Rafael Betancourt

Few players can transition from pitching to a nonpitching position; even fewer successfully can reinvent themselves as pitchers after rising through the ranks as position players. Rafael Betancourt is one of those few major-league position players who became successful pitchers, in his case for over a decade after starting his professional career as a shortstop.

Betancourt identified the two most difficult moments during in his career as the time when he was told to convert from playing shortstop to pitching and his 2001 elbow surgery that resulted in an 18-month absence from pitching.1

Betancourt was notorious for his slow pace and tedious between-pitch routine, which included incessant cap tugging and pawing at the mound.2 In a July 2007 game, he was penalized for taking too much time to throw a pitch. Twice a ball was added to the count when the reliever exceeded the 12-second limit between pitches.3

Rafael Jose Betancourt was born on April 29, 1975, in Cumaná, Venezuela, a son of Rafael Betancourt Sr., who taught sociology at Universidad de Oriente in Cumaná, and Evelia Franco, who raised Rafael Jr., Francisco, and Evelyn. There were additional siblings from his father’s side, Xermis and Xenás.

Rafael Jr. was raised in a middle-class home with a school-oriented mindset led by his mother, but on the baseball side one of his favorite players growing up was Cleveland Indians shortstop (and future teammate) Omar Vizquel. After high school Rafael enrolled in Instituto Universitario Isaac Newton in nearby Puerto La Cruz to study computer engineering.

On weekends Rafael would return home to play baseball for local amateur teams. One of those weekends, in May 1993, Boston Red Sox scouts conducted a tryout in Cumaná, and Rafael was one of those on the radar of several teams.

In a November 2022 interview, he explained, “My mother wanted me to go to school. She was never into baseball. She wanted us to attend school and forget about any distractions beyond education. But my brother and my father knew that I was passionate about the game and talented for my age, so they pushed me to go to that tryout.”4

After the tryout, the boys of the family returned home with some news for Evelia. The Red Sox were offering a contract to Rafael as a shortstop.

“My mother saw our faces and she didn’t even want us to talk to her,” Betancourt recalled. “My father had to ask her for her blessing and support, so I could achieve my dream of becoming a professional baseball player. She really wanted me to attend school.”

Betancourt signed with scout Willie Paffen of the Boston Red Sox on September 13, 1993, receiving the largest signing bonus to date for a Venezuelan-born player at $47,500.5 Initial reports suggested that the 6-foot-2, 180-pound shortstop could run well and cover much ground. Paffen successfully lobbied for Betancourt’s services among 10 other teams vying for the 18-year-old.6

Betancourt started his professional career in 1994 playing shortstop for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox. He struggled during his first season, hitting .111 with no extra-base hits in 63 at-bats and committing nine errors in 91 chances over 20 games. His offense improved the following season, as Betancourt raised his average to .256 in 168 at-bats but slugged only .286 while striking out over twice as often as he walked. His fielding improved, though he split time between shortstop, second base, and third base. The Red Sox moved Betancourt to the Michigan Battle Cats in the Class-A Midwest League. His batting average dropped to .167 in 168 at-bats over 62 games, and his .932 fielding percentage at shortstop wasn’t helping him advance.

After a game in Fort Myers, Florida, the Red Sox director for minor leagues, Bob Schaffer, told the 20-year-old that the organization wanted him to try as a pitcher.

“Bob said they wanted me to pitch because they liked my arm and accuracy, and I said a straight ‘no’ right there. It was really tough to digest for me, as I was always the shortstop, I idolized Vizquel and wanted to be on the field always.”

