Joel Piñeiro

HURLING 335 GAMES in a major-league career that lasted a dozen years, Joel Piñeiro pitched for four teams, two of which made the playoffs and one of which had the greatest regular-season record of all time. Hampered by injuries and an inability to control a broad arsenal of pitches, Piñeiro had a roller-coaster career and never quite realized his full potential as a dependable frontline starter.

Joel Alberto Piñeiro was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, on September 25, 1978, to Gil Alberto and Aitza Mangual Piñeiro. The family moved to Orlando, Florida, when Joel was in grade school. At age 14, Joel played for the Azalea Park Little League team advanced to the Senior League World Series, won by a team from Le Vega, Dominican Republic.

Piñeiro went to Colonial High School in Orlando where he played shortstop and pitched. As a senior in 1996, he hit .489, posted a 1.13 ERA, and earned first team all-county honors as a utilityman.1 The next year, he played baseball at Edison Community College (now known as Florida SouthWestern State College) in Fort Myers, Florida, and was first team all-conference, all-state, and conference pitcher of the year. The Seattle Mariners selected Piñeiro in the 12th round of the June 1997 free-agent draft; scout Fernando Aguelles signed the hurler.

Piñeiro went 5-2 for two minor-league teams in 1997 and 11-4 for three minor-league teams in 1998. Seemingly stalled with a 10-15 mark and a 4.72 ERA for the New Haven Ravens of the Double-A Eastern