Rafael Betancourt #63

Rafael Jose Betancourt...married to wife Chela...they have two children - a girl, Raniel (2/12/99) - and a boy, Rafael (1/22/03)...Victor Martinez is the Godfather of his son, Rafael...resides in Cumana, Venezuela.

2014

Spent the first half of the year recovering from Tommy John ligament surgery after signing a Minor League contract with Colorado on April 25...Would make stops at Rookie Level Grand Junction and Triple-A Colorado Springs after he was cleared to pitch...made 21 combined appearances going 2-0 with a 4.66 ERA (19.1 IP, 10 ER), 8 walks and 15 strikeouts...Resumed pitching at Grand Junction, making 14 appearances and allowing just seven runs (three earned) over 13.1 innings (2.03 ERA)...transferred to Colorado Springs on Aug. 17 where he would end up pitching in seven games...went 1-0 with a 10.50 ERA (6.0 IP, 7 ER).

2013

Betancourt saw his fourth Rockies Opening Day roster appointment and was deemed the closer of the team...he went 2-5 with a 16 saves and a 4.08 ERA (28.2 IP, 13 ER) in 32 games over the course of the season...three stints on the disabled list limited his appearance total...was placed on disabled list on 6/2 with a right groin strain after appearing in 22 games for the Rockies and finishing 20 games and collecting 11 saves in 12 opportunities...he converted 10 straight save opportunities to begin the season going 1-1 with a 1.65 ERA (16.1 IP, 3 ER) over his first 17 games...activated from DL (right groin strain) on 6/28...earned 2nd win of season on 6/29 vs. SF in 1st game back...shut down for the season on 8/23 when he was placed on the DL with a right elbow sprain...had Tommy John ligament transfer surgery on 9/17...has 57 career saves with the Rockies, 3 short of tying Bruce Ruffin for 4th place on the all-time franchise list.

2012

Spent the entire season as the Rockies primary closer...converted 31-of-38 save opportunities...has converted 58-of-98 (59%) career save opportunities...with 31 saves in 2012 he became the eighth Rockies reliever to have at least 30 saves in a single season...his 31 saves are tied fourth-most by a Rockies reliever in a single season. Converted 11-straight save opportunities, 8/14-9/27...over those 15 appearances allowed just one run in 14.2 ip (0.61 ERA) with two walks, 16 strikeouts and an opponent average of .271 (16-for-59). Over the past two seasons, has a Post-ASG ERA of 1.53 (53.0 ip, 9 er) with four walks and 62 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .179 average...the 1.53 ERA is the fourth-best mark in the MLB (min. 50.0 ip) and his .179 average iseighth-best in the MLB over that span. Had his lowest ERA in 2012 since joining the Rockies...his six homers allowed were also the fewest allowed in a full season since coming to Colorado...additionally, Betancourt has tossed at least 56.0 innings and appeared in 50 games in each season since 2004. Held right-handed batters below a .200 average against for the fourth-straight season...righties hit just .186 (22-for-118) while lefties hit .304 (31-for-102)...overall, opponents batted .241 (53-for-220) against him. Owned a 3.72 ERA (29.0 ip, 12 er) in 30 home games and a 1.88 ERA (28.2 ip, 6 er) in 30 road games. Was at his best late in the season, as he owned a 0.82 ERA in August (11.0 ip, 1 er) and a 1.13 ERA (8.0 ip, 1 er) in September...for his career, owns a 2.69 ERA (123.2 ip, 37 er) in August and a 2.07 ERA (113.0 ip, 26 er) in September. Opponents batted .189 (10-for-53) against him with runners in scoring position and .219 (7-for-32) with RISP and 2 out.