“Now I thank them for bearing with me, because they could have just fired me for saying no. But they were patient and asked me to trust in the process and that I would have their support. From that day all started to change and I started to make progress right away, the progress that I had not seen in my first two years,” he recalled.7

The Red Sox converted Betancourt from shortstop to pitcher during 1997 spring training. The 21-year-old right-hander rejoined the Battle Cats as a reliever. Betancourt enjoyed more success on the mound than at the plate: He allowed no runs during an 11-game span from June 15 through July 23. Over 12 innings, he allowed only six hits, recorded 17 strikeouts, and issued no walks. The blossoming reliever earned his first two saves.8

Betancourt’s stellar strikeout-to-walk ratio characterized his pitching throughout his career. He finished his first professional season pitching with 11 saves and 1.95 ERA over 32 1/3 innings for Michigan. He recorded 52 strikeouts against only two walks; his 14.5 strikeouts and 7.8 runners allowed per nine innings led all Midwest League pitchers.9 Years later, Betancourt admitted, “I was a good defensive shortstop, but never was a real good hitter. And Boston had Nomar (Garciaparra), so they turned me into a pitcher.”10

That offseason in Venezuela, Betancourt worked with Boston’s legendary pitcher Luis Tiant.11 Betancourt became a father during the offseason; his daughter Raniel was born to him and his wife, Griselda, in February. Over the next two seasons, the aspiring pitcher split time between Rookie ball, Class-A Sarasota, and Double-A Trenton, maintaining high strikeout-to-walk ratios but not overpowering hitters. His 13 saves at Trenton were fifth among Eastern League relievers. However, the Red Sox released Betancourt in November 1999 and sent him to pitch in Japan for the Yokohama Bay Stars, with the understanding he would return to the Red Sox organization.12 The Venezuelan didn’t fare much better in Japan, compiling a 1-2 record and a 4.08 ERA over 28 2/3 innings; he recorded 16 strikeouts and an uncharacteristically high 11 walks, then spent the latter half of the season in the Japanese minor leagues.

Boston invited the nonrostered Betancourt to spring training in 2001.13 In mid-March, he headed to minor-league camp and spent the first six weeks with Double-A Trenton. In mid-May Betancourt’s season ended with right elbow troubles. Two months later, he underwent surgery on his right elbow, transposing the ulnar nerve and stabilizing his right elbow and ulna with a metal rod inserted in his right forearm. His days with the Red Sox organization ended after his 0-1 record and 5.63 ERA over 24 innings and subsequent surgery, though his stellar 9-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio offered hope that he would latch on with another club. He missed the entire 2002 recovering from surgery. Betancourt believed he would return. “People probably were saying, ‘He’s done.’ But I always had in mind that I have to come back. I needed one more chance to see if I could pitch.”14

In January 2003 the Cleveland Indians took a chance on the former infielder by signing him to a minor-league deal.15 The Betancourts’ second child, son Rafael, was born that January.16 During the season’s first half, Betancourt split time between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Buffalo, pitching in the Akron Aeros bullpen as a middle reliever before taking over as closer on May 15. He immediately thrived in his new role, saving 13 consecutive games, and recording 16 saves with a 1.39 ERA, 75 strikeouts, and 13 walks over 45 1/3 innings before his big-league promotion. After starting his professional baseball career nine years earlier, Betancourt made his major-league debut pitching for Cleveland against the Chicago White Sox on July 13 2003. He entered the game in the seventh inning, recording his first out when Aaron Rowand hit a foul popup. His next batter was future Hall of Fame slugger Frank Thomas; Betancourt struck out Thomas on four pitches. Unfortunately for the rookie, in the next inning, he allowed a leadoff single to Paul Konerko that ultimately led to the game-winning run and absorbed the loss in a 7-4 White Sox victory. Betancourt was ecstatic about his debut, commenting, “I was very excited that they used me in a tie game. I’m sorry we lost, but it was like, ‘OK, the score is tied, let’s go get them.’”17 Two weeks later, Betancourt earned his first major-league victory when he pitched a scoreless 14th inning in a 3-2 Cleveland victory.18 Two weeks after his first win, he recorded his first save by retiring the final four batters in a 3-1 Indians win.19 Cleveland manager Eric Wedge was pleased with his rookie’s approach: “He’s got a good fastball and slider. I like the way he handles himself out there and stays focused.”20 The rookie reliever took advantage of his long-awaited opportunity and became a steadfast member of Cleveland’s bullpen. Over a 31-day stretch in mid-August and late September, Betancourt pitched in 15 of 26 games, compiling a 1.83 ERA over 19 2/3 innings.21

