Resides in Ocumare Del Tuy, VZ during the off-season...has two children, Juan Manuel (5/31/93) and Ugueth, Jr. (11/29/94)...Is a 1990 graduate of Liceo Peres Bonalde de
Miranda High School, where he played baseball and basketball...Pitched for Caracas of the Venezuelan Winter League following the 1994 season...Is the only player in major league history with the initials U.U.U. -- his two brothers have the same initials (Ulises Utah and Ulmer Ulses)...Urbina is the seventh player in Tigers history whose last name stars with the letter U, the first since Tom Urbani in 1996...His uniform number 74 is the highest worn by a Tigers player in franchise history.
2005
Acquired from Detroit on June 8 for Placido Polanco. ... Appeared in 56 games with the Phillies, striking out 66 batters in 52 1/3 innings.
2004
Served as the club's closer during his first season with the Tigers organization after signing as a free agent on March 29...Optioned to Single A Lakeland on April 2 to begin the season...appeared in two games before being recalled by the Tigers on April 14...Posted seven straight scoreless outings for the Tigers April 19-May 5, fanning five batters in seven innings...Tied for fifth in the American League with five saves during May despite posting a 0-2 record and 7.59 ERA (10.2IP/9ER) in 12
appearances...Fanned a season-best four batters in a season-high two innings of relief at Philadelphia on June 17...matched the high of two innings pitched on July 20 versus Minnesota and August 21 against Seattle...Passed Dave Smith, Gregg Olson and Gene Garber to move into sole possession of 28th place all-time in saves
with each respective save June 25 versus Arizona, July 7 at Yankee Stadium against New York and July 10 at Minnesota...Finished 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA (12.1IP/4ER), five saves, 17 strikeouts and a .159 batting average against (7x44) in 12 outings during June...tied for eighth in the league with
five saves during the month...Converted 10 straight save opportunities July 7-August 17... Tied for third in the league with 14 appearances during July, while his six saves tied for fourth-most...posted a 1-3 record, 3.77 ERA (14.1IP/6ER), 14 strikeouts and a .143 batting average against (7x49) during July...Recorded the 228th save of his career on August 17 at U.S. Cellular Field against the Chicago White Sox to tie Hoyt Wilhelm for 27th place all-time...
Appeared in the 500th game of his career on August 25 versus the Chicago White Sox...Tied for 10th in the league with four saves during August...Left the club for the remainder of the season following the game at Kansas City on September 1 to return to Venezuela to attend to the kidnapping of his mother...Finished eighth in the American League with 46 games finished and ninth with 21 saves...sixth in the league by
converting 87.5 percent of his save opportunities (21x24)...Limited opposition to a .194 batting average (38x196), seventh-best among league relievers...Fanned 9.33 batters per nine innings, eighth-best among league relievers...Issued 5.33 walks per nine innings, second-highest among American League relievers...Tied for fifth among league relievers with six losses...Fourth-worst among league relievers in inducing opponents
to ground into a double play in double play situations, 2.1 percent (1x48)...Posted a 4-4 record, 3.13 ERA (37.1IP/13ER) and 20 saves in 37 outings with two days rest-or-less...finished
0-2 with a 7.56 ERA (16.2IP/14ER) and one save in 17 outings with three days rest-or-more...Limited lefties to a .191 batting average (17x89), while
righthanded batters hit .196 (21x107) with Urbina on the mound.
2003
Traded from the Rangers, where he saved 26 games, to the Florida Marlins for the stretch run, Urbina put up a 3-0 record with a 1.41 era for the Marlins. Acquired to be the set-up man, Ugueth took over the closer's job late in the season. During the Marlins' run to a World Series title, Urbina had a 1-0 record, 3.46 ERA and six saves in 10 postseason appearances.
2002
Urbina tied for third in the American League with 40 saves, one shy of his career high...led Boston in appearances with 61...was named to the 2002 All-Star team.