2011

Spent the season as one of the Rockies late-inning relievers, including the final month-plus as Colorado's closer. ... In 68 appearances he went 2-0 with 8 saves, 22 holds, a 2.89 ERA (62.1 ip, 20 er), 8 walks and 73 strikeouts ... his 22 holds, 73 strikeouts and .203 opponents batting average all led Rockies relievers. ... Though steady all season, Betancourt was one of the Majors most productive relievers following the All-Star break, as he owned a 0.33 ERA (27.0 ip, 1 er), .080 opponents batting average (7-for-88), 8 saves and 4 holds with one walk and 39 strikeouts in 27.0 innings. ... Among MLB relievers with at least 25 post-All-Star break appearances, Betancourt led the league in ERA, opponents batting average, strikeout to walk ratio (39.00), hits allowed per 9.0 innings (2.33), base-runners allowed per 9.0 innings (2.67) and WHIP (0.30) after the break. ... Did not allow a single run after 8/27 at LAD, and carries a 9.0-inning (9 appearances) scoreless streak into the 2012 season ... allowed just 5 hits and no walks with 25 strikeouts in 21 appearances (20.1 innings) from the beginning of August through the end of the season. ... Earned his first save of the season on 8/9 at CIN, replacing an injured Huston Street ... went 8-for-9 in save opportunities the remainder of the season and finished 13 games for Colorado from 8/9 through season's end ... finished 2011 with five-straight successful save opportunities. ... Prior to earning the Rockies closer role late in the season, Betancourt generally pitched as the Rockies 8th-inning setup man ... from the beginning of 2011 through 8/8, Betancourt's 22 holds were tied for the fourth-most in the NL ... his 56 holds from 7/31/09-8/8/11 were the third-most in the NL. ... Once again finished among the top-3 relievers in MLB in strikeouts to walk ratio with a 9.13 mark ... Betancourt leads all MLB relievers with a 9.05 strikeouts to walk ratio (190 SO, 21 BB) since the Rockies acquired the right-hander on 7/31/09 from Cleveland. .... Signed a two-year contract extension through 2013 with an option for 2014, 1/21.

2010

Signed to a two-year deal prior to the 2010 season after being acquired from Cleveland, July 23, 2009...Finished second in the Majors and led the Rockies with a 11.13 strikeout/walk ratio; 89 strikeouts compared to eight walks...the 89 strikeouts were also tied for ninth-most in the Majors by a reliever...His 12.85 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched this season set a Rockies single-season record, passing Brian Fuentes who had 12.83 K/9.0 in 2002, however Fuentes had more than half as many innings...Betancourt tossed 62.1, Fuentes collected 26.2 innings...Struckout the second-most batters among Rockies relievers and also had the second-most appearances with 72...His 23 holds this season were the second-most in his career behind the 31 holds he collected in 2007 with the Indians...Since joining the Rockies 7/23/09 has 35 holds and 21 games finished...the Rockies are 67-37 in which he has made an appearance and in his 104 games as a Rockie is 8-2 with two saves and a 3.08 ERA (87.2 ip, 30 er) while walking 13 and striking out 118...he is averaging 12.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched and has held hitters to a .212 (69-for-326) average since coming to Colorado...From the beginning of June through the end of the season he went 5-0 with 18 holds and a 2.40 ERA (45.0 ip, 12 er)...walked just five batters, one being intentional, in the final three-plus months (51 appearances) of the season...Tied a career-high with five wins this season...also set career highs in strikeouts with 89 (previous high was 80 in 2007), walks by allowing just eight (previous low was nine walks in 2007), appearances with 72 (previous high was 69 in 2008) and tied his career-best with just one loss.