Betancourt completed his rookie season with a 2-2 record, one save, and a 2.13 ERA in 38 innings. He struck out 36 batters and walked 13; his above-average 2.77 strikeout-to-walk ratio was among the lowest in his career. Although Cleveland struggled to a 68-94 record and a fourth-place AL Central Division finish that season, the organization felt it had a blossoming bullpen between Betancourt, a returning Bob Wickman in the closer role, David Riske, Scott Stewart, Bob Howry, and Jack Cressend.22 One unique event in Betancourt’s career occurred on August 3: in the seventh inning, he hit Marcus Thames on an 0-and-2 pitch. That game was Betancourt’s 10th big-league appearance, and Thames was only the 35th batter he faced in his burgeoning big-league career. Betancourt pitched 678 more regular-season innings over 11 seasons, facing another 2,752 batters – and never hit another batter again.23

For the first time in his career, Betancourt made a major-league team’s Opening Day roster. The 2004 Indians were optimistic that they would return to their winning ways from the late 1990s. Betancourt pitched well during the first six games, then allowed runs in his next three appearances. Wedge continued displaying faith in his control artist, first making him the primary set-up man,24 then naming him closer on May 1, replacing Riske.25 Betancourt earned two saves in his first three games as a closer, which included a game-ending Manny Ramirez strikeout after Boston rallied with a four-run ninth inning to pull within a single run and Ramirez represented the go-ahead run.26 However, after a month in the role, Wedge shifted closer duties from Betancourt to José Jiménez because the Cleveland manager wanted Betancourt in the setup role. “Raffie has been our most consistent reliever this year. We’ve had him in the closer’s role for almost a month, and he’s only had a couple of opportunities because we’re not able to get the lead to him. So I’ve got my best pitcher in the bullpen not pitching.”27

After struggling through a mediocre first half, the Indians played better during the second half. From August 4 through August 14, Cleveland won 10 of 11 games with the only defeat a loss by Betancourt on a walk-off. The Indians pulled within one game of the division-leading Minnesota Twins but lost their next nine straight to fall out of playoff contention. Betancourt completed the season with a 5-6 record, four saves, a team-leading 12 holds, and a 3.92 ERA. His strikeout-to-walk ratio improved to 4.22, among the best in the American League.

Firmly established in Cleveland’s bullpen, Betancourt pitched in a set-up role during the entire 2005 season. He started the season by pitching nine hitless, scoreless innings and pitched more reliably and consistently in the seventh and eighth innings. Betancourt retired 27 of the first 28 batters he faced, allowing a lone walk in his third appearance that season. Early that season he appreciated having a stable role: “I think the whole bullpen, not just me, feels more comfortable this year. We have a guy for every spot.”28

Well-known for his control, Betancourt was evolving into a strikeout pitcher who could tempt batters to chase high fastballs while slowing the game down.29 He spent time on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder from June 30 through July 8, then was handed a 10-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program from July 8 to July 18. He was the first major-league player and third in the Indians’ organization to be penalized for a violation.30 The Indians were completely surprised by Betancourt’s suspension, as his body type and velocity hadn’t notably changed in his three years with the organization; Cleveland was not informed what specific substance was in violation of the MLB agreement. Betancourt speculated that the issue might be related to an anti-inflammatory drug prescribed in Venezuela that would be equivalent to over-the-counter medication in the United States. “It would be like you guys going to a pharmacy here and buying Advil or Tylenol,” he said.31 Except for one bad outing, Betancourt pitched well and stayed off the DL for the rest of the season, ending his third big-league season with a 2.79 ERA and 73 punchouts over 67 2/3 innings.