2001
Traded to Red Sox w/cash considerations from Mont. in exchange for RHP Tomo Ohka and minor lg. LHP Rich Rundles on 7/31...Was 2-1 w/15 svs. and 4.24 ERA in 45 G w/ Mont. and held opps. to a .236 batting avg...Did not allow a run in his 1st 7 apps. w/Mont. (7 IP, 1 H, 4 SV, 2 BB, 7 K)...Was 0-0 w/0.79 ERA in 10 G in June (11.1 IP, 8 GF, 2 SV, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 13 K)... 2 IP in his last game for Mont. on 7/26 vs. Atl. (0 H, 3 K) was his longest outing...His 125 career svs. for Mont. rank 2nd on all-time Expos list...Made Sox debut in 8th inng. of Sox 4-2 loss vs. Ana. on 8/1 (0.1 IP, 1 H, 1BB)...Pitched a scoreless 8th inng. of Sox 6-3 win vs. Tex. on 8/5 and struck out the side ( A. Rodriguez, R. Palmeiro and I. Rodriguez)...Recorded his 1st Red Sox save in 6-4 win vs. Sea. on 8/16 (1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)...Started 9th w/6-3 lead...Struck out M. McLemore and E. Martinez to end the game w/tying runs on...Recorded 3 consec. saves 8/21 - 8/24 (2.1 IP, 1 ER, 5 K)...Had a season-high 2.1 IP (0 H, 0 BB, 3 K) in 8-7 18 inng. loss at Tex on 8/25...Recorded his 1st blown save and loss vs. NYY on 9/1 (2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K)...Started 8th w/1-0 lead but allowed 1-out, RBI single by C. Knoblauch...In 9th allowed leadoff HR by B. Williams...Struck out side for his 5th save vs. Clev. on 9/5 (Gonzalez, Burks and Cordova)...Recorded his 6th save vs. Det. on 9/21, allowing a leadoff double before striking out final 3 BF...He was 0-1, 3.38 w/5 saves in 7 G in Sept./Oct. (8 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 16 K)...Struck out 32 in 20 IP (1.6 per inng.)...RH batted .135 (5-37) against him and overall held opps. to a .219 batting avg...Finished 0-1 2.25 ERA w/9 svs in 19 G (20 IP, 16 H, 3 BB, 32 K).
Career:
Through 2001, has 134 SV in 159 save opportunities (84%).
2000
Notched his 110th career save on 4/26 vs. Col. to pass Mel
Rojas for 2nd place in Expos' history (Jeff Reardon holds club
record w/152 SV)...Recorded 8 SV in 13 apps. before going on
D.L. after arthroscopic surgery on 5/17 to remove a bone chip
from rt. elbow...Surgery was performed by Expos' team
orthpedic surgeon, Dr. Larry Coughlin at St. Mary's Hospital
(Montreal)...Underwent a series of X-rays on 6/29 which
revealed the presence of more bone chips in rt. elbow...Flew to
Atlanta w/the team before departing for Birmingham, AL to
undergo surgery on 7/5...Calcification along the elbow joint was
smoothed out and the bone chip in the middle of his elbow was
removed...Surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews and
Dr. Larry Coughlin...4-6 month rehab was expected for full
recovery...Spent the rest of the season in Jupiter, FL on rehab
program.
1999
Voted 1999 Sporting News N.L.Fireman of the Year as he led
the lg. w/41 SV...Became just the 3rd Expos' hurler in franchise
history to lead the N.L. in saves (Mike Marshall 31 SV in 1973
and Jeff Reardon 41 in 1985)...Finished 3rd in the Rolaids
Relief Man race behind Billy Wagner (Hou) and Trevor Hoffman
(SD)...His 100th career save 9/22 at Fla. in 5-2 Expos win (2
IP)....Fanned 100 batters in 75.2 IP...Named N.L. Rolaids Relief
Man for Aug. w/12 SV; one shy of M.L. record for Aug. set by
Bobby Thigpen (CWS) in 1990...Converted 41 of 50 save opp.
(82%).
1998
Registered the lowest ERA among N.L. closers w/1.30...6th in
N.L. w/34 SV and 5th in N.L. Rolaids Relief Man Award...Pitched
in 40 of the Expos' 65 wins...Fifth reliever in franchise history to
reach the 30 SV plateau in a season...Struck out 94 in 69.1 IP
(1.4 K/IP) and opposing teams hit just .158 against him...Third
highest strikeout total for closers in lg...Collected 34 of team's
39 saves and had 18 consec. SV from 6/18 to end of season
(10/1)...5 svs. in 5 chances during Aug...Gave up only 2 HR all
season...Selected as member of M.L. All-Star team which
toured Japan in Nov. (0-0, 3 G, 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2
K)...Expos' Player of the Month for April (1-1, 11 G, 5 SV, 0.73, 1
ER, 12.1 IP) and Sept. (2-0, 10 G, 6 SV, 1.59 ERA, 18 K, 11.1
IP)...Did not allow a run in 17 apps. (17 IP, 10 SV, 26 K) from
6/18-8/12...Selected to N.L. All-Star Team and took loss after he
allowed 3 R on 3 H in the 6th (2 K) at Coors Field in Denver.