2009

Began the season with Cleveland before Colorado acquired him on July 23...Betancourt immediately became the primary setup men, and went on to lead the Rox in holds (12, tied with Matt Daley), despite pitching for the club for less than half the year...his 12 holds from 7/24 through the end of the year were T-5th most in the National League, and easily the most for a Rox reliever in that span...went 3-1 with one save and a 1.78 ERA in 32 appearances for Colorado...his 1.78 ERA as a member of the Rox was the lowest for any reliever after he joined the team on 7/24 (min. 20 innings)...struck out far more batters than he walked with Rox, finishing with 29 strikeouts and just 5 walks...his strikeout to walk ratio was 5.80 in a Rox uniform...did not allow a run in any of his first 14 games with Colorado, while earning 6 holds in his first 14 games...earned his first hold with Colorado on 7/30 at NYM by tossing a scoreless 7th inning in the Rox win of Game 2 of the club's doubleheader that day...earned a hold in each of his next two appearance as well, 7/31 and 8/2, both game at CIN...struck out the side 8/20 at WAS for his 6th hold with the Rox...earned a hold, but allowed his first 2 runs with Colorado 8/25 vs. LAD; entered in the 9th to try to close out the game, but allowed 2 runs on 2 hits; Rox went on to win 5-4 in 10 innings...took the loss 8/30 at SF when he inherited a bases loaded situation in the 6th inning and allowed a go-ahead grand slam to Edgar Renteria; was the only home run he allowed as a member of the Rockies, and his only other career slam allowed was hit by Renteria...followed that loss with 9 consecutive scoreless apps (6.2 ip); those 9 apps included 3 games in which he earned the win, and also a save...earned first win with the Rox on 9/4 vs. ARI by retiring the last batter of the 8th inning in the Rockies 5-4 comeback victory...notched his 2nd victory just 3 days later as he tossed a scoreless 8th in Colorado's 4-3 come back win...recorded the final 2 outs of the 8th inning in Colorado's win 9/11 at SD to earn his 3rd victory with Colorado; in that game 9/11 at SD Yorvit Torrealba put Colorado ahead with 2 outs in the 9th with a bases loaded clearing double...on 9/16 at SF he relieved Franklin Morales in the 9th after he surrendered 3 hits and recorded no outs, and was able to lock down the win for the Rockies with his first save as a Rockie...in a little over two months with Colorado, Betancourt held opponents to a .189 (17-for-90) average against, with left-handed batters hitting .231 (9-for-39) and right-handed batters at .157 (8-for-51)...28 of his 32 apps with the Rox were scoreless...his 20 holds between both clubs were the 2nd-most he has had in a single season, trailing only the 31 holds he had in 2007...finished the season with a total of 61 games, giving him at least 50 apps in 6 of his 7 Major League seasons...appeared in 29 games for the Indians prior to the trade...went 1-2 with a 3.52 ERA (30.2 ip, 12 er) in his 29 games with Cleveland in 2009.

2008

Season never fully got on track, but effectiveness increased and ERA decreased over the last two months of the season...Hold total in 2008 went to 12 after compiling 31 holds (T1st) in 2007 while his ERA (5.07-1.47) and HR totals (11-4) also took turns for the worse...ERA was 6.27 thru games of August 5 (47.1IP, 56H, 33ER)...Over the last 7 weeks of the season he went 1-0 w/a 2.66 ERA in 22 games (23.2IP, 20H, 7ER, 17K, .233AVG)... Served as closer for a brief time at the end of April and beginning of May when Borowski was shelved, but inability to out together consistent outings took him out of the role...45 of his 69 appearances were scoreless... Walked career-high 4 on Sept. 16 vs. Minnesota... From July 12th on his ERA was 3.48 (31.0IP, 28H, 12ER, 24K, .243AVG)...Overall among AL relief pitchers his 71.0IP were 12th and his 69 appearances were T14th...His 342 career appearances currently rank 12th in Indians club history behind Early Wynn (343)... MLB hitters batted .276 (76-275, 11HR), holding LHH to a .252 (30-119) avg...Best month was August (1-0, 3.00ERA, 10G, 12.0IP, 4ER)...Only month his ERA was under 4.00...Batters hit .280 (37-132) off him with runners on base and .299 (20-67) with RISP...Hit .182 (6-33) with RISP-2outs.