The year 2006 started on a high note, as Betancourt pitched for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, but he regressed during the major-league season. Pitching mostly in a set-up role once again, he endured a challenging first half while pitching better in the second half. Betancourt thrived while pitching at Jacobs Field in Cleveland; his 1.88 ERA there was significantly better than his road 5.79 ERA. For the third consecutive year, he spent time on the DL. During the offseason, the Betancourt and the Indians avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal.32 The signing paid off handsomely for Cleveland.

The 2007 season featured a dominant Betancourt all year while the Indians returned to the postseason. Betancourt made a major contribution to Cleveland’s success, establishing a career-high 79 1/3 innings pitched and a career-best 1.47 ERA while tying his career highs in wins (five) and reaching his second-highest strikeout total (80). He issued a career-low 1.02 walks per nine innings and allowed a career-low 5.8 hits per nine innings. His microscopic first-half 1.13 ERA increased only slightly to 1.82 during the season’s second half; he pitched at least 10 innings each month and only once did his monthly ERA exceed 2.00. Betancourt again pitched primarily during the eighth inning as a set-up man, tying for the AL lead with 31 holds.33 He walked only one batter during his first 24 1/3 innings while recording 20 strikeouts. Several managers and players noticed Betancourt’s effectiveness, with Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland praising the reliever, commenting. “He’s been one of the best pitchers in the game all year. He gets no publicity, but you look at his numbers and they are remarkable. Where would the Indians be without Betancourt?”34 Leyland was especially aware of Betancourt’s pitching, as the Tigers finished in the American League Central Division’s second place, eight games behind the Indians. One highlight for Betancourt that season was standing on the mound when Cleveland captured the division title. On September 23 against the Oakland Athletics at Jacobs Field with over 40,000 fans in attendance, Betancourt pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for his second save, striking out Mark Ellis on a fastball to end the game.

“It was by far the most rewarding moment of my career,” Betancourt said. “Closing that game, clinching the division was very special for our group since we were growing together. The emotion was hard to describe.”

In the Division Series against the New York Yankees, Betancourt pitched twice, striking out three and issuing no walks over two scoreless innings. In his first four appearances during the Championship Series against Boston, pitching at least one inning in four consecutive games, Betancourt allowed one hit while delivering 6 1/3 shutout innings. In Game Two he delivered the best postseason appearance in his career. Throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings when the game was tied from the seventh inning through the ninth, his shining moment was retiring Kevin Youkilis in the ninth inning with two outs and Jacoby Ellsbury representing the winning run on second base. Betancourt and Youkilis dueled during an 11-pitch at-bat to send the game into extra innings. Youkilis saw 11 straight fastballs, fouling off six consecutive 2-and-2 pitches,35 before driving the final one into center field where the ball landed in Grady Sizemore’s glove. Betancourt threw 42 pitches, striking out three while allowing one hit, giving Cleveland the opportunity to win in extra innings.36 In the decisive seventh game, Betancourt entered the game in the bottom of the seventh with Cleveland trailing 3-2, but allowed six earned runs over 1 2/3 innings and couldn’t finish the eighth inning.37 The rough outing dampened the numerous highlights from the 2007 campaign, during which he tied with Victor Martinez with the fourth-highest Wins Above Replacement (4.3 per Baseball-Reference) on the Indians.

The Indians and Betancourt once again avoided arbitration before the 2008 season. Since joining Cleveland in 2003, Betancourt had signed successive one-year contracts. Now the Indians, who experienced no player arbitration hearings from 1992 to 2007, signed Betancourt to a two-year contract with a club option for the third year. Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro commented, “This is a great story. Knowing what Rafael has been through and how hard he worked, to see him get the security of a multiyear deal and for us to get the consistency and effectiveness we’ve had from him for our bullpen, it’s a great story.”38 Unfortunately for both sides, Betancourt’s 2008 numbers nosedived after his spectacular 2007 season. His ERA skyrocketed to 5.07 over 71 innings; his strikeout rate dipped slightly, but his walk rate more than tripled from 2007’s 1.0 to 3.2 walks per nine innings. He struggled during the first half, with a 2-4 record and a 6.00 ERA over 42 innings; August was the only month when his ERA was below 4.00. Eager to prove 2007 was no fluke, Betancourt pushed himself even harder while exercising and throwing during the offseason, noting, “That’s why I prepared myself in the offseason. I feel stronger than I did last year.” Indians skipper Eric Wedge complimented Betancourt’s drive, saying, “He doesn’t take anything for granted. He doesn’t assume anything. He feels like each and every day he has to prove himself all over again. He’s always been like that.”39

