will be remembered as a beloved member of the Mets organization for his impact as a great teammate, as well as his reputation as one of the most competitive, durable & reliable relievers during his time in Queens. Our thoughts & prayers are with the entire Feliciano family. Rest in Peace Pedro."
2009: This season, he made a league leading 88 appearances, going 6-4 with the staffs best winning percentage at .600%. He struck out 59 batters in 59 innings for the 4th place club that lost 92 games.
2010- Record Breaker: In a dismal 2010 Mets season, Feliciano set a new Mets record with 92 appearances, once again the most appearances in the NL.
In that three-year stretch where he did lead the NL in appearances, he broke an NL record of 266 games, held by the LA Dodgers Mike Marshall (1972-1974) & the Pittsburgh Pirates; Kent Tekulve with 264. Going back to a four year span he set that record as well, with 341 appearances including the '07 season.
leagues. That season he also passed Tom Seaver in all time Mets games pitched & was second to just John Franco.
Trivia: Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen has used the nickname "Perpetual Pedro" to describe him & his large number of appearances.
Post Mets Career: He signed with the AL New York club in 2011 but arm trouble side lined him & he never pitched high than the AA level. He suffered a torn capsule & torn rotator cuff, as the AL New York club blamed the Mets for overusing him. This also led to GM Brian Cashman making negative comments on how Joe Torre had also overused his pitchers in the past.
In January 2013 Feliciano signed with the Mets but was released. Then at the end of Spring Training he signed once again, with the Mets, for the fifth time in his career.
He began the year A ball St. Lucie & was promoted after posting a 1.93 ERA in five games. At AA Binghamton he made 14 appearances posting a 1.26 ERA. He then got promoted to AAA Las Vegas in late July & after three games there was called back up to the Mets big league club.2013 Return: After three years, Feliciano returned to the mound on August 2nd, 2013, pitching to one batter in a tied games against the Kansas City Royals. He would begin to see steady action for manager Terry Collins, earning a hold on August 10th against the Arizona D-backs.
In September he gave up two runs on September 2nd, then only allowed one run over 11 more appearances that month. He collected credit for four holds that month. For the year, Feliciano was 0-2 with a 3.97 ERA pitching in 25 games.
Career Stats& Mets All Time List: In a nine-year career, Feliciano is second all time for the Mets in appearances (484). He is 22-21 with four saves, 350 strike outs, 165 walks & a 3.33 ERA in 383 innings pitched.
In 2014 he signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals but was cut three months later. In February of 2015 he signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs but did not make the club.Family: Pedro & his wife Wanda, have two children.
Passing: Feliciano was first diagnosed with a rare heart condition in 2013. In November of 2021 after a day of jet skiing with his family, he passed away at his home in Puerto Rico, he was just 45 years old.
The Mets issued this statement: "The Mets are so saddened to hear of the loss of their family today. Pedro will be remembered as a beloved member of the Mets organization for his impact as a great teammate, as well as his reputation as one of the most competitive, durable & reliable relievers during his time in Queens. Our thoughts & prayers are with the entire Feliciano family. Rest in Peace Pedro."
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