2007

Arguably the best season by a set-up man in the American League in his best Major League season to date for the Indians...Was the primary a"inning set-up man for Joe Borowski all season, recording 31 holds (T1st among AL reliever behind LAA's Scot Shields 31) ... His relief ERA of 1.47 was the 2nd lowest relief ERA In the AL and his .183 batting average against the 4th lowest mark ... His 9.1 (3 of 33) inherited runners scoring 0/0 was the 2nd best mark among AL relief artists... Was 2nd to Seattle's JJ Putz (6.6) in runners allowed per 9.01P at 6.8 (60 runners in 79.11P via hit, walk, HBP) ...Was 5th among AL relievers in strikeouts (80), 4th in innings pitched (79.1) and T9th in relief wins (5) ... 55 of his 68 outings were scoreless and did not allow more than 1ER in any of his outings... His .173 (18-104) average against with runners on was 3rd among AL relievers... Recorded first save on August 31 vs. CWS and overall was 3 for 6 in save ops (BS on 5/4, 8/1, 8/8; saved last 3 chances)... Did not walk a batter over 24.11P from April 4-June 9 and had a 19.01P scoreless streak from May 13 to June 20 ... 0n the year averaged just 1.02 walks per 9.0IP... From June 26 thru the end of the season he recorded an ERA of 1.74 (46.2IP, 32H, 9ER) in 38 outings... Over his last 22 games from August 12 thru the end of the season he recorded an ERA of 1.37 (26.1IP, 17H, 4ER) ... Finished 4th in the AL in 'first batter batting average (.123, 8 for 65) ... Did not allow a run in 10 appearances vs. Detroit this year, a span of 13.21P (9H, OR, 2BB, 13K) ... His 68 appearances were T13th among AI relievers ... Last 10 games allowed 1R/ER in 11.1IP... Batters hit .216 (11-51) off him with RISP.

2006

Had a solid season as his effectiveness improved considerably as the season went along... From July 5th thru the end of the season he went 3-1 w/a 2.71 ERA in 26 appearances (3SV, 33.1IP, 28H, 10ER, 29K) after taking a 5.40 season ERA into July...Was on the disabled list from April 20 to May 16 w/a strained lat muscle in his right side, suffered on April 19 at Baltimore...Was the 3rd straight season in which he spent time on the DL...Did not allow an ER over his first 8 outings (8.0IP) after activation thru June 5 and then sported an ERA of 8.68 in June (9.1IP, 13H, 9ER)...After his activation ERA was 3.44 (42G, 49.2IP, 44H, 19ER, 42K)...Enjoyed new career bests in innings (3.1IP) and strikeouts (5) on July 5 vs. New York-AL...From August 23 thru the end of the season his ERA was 1.10 in 13 games (16.1IP, 11H, 2ER, 15K) and had 10.0 consecutive scoreless IP from Aug. 23-Sept. 7... Saved 3 straight chances from August 25-Sept. 28, a new career-high (streak still current)... Batters hit .241 (52-216) off him with 7HR allowed...LHH hit .221 (19-86) and RHH hit .254 (33-130) and his home ERA was 1.88 (29.2PI, 26H, 6ER)...36 of his 50 outings were scoreless... Allowed only 7 of 27 (25.9%) inherited runners to score, which would have been 14th in the league had he had the requisite amount of inherited runners... Batters hit .214 (27-126) with none on and .278 (25-90) with runners on...Batters hit .222 (14-63) with RISP and .167 (5-30) with RISP-2outs off Raffy...ERA in the 2nd half was 3.00 (3-1, 3SV, 30.0IP, 27H, 10ER)...Indians were 26-24 when he appeared...Worst outing of the season came on June 30 at Cincinnati (0.0+IP, 4H, 4R/ER)...Pitched for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