Focused on the coming season, Betancourt declined the invitation to play for Venezuela in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. When the season began, his ERA in his 10 April appearances was 5.40, and while the Indians found themselves in the division basement. Betancourt notably improved during May, compiling a 2.70 ERA over 16 2/3 innings, then injured his right groin and missed all of June. He returned to the mound on July 9, and pitched three more games for the Indians. On July 23 Betancourt was sent to the Colorado Rockies for minor-league power pitcher Connor Graham.40 Betancourt wasn’t surprised by the trade, commenting, “You never know when this is going to happen. I’ve seen a lot of guys come here and leave this year. Now it’s my turn.”41

Betancourt immediately thrived in his new environment, delivering 11 2/3 scoreless innings and 14 strikeouts against two walks during his first 14 appearances in a Rockies uniform. He pitched well for the rest of the season, recording a 3-1 record, a team-leading 12 holds, and a 1.78 ERA over 25 1/3 innings. His 5.8 strikeout-to-walk ratio illustrated his exceptional control.42 Betancourt solidified the bullpen and helped Colorado win the National League wild card, though the Rockies fell to the Philadelphia Phillies 3 games to 1 in the NL Division Series.

During the offseason, Betancourt decided to remain with the Rockies, signing a two-year deal.43

He excelled once again in a set-up role, teaming with Matt Belisle to form a highly effective one-two late-inning bridge to closer Huston Street. He established career highs with 72 appearances, 89 strikeouts and an 11.13 strikeout-to-walk ratio, second-highest in the majors. Similar to previous seasons, he pitched better in the second half of the season, evidenced by his first-half 5.06 ERA and significantly better second-half 2.08 ERA. Over the season’s last two months, Betancourt’s minuscule 1.52 ERA and .114 opponents’ batting average over 23 2/3 innings helped the Rockies make a late-season playoff push. On September 18 the Rockies were only one game behind the West Division-leading San Diego Padres. Betancourt threw 7 1/3 shutout innings during the final two weeks, allowing just one hit, but Colorado lost 13 of its final 14 games – including the final eight straight – and missed the playoffs.44 Although he delivered another solid season, similar to many pitchers feeling the effects of Coors Field, his road ERA (2.27) was lower than his home ERA (4.99).

Betancourt continued his excellent relieving the next season. Although the Rockies endured a challenging 2011, finishing with a 73-89 record, Colorado’s reliable bullpen gave the Rockies an opportunity to win in the later innings. Betancourt and Belisle continued serving as effective set-up relievers for closer Street during the season’s first half. When Street spent time on the DL in mid-August and late September, Betancourt filled in as closer, earning eight saves, and when Street returned, he pitched in a set-up role while Betancourt closed.45 Betancourt’s 2011 second half was even better than his 2010 second half. His subatomic 0.33 ERA over 27 innings included 39 strikeouts and only seven hits, an opponents’ batting average of .080, and one walk; From August 27 through September 28, he retired 27 consecutive batters.46 After the season the Rockies traded Street to the San Diego Padres, with the expectation that Betancourt would be the closer the next season.47

For the first time in his career, the resilient 36-year-old, nine-year veteran entered a season as a major-league closer. While the rebuilding Rockies struggled throughout the season, Betancourt provided stability in the bullpen. His season started well as he recorded six saves while allowing a lone run over 10 innings. He struggled in May and June, rebounded with a stellar August, and then fizzled during September. Betancourt recorded a career-high 31 saves; through the end of the 2023 season, that total is tied for seventh-highest in club history. However, Colorado endured a challenging season, dropping to the NL West Division basement on July 17 and remaining there for remainder of the season. Betancourt was 1-4 with a 2.81 ERA over 57 2/3 innings, and tied with teammate Dexter Fowler for a team-high 2.6 WAR (per Baseball-Reference). He pitched equally well during the first and second halves, while his home 3.72 ERA was notably higher than his road 1.88 ERA.