1997
Was youngest closer in the M.L. at 23...His 27 svs. were more
than any other Venzuelan pitcher in a single season surpassing
Blue Jay Tony Castillo who saved 13 in 1995...Converted 27 of
32 save opps...Went 2-5 w/4.93 ERA w/15 SV in 36 G before the
All-Star break and went 3-2 w/2.43 ERA in 12 SV in 27 G after
the break...Had a 9 G stretch w/6 SV and 2 wins from
8/25-9/12...Finished season w/7 SV and 2 wins in his last 12
apps...Pitched for Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter Lg...Picked
up his 1st M.L. save on 4/20 at Philadelphia in Game 2 of a DH
as he combined w/Pedro Martinez for 3-0 shutout.
1996
Made 17 starts for Mont. before before he was switched to
bullpen on 8/25...Was 7-5 w/4.14 ERA, 83 K in 91.1 IP as a
starter...Made 1st relief app. on 8/25 at SF (1 IP, 1 K)...Longest
relief outing was 2.2 inngs on 8/31 vs. SD...Was 3-0 w/1.99
ERA, 25 K in 22.2 IP as a reliever...Remained in W. Palm Beach
to start the season as a preventative measure after undergoing
rt. shoulder surgery Sept. 1995...After 3 starts (14 IP) in FSL, he
was promoted to Ottawa where he made 3 more
starts...Recalled to Mont. on 5/12 and went 3-0 w/3.18 ERA in 4
GS 5/12-29...Returned to Ottawa on 5/30 and recalled once
again 6/10 for rest of season...Won 4 consec G over 6 GS from
5/12-6/17, his longest M.L. winning streak...Struck out a
career-high 9 on 7/3 vs. Atl...Tossed a career-high 7 IP 4
times...Pitched for Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter
Lg...Underwent rt. elbow surgery by Dr. Frank Cook on 12/23 to
remove bone chips in his rt. elbow.
1995
Made his M.L debut at Phil on 5/9 (2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2
K)...Picked up his 1st M.L. win in 13-inng. 3-2 victory over NYM
after pitching perfect 12th inng. (0 K)...Was 1-0, 6.00 ERA (2 ER,
2 IP) as a reliever...Optioned to AAA Ottawa on 5/15...Made 1st
M.L. start on 7/12 vs. the Cubs at Olympic Stadium and won 3-2
(7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 3 K)...Optioned back to Ottawa
7/28...Made last start on 8/8 before having surgery on 9/26 by
Dr. Larry Coughlin to repair a slight labrum tear in his rt.
shoulder...Re-habbed at W. Palm Beach until November...Won
6 consec. decisions in 10 starts at AAA level from 5/20-7/7 and
put together a franchise record 26.1 consec. scorless IP during
that time...Selected International Lg. Pitcher of the Week from
6/19-25...Named Lynx Player of the Month for June and the
organization's Pitcher of the Month after going 4-0 w/0.74 ERA.
1994
Dominated AA Eastern Lg. batters for Harrisburg despite
tendinitis in his rt. shoulder and a family tragedy in May when
his father was shot to death during a robbery at his home in
Caracas...After returning from Venezuela he went on to finish
8th in Eastern Lg. w/3.28 ERA and 2nd for opps batting avg. vs.
starters (.218)...Held opps. avg. to .163 avg w/RISP...Returned
home for three weeks and rejoined team on 6/3...Played winter
ball at Caracas of the Venezuelan Lg.
1993
Was 10-1 in 16 starts at Single-A Burlington and then jumped to
AA Harrisburg where he went 4-2...Was the youngest pitcher at
AA-level at 19...Named Topps and Expos organization Pitcher of
the Month for June going 5-0 w/1.88 ERA (43 IP, 31 H, 41
K)...Tabbed as the Best Pitching Prospect in the Single-A
Midwest Lg. by Baseball America and 2nd among all prospects
to then Marlin's C Charles Johnson...Named AA Eastern Lg.
Pitcher of the Week for 7/5-11...Named to Midwest Lg. All-Star
team...Led all Expos minor leaguers in IP (178.1), T1st in GS
(27), 2nd in K (152) and opp. batting avg. (.223)...Ranked 3rd in
wins (14)...Was 8-1 in May and June at Burlington w/1.71 ERA
and 85 K in 84 IP.
1992
Finished T3rd in Single-A South Atlantic Lg. in CG (3) and
shutouts (2)...Was 6-4 w/1.99 ERA at home and 1-9 w/4.87 ERA
on the road.
1991
Named the GCL Pitcher of the Week for 7/28-8/3...T2nd in CG
(3)...Led GCL Expos staff in IP (63)...Played winter ball for
Caracas of the Venezuelan Lg.