2005

Was a productive and reliable member of the best bullpen in baseball, starting the year with 9.0 hitless/scoreless innings as he retired 27 of his first 28 batters faced...Did not allow a hit/run until his 5th outing on April 18 at Kansas City...Overall in April he was 1-0 w/a 0.73 ERA in 8 games (12.1IP, 2H, 1ER, 12K)...39 of his 54 outings were scoreless...Was 1 for 3 in save chances and struck out 4 batters on 4 occasions (last on August 25 @TB) to equal a careerhigh...Tossed a career-high 3.0IP on April 9 at Detroit (retired 9 straight)...Averaged 9.7 strikeouts per 9.0IP (73K, 67.2IP)...Over his last 12 outings in September he recorded an ERA of 1.29 (14.0IP, 12H, 2ER, 13K). u Was on the 15-day DL from June 30-July 8 with right shoulder inflammation before being suspended for 10 days from July 8-18 for violating MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program...Was activated from the suspended list on July 18...After his activation his 2nd half ERA was 3.48 (31.0IP, 28H, 12ER)...Did not allow a run over 8 games from June 7-July 20 (10.0IP) over his stint on DL/suspended list...Batters hit .224 (57-254) off him w/5HR allowed, including a mark of just .204 (34-167) vs. RHH...Batters hit .238 (25-105) off him with runners on and .237 (14-59) with RISP (.200, 6-30 w/RISP-2outs)...Batters were 32 for 149 (.215) off him with no one on base and 15 for 33 (.455) on his first pitch...Indians were 35-19 (648) when he appeared and he retired 41 of 54 first batters faced (76%)...12 of his 30 (40%) inherited runners scored...Recorded only save at Kansas City on Sept. 22 (2.1IP, 2H, 0R)...ERA from July 31 on was 2.40 (26.1IP, 22H, 7ER, 29K)... His first batter average against of .189 (10-53) was the 9th best mark among AL relievers...His ERA was 20th best among league relievers.

2004

Spent his first full season in the big league and was a reliable member of the Tribe's bullpen, compiling an ERA of 3.23 (30.2IP, 11ER) in the second half of play...Spent a short amount of time as the Tribe's closer in late April/ early May...On the year he saved 4 games in 11 chances (36.4%) as his 7 blown saves were tied for 3rd in the AL behind Esteban Yan (10) and Jason Grimsley (9)...His 6 relief losses were tied for 5th among AL relievers. Recorded an ERA of 4.15 in April (13.0IP, 17H, 6ER) and was 0-2 w/2 saves in 12 May outings (2.92ERA, 12.1IP, 13H, 4ER)...Hit a rough stretch in June, allowing runs in 5 of his 11 outings while compiling an ERA of 6.75 (10.2IP, 13H, 8ER)...Was placed on the disabled list on June 26 with right biceps tendonitis and arm fatigue and was activated on July 11 after a 1-game rehab appearance at AA Akron. Did not allow a run over his first 8 outings upon activation (8.2IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, 9K) before blowing his 6th save on August 3 at Toronto (0.0+IP, 3H, 4R)...Struck out a career-high 4 on July 30 at KC...After his activation he went 2-2 w/2 saves and a 3.23 ERA in 33 games (30.2IP, 28H, 11ER, 36K) and limited batters to a .239 (28-117) average against (.333 slg%)...27 of the 33 outings in the 2nd half were scoreless...Batters hit .291 (43-148, .480slg) before his injury in the 1st half. Walk to strikeout ratio was 4.2 (76:16) as he fanned 10.3 per 9.0IP...Did not allow a run in 50 of his 68 outings...Went over 3 months between saves at one point (May 4 to August 25)...Over his last 19 outings from August 18 thru the end of the season his ERA was 2.30 (15.2IP, 13H, 4ER, 23K)...Allowed only 1 run over his last 12 outings from Sept. 5 thru the end of the year (0.93ERA, 9.2IP, 8H, 1ER)...Saved 4th and final game of season on Sept. 23 vs. MIN Led the team with 12 holds...Batters hit .253 (40-158) off him with no one on base and .290 (31-107) off him w/ runners on...Batters hit .313 (21-67) off him w/RISP and .250 (9-36) with RISP and 2 outs...ERA on 0 days of rest was 5.25 (12.0IP, 20H, 7ER) while ERA w/at least a day of rest was 3.62 (54.2IP, 51H, 22ER)...ERA w/2 days off was 2.25 (12.0IP, 12H, 3ER).