After Betancourt’s first full season as a closer, nagging injuries and a heavy workload affected his ability to remain healthy. In June of 2012 the Rockies in an experiment had switched from the commonly used five-man starting rotation to a four-man rotation with three “piggyback” relievers, limiting starters to 75 pitches per outing. The result was a bullpen that pitched a then major-league record 657 innings with their opponents’ batting average reaching a majors-worst .274.48 For the 2013 season, the Rockies were planning to use an eight-man bullpen with starting pitchers reaching 100 pitchers per outing. Betancourt started the season strong, saving eight games with a 1.59 ERA over 11 1/3 innings in April, but as Memorial Day drew near, Betancourt’s effectiveness was decreasing. He landed on the DL with a strained groin in early June. Betancourt left the DL four weeks later, pitched for six games, then went back on the DL because of an emergency appendectomy on July 19. He felt sick after a team workout, assistant trainer Scott Gehret determined he had appendicitis, and Betancourt was rushed to the hospital. Rockies manager Walt Weiss commented, “I don’t think they had a whole lot of time left before that thing ruptured.”49 Betancourt’s season worsened when he underwent Tommy John surgery on September 17.

After recovering for several months, Betancourt started traveling the comeback road once again.

In 2014 he pitched a few innings for the Rookie Grand Junction Rockies and Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox during his rehabilitation. The following spring training as a nonroster invitee, his comeback took another detour when he was hit in the face with a line drive that deflected off his glove during an exhibition game.50 Betancourt was a solid bullpen contributor during the first two months, then went on the DL for vertigo on June 8.51 He returned in late June and pitched poorly during August. After six seasons and 58 saves, he was designated for assignment on August 23. He made his final appearance in the seventh inning on August 22, retiring the side in order.

Mentoring younger pitchers, Betancourt appeared in several short YouTube clips; those posted in 2012 included his experience with elbow surgery52 and advice to young players.53 Additional clips posted in October 2016 included short tutorials on how to throw a breaking ball54 and how to prepare for a baseball game.55

Betancourt finished his 12-season career with a 38-37 won/lost record, a 3.36 ERA, and 75 saves. His high 9.5 career strikeout rate and 4.41 strikeout-to-walk ratio became a benchmark for the power and control relievers that became commonplace during the late 2010s. As of the end of the 2023 season, Betancourt remained among the Rockies’ top 10 pitchers for career saves (58, seventh) and appearances (309, eighth), and his 2007 Indians season is one of the best relief seasons in Cleveland’s history. The only uniform number he ever wore was number 63.

“To be honest, I was not mentally ready to hang up my spikes, but I was happy with the career I achieved,” Betancourt said. “I worked very hard every day for so many years. I felt if I was not training, I was leaving something behind. Being a major-league player is a very difficult job, far from the glamour of being seen on TV or making a solid income. At 40 years old I was tired of surgeries and I thought very much about my family, so I took the decision to call it off.”

In 2016 Betancourt, who was a staple in the Rockies locker room, worked as a special adviser to the Rockies general manager. After the season he moved to Miami to focus on raising his children, Raniel and Rafael, and help them on their way through college.

“It goes back to education and providing the best opportunities. My kids saw how hard the way of professional sports is. Will I support them if they want to go that route? Yes! Do I want that for them? I am not exactly sure.”

