Wilmer Font

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Font and the second or maternal family name is Gómez.
Wilmer Font
Font with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020
Diablos Rojos del México
Pitcher
Born: (1990-05-24) May 24, 1990 (age 33)
La Guaira, Venezuela
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: September 18, 2012, for the Texas Rangers
KBO: April 7, 2021, for the SSG Landers
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record7–11
Earned run average5.82
Strikeouts150
KBO statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record21-11
Earned run average3.03
Strikeouts327
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Wilmer Font Gómez (born May 24, 1990) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays. He has also played in the KBO League for the SSG Landers.

Professional career

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers signed Font as an international free agent on July 11, 2006.[1] He began his professional career in 2007, playing for the Arizona League Rangers. That year, he went 2–3 with a 4.53 ERA in 14 games (10 starts), striking out 61 batters in 45+2⁄3 innings.[2] In 2008, he again pitched for the AZL Rangers, going 1–0 with a 10.38 ERA in three starts, striking out six batters in 4+1⁄3 innings (that year he allowed only one hit and one walk, but he hit three batters).[2]

In 2009, Font went 8–3 with a 3.49 ERA in 29 games (24 starts), striking out 105 batters in 108+1⁄3 innings for the Hickory Crawdads.[2] He split 2010 between the Crawdads and Bakersfield Blaze, going 5–3 with a 4.35 ERA in 16 starts, striking out 85 batters in 78+2⁄3 innings.[2] His 2010 season ended early when he came down with an elbow injury on July 7 which led to him undergoing Tommy John surgery after the season.[3] He missed the entire 2011 season while recovering from the surgery.[3] He returned in 2012 and pitched in 33 games (19 starts) primarily with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Frisco RoughRiders. He had a 4.03 ERA.[2]

Font made his major league debut for the Rangers on September 18, 2012, pitching one scoreless inning of relief against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.[4] He pitched two innings over three games for the Rangers, allowing two earned runs and striking out one batter.[5] His first MLB strikeout was against Mike Trout of the Angels on September 28.[6]

Font spent most of the 2013 season in the minors, pitching in 26 games for Frisco and 16 for the Round Rock Express. In 42 games, he had a 1.90 ERA.[2] He also pitched in two games in the majors for the Rangers in July, and did not allow a run in 1+1⁄3 innings.[7] He spent the entire 2014 season with Frisco and was 1–2 with a 3.48 ERA in 29 games.[2] Font was designated for assignment on October 2, 2014.[8]

Ottawa Champions

Font signed with the Cincinnati Reds in the offseason, but was released on March 31, 2015.[9] He then signed with the Ottawa Champions of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball for the 2015 season.[10] He made 20 starts for the Champions and was 10–4 with a 4.09 ERA.[2] He returned to Ottawa to start the 2016 season and began 2–2 with a 4.18 ERA in 10 games (9 starts).[2]

Toronto Blue Jays

On July 4, 2016, Font's contract with the Ottawa Champions was purchased by the Toronto Blue Jays.[11] He pitched in 12 games (11 starts) in the Blue Jays farm system with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Buffalo Bisons and was 4–4 with a 3.68 ERA.[2]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Font signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2016.[12] He was assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers to begin the season[13] and was selected as the starting pitcher for the Pacific Coast League mid-season all-star team.[14] Font started 25 games for Oklahoma City in 2017 and was 10–8 with a 3.42 ERA and 178 strikeouts, setting a new team franchise record and winning him the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year Award.[15]

Font was promoted to the majors with the Dodgers on September 2.[16] He appeared in just three games for the Dodgers, allowing seven runs in just 3+2⁄3 innings of work with three strikeouts and four walks.[17] He began 2018 in the Dodgers bullpen and allowed 13 runs and 18 hits in 10+1⁄3 innings over six games, including picking up the loss in two extra inning games.[18] On April 23, he was designated for assignment and removed from the active roster.[19]

Oakland Athletics

On April 25, 2018, the Dodgers traded Font to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor leaguer Logan Salow.[20] He posted an ERA of 14.85 in 4 appearances before being designated for assignment on May 23, 2018.[21]

Tampa Bay Rays

On May 25, 2018, the Athletics traded Font to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league pitcher Peter Bayer.[22] Font found immediate success with the Rays posting a 1.67 ERA in 9 games (4 starts) over 27 innings before being placed on the 60-day disabled list with a right lat strain.[23]

New York Mets

On May 6, 2019, the Rays traded Font to the New York Mets for cash considerations or a player to be named later.[24] On July 12, Font was designated for assignment.[25] In 15 appearances (3 starts), Font was 1–2 with 24 strikeouts in 31 innings.