2003

Split season between AA Akron, AAA Buffalo and was impressive over three stints in the big leagues with Cleveland after joining the organization in the off-season...Was his first ever appearance at the Triple A and big league levels after spending a year in the minor leagues in Japan and missing the entire 2002 season due to right elbow surgery...Split the first half of the 2003 season between AA Akron and AAA Buffalo, recording a 29.1 inning scoreless streak from 4/16 to 6/13 with the Akron Aeros...Was promoted to AAA Buffalo on 6/30 and recorded 3 of 4 scoreless outings for the Bisons before being promoted to the big leagues for the first time on 7/12 (Westbrook optioned)...Saved 13 straight games from 5/15 to 6/10 (13 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 22 SO) -- the longest such streak in the minors since 2002...Overall in the minors between Akron and Buffalo he recorded a combined ERA of 1.73 (52.0IP, 39H, 10ER, 81SO) w/17 saves and limited hitters to a .201 (39-194) average against w/1HR allowed in 35 outings...Struck out 14.0 batters per 9.0IP between AA & AAA...Had a pair of 3.0IP, 6 strikeout outings with the Aeros and led the Eastern League champion Akron Aeros with 16 saves for the season...Made his major league debut and suffered a tough-luck loss on 7/13 vs. Chicago-AL, tossing 1.1IP (1H, 1R/ER, 1BB, 1K) before leaving the game and having his inherited runner decide the contest...Recorded his first major league win on 7/27 vs. Minnesota and his first major league save on 8/10 vs. Anaheim...Allowed a run in only 9 of his 33 outings...After his debut he recorded an ERA of 1.96 (36.2IP, 26H, 8ER)...Led the team with 32 appearances in the second half...His .171 (6-35) mark against with RISP was 18th in the AL among relievers...Recorded an ERA of 2.77 or less in every month he was in the big leagues from July thru September...Limited big league hitters to a .196 (27-138) average against (5HR), including a mark of .133 (10-75) against right-handed hitters.

2002

Did not pitch professionally in 2002 as he rehabbed from elbow surgery and was not signed by any club before signing with Cleveland after a tryout prior to the 2003 season.

2001

Re-signed by Red Sox prior to 2001 season and spent the season at AA Trenton before being shut down for the season on 5/17 with right elbow troubles...Underwent surgery on his right elbow to transpose the ulnar nerve as well as having a metal rod placed in his right forearm to stabilize his right elbow and ulna on 7/23.

2000

Sold to the Yokohama Baystars of Japan's Central League in November of 1999 and appeared in 11 games in the Japanese major league (4 GS) before spending the rest of the season in the Japanese minor leagues with Searex.

1999

Best season to date between A Sarasota & AA Trenton, striking out a combined 63 batters in 61.2 innings while recording an ERA of 3.21 in 45 outings...Ranked 5th in the Eastern League in saves at Trenton and 4th in walks per 9.0 IP (1.65) by a reliever.

1998

Spent most of the season at A Sarasota of the Florida State League.

1997

First season as a pitcher came at A Michigan of the Midwest League where he recorded 11 saves and struck out 52 batters in 32.1 IP...His 14.5 SO/9.0 IP was the best mark among Midwest League relievers as were his runners allowed per 9.0 IP (7.8).

1996

Spent the first 3 seasons of his professional career (1994-96) as a middle infielder in the Boston minor league system before being converted to a relief pitcher in 1997 by the Red Sox farm brass.