Asked in 2023 if he aspired to return to baseball in some capacity, Betancourt said he was open to return at some point working as a coach or adviser. “Baseball implies a lot of responsibilities and after my playing days were done, I wanted to focus all of that into my family.”56

Betancourt overcame an early position change from shortstop to pitcher, a potential career-ending elbow injury, and multiple DL stints to become one of the best set-up relievers during the mid-2000s. His amazing control, highlighted by only one hit batsman out of 2,787 career batters faced, complemented with strong work ethics, made him an exemplar reliever for aspiring pitchers.

Last revised: January 31, 2026

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author thanks Cassidy Lent for providing National Baseball Hall of Fame source material, Carl Riechers for his thorough fact-checking and recommended edits, and Lisa Gattie for her meaningful input.

Photo credit: Rafael Betancourt, Getty Images.

SOURCES

Besides the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted Baseball-Almanac.com, Baseball-Reference.com, Retrosheet.org, TheBaseballCube.com, and the following:

James, Bill. The New Bill James Historical Abstract (New York: The Free Press, 2001).

Thorn, John, and Pete Palmer, et al. Total Baseball: The Official Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball (New York: Viking Press, 2004).

Thanks to Leonte Landino for interviewing Rafael Betancourt for this biography.

NOTES

1 ProTips4U, “Rafael Betancourt – His Toughest Moments from Surgery to Switching Positions,” YouTube.com, June 22, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2VfSFTgT5o.

2 Tom Withers, “Betancourt and Indians Agree to $5.4 Million, Two Year Deal,” Marion (Ohio) Star, January 24, 2008: 18.

3 Sheldon Ocker, “So, Who Said There’s No Clock in a Baseball Game?” Akron Beacon Journal, July 5, 2007: C005.

4 Leonte Landino interview with Rafael Betancourt, November 2022. Unless otherwise indicated, all direct quotations are from this interview.

5 Foreign Exchange, Hazleton (Pennsylvania) Standard-Speaker, November 17, 1993: 24.

6 Nick Cafardo, “Sox Explore Steinbach Deal,” Boston Globe, November 17, 1993: 42.

7 Leonte Landino interview of Rafael Betancourt, May 2023.

8 Crystal Evola, “Ex-Battle Cat Realizes Big-League Dream,” Battle Creek (Michigan) Enquirer, July 26, 1997: 13.

9 2004 Cleveland Indians Media Guide (Cleveland: Cleveland Indians Baseball Company, Inc., 2004), 92.

10 Stephanie Storm, “Aeros Closer Eases Pain,” Akron Beacon Journal, June 3, 2003: C004.

11 Peter Gammons, “Time for Owners to Show Resolve,” Boston Globe, January 4, 1998: 87.

12 Peter Gammons, “Duquette Has Done Worlds of Good Here,” Boston Globe, December 5, 1999: 69.

13 Gordon Edes, “Red Sox Send Out Invitations,” Boston Globe, February 1, 2001: 51.

14 Sheldon Ocker, “So Far, Switch to Pitching Working,” Akron Beacon Journal, July 17, 2003: C004.

15 “Tribe Signs Four to Minor-League Deals,” Port Clinton (Ohio) News Herald, February 7, 2003: 7.

16 2004 Cleveland Indians Media Guide, 92.

17 Paul Hoynes, “Laker Not as Cunning as Fans Might Think,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 14, 2003: 67.

18 Burt Graeff, “Laker Delivers Late in Tribe Victory,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 28, 2003: 23.

19 Burt Graeff, “Tribe Duo Pitching Perfectly,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 11, 2003: 21.

20 Associated Press, “Betancourt Sparkles in Relief for Cleveland,” Bucyrus (Ohio) Telegraph-Forum, August 11, 2003: 12.

21 Sheldon Ocker, “Loss to Royals Gives Indians Sick Feeling,” Akron Beacon Journal, September 11, 2003: C005.

22 Paul Hoynes, “Ex-Rockie Jimenez Close to Deal with Tribe,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 8, 2004: 44.