Toronto Blue Jays (second stint)

On July 17, 2019, Font was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations.[26] Font was used as an opener upon being acquired from the Mets. He appeared in 23 games (14 starts), striking out 53 in 39+1⁄3 innings. With the 2020 Toronto Blue Jays, Font appeared in 21 games, compiling a 1–3 record with 9.92 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched.[27] On September 24, 2020, Font was designated for assignment.[28] He was outrighted on September 28. Font rejected the outright assignment and elected free agency the next day.[29]

SSG Landers

On October 31, 2020, Font signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the SK Wyverns of the KBO League.[30] The Wyverns rebranded as the SSG Landers in the offseason. Font posted an 8–5 record with a 3.46 ERA and 157 strikeouts over 25 starts. On December 17, 2021.

Font re-signed with the Landers for the 2022 season on a one-year, $1.5 million deal.[31] In his season debut for the Landers, Font tossed 9.0 perfect innings against the NC Dinos, but was not credited with a perfect game as he was replaced by reliever Kim Taek-hyeong in the bottom of the 10th inning in the 4-0 victory.[32] He became a free agent following the 2022 season.

San Diego Padres

On January 5, 2023, Font signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.[33] Font did not make an appearances for the Padres organization and elected free agency following the season on November 6.[34]

Diablos Rojos del México

On December 21, 2023, Font signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.[35]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wilmer Font Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Wilmer Font Minor, Winter and Independent League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. ^ a b "Wilmer Font bio". mlb.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  4. ^ "Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Box Score, September 18, 2012". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  5. ^ "Wilmer Font 2012 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  6. ^ "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Texas Rangers Box Score, September 28, 2012". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  7. ^ "Wilmer Font 2013 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  8. ^ "Rangers receive Alfredo Figaro from Milwaukee on waiver claim". MLB.com. October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  9. ^ Todd, Jeff (March 31, 2015). "Released: Bello, Herndon, Accardo, Rodriguez, Rogers". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  10. ^ "Former Ottawa Champions hurler Wilmer Font gets called up to the majors". CBC.ca. August 31, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  11. ^ DavidI, Shi [@shidavidi] (July 4, 2016). "#BlueJays purchase contract of RHP Wilmer Font from Ottawa Champions of Can-Am League, expected to assign him to double-A or triple-A" (Tweet). Retrieved July 4, 2016 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Eddy, Matt (December 24, 2016). "Minor League Transactions: Dec. 10-22". Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  13. ^ Oklahoma City Dodgers (April 5, 2017). "OKC Dodgers Release 2017 Opening Day Roster". milb.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  14. ^ Stephen, Eric (June 28, 2017). "Willie Calhoun, Alex Verdugo lead 4 Oklahoma City All-Stars". truebluela.com. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  15. ^ Pacific Coast League (August 31, 2017). "Historic season earns Font Pitcher of the Year". milb.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  16. ^ "Dodgers' Wilmer Font: To be called up Saturday". CBS Sports. September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  17. ^ "Wilmer Font 2017 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  18. ^ "Wilmer Font 2018 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  19. ^ Stephen, Eric (April 23, 2018). "Wilmer Font designated for assignment to make room for Walker Buehler". truebluela.com. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  20. ^ Todd, Jeff (April 25, 2018). "Athletics Acquire Wilmer Font". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  21. ^ Adams, Steve (May 23, 2018). "A's Place Khris Davis on DL, Designate Wilmer Font, Recall Franklin Barreto". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  22. ^ Todd, Jeff (May 25, 2018). "Rays Acquire Wilmer Font". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  23. ^ "Another Rays pitcher goes down with injury as Wilmer Font expected to miss 'significant time'". Sporting News. 2018-06-29. Retrieved 2018-07-29.
  24. ^ "Mets trade for Wilmer Font for much-needed pitching help". 6 May 2019.
  25. ^ Abriano, Danny (July 12, 2019). "The Mets have designated Wilmer Font for assignment". SNY. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  26. ^ Adams, Steve (July 17, 2019). "Blue Jays Acquire Wilmer Font". MLb Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  27. ^ "Wilmer Font Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  28. ^ "Blue Jays' Wilmer Font: Designated for assignment". CBSSports.com. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  29. ^ "Wilmer Font Elects Free Agency". 29 September 2020.
  30. ^ "KBO's SK Wyverns re-sign infielder, acquire 2 new pitchers". English.yonhapnews.co.kr. October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  31. ^ "Heroes sign new pitcher; Lions, Landers bring back foreign players". English.yonhapnews.co.kr. December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  32. ^ "Wilmer Font throws 9 perfect innings in Landers' extra-inning win on KBO Opening Day". 2 April 2022.
  33. ^ "Padres' Wilmer Font: Gets NRI from Padres". CBSSports.com. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  34. ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  35. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 21 de diciembre de 2023". milb.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.

External links