23 Paul Sullivan, “The Return of Incredible Rafael Betancourt Fun Facts,” Fangraphs, February 2, 2015. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-return-of-incredible-rafael-betancourt-fun-facts/. Accessed December 15, 2021.

24 Paul Hoynes, “Faulty Pen Faces a New Challenge,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 12, 2004: 25.

25 Burt Graeff, “Rafael Opens as Closer,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 1, 2004: 36.

26 Burt Graeff, “Betancourt Outduels Ramirez,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 5, 2004: 41.

27 Paul Hoynes, “Jiminez Gets Surprise Call to Close,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 27, 2004: 47.

28 Paul Hoynes, “Betancourt Benefiting from a Set Role,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 19, 2005: 31.

29 Paul Hoynes, “Sweet Relief,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 7, 2005: 31.

30 Paul Hoynes, “Betancourt Suspended for Steroid Violation,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 9, 2005: 38.

31 Dennis Manoloff, “Betancourt Will Try to Clear Name,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 16, 2005: 41.

32 Paul Hoynes, “Tribe Signs Betancourt, Still Waiting for Davis,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 17, 2007: 41.

33 2009 Cleveland Indians Media Guide (Cleveland: Cleveland Indians Baseball Company, Inc., 2009), 94.

34 “Blake Makes Game-Ending Homers a Habit,” Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum, September 19, 2007: 4B.

35 Dan Shaughnessy, “Lasting Impression: Rest for the Wary,” Boston Globe, October 15, 2007: 49.

36 Paul Hoynes, “Youkilis Just Can’t Foul Up Betancourt,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 15, 2007: 23.

37 Paul Hoynes, “Monster Letdown in Boston,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 22, 2007: 21.

38 Chris Assenhelmer, “One Down, Blake to Go,” Elyria (Ohio) Chronicle-Telegram, January 24, 2008: C1.

39 Paul Hoynes, “Miserable ’08 Inspiring Betancourt Not to Repeat It,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 21, 2009: 27.

40 Chris Assenhelmer, “Betancourt Traded for Power Arm,” Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. July 24, 2009: E1.

41 Paul Hoynes, “Betancourt Not Surprised He’s Sent to Rockies,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 24, 2009: 28.

42 2015 Colorado Rockies Information Guide (Denver: Colorado Rockies Baseball Club, Ltd., 2015), 49.

43 “Rockies Reach Deal with Street, Betancourt, Two Others,” Fort Collins Coloradoan, January 10, 2010: 8.

44 “Until Next Year,” Grand Junction (Colorado) Daily Sentinel, October 4, 2010: 11.

45 “Giants Put Rockies Away in 8th,” Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, September 18, 2011: 22.

46 2023 Colorado Rockies Information Guide (Denver: Colorado Rockies Baseball Club, Ltd., 2021), 222.

47 Troy Renck, “Street Sent to Padres,” Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, December 8, 2011: 11.

48 Troy Renck, “Rox Mull Bullpen Options,” Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, February 19, 2013: 12.

49 “Surgery Shelves Reliever,” Vancouver (British Columbia) Province, July 20, 2013: 43.

50 “Betancourt OK After Scare,” Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, March 30, 2015: 14.

51 “Third-inning Struggles Costly for Rusin, Rockies,” Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Jun 17, 2015: 12.

52 ProTips4U, “Rafael Betancourt – Going Through Elbow Surgery,” YouTube, June 12, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqZhEI106KY.

53 ProTips4U, “Rafael Betancourt – Advice to Young Players,” YouTube.com, June 22, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa28znF8FNE.

54 ProTips4U, “How to Throw a Breaking Ball with Rafael Betancourt,” YouTube.com, October 25, 2016.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74f-9KF0phI.

55 ProTips4U, “Pitching Tips: How to Prepare for a Baseball Game with Rafael Betancourt,” YouTube.com, October 27, 2016. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBAVkQDOd7M.

56 Leonte Landino interview of Rafael Betancourt, May 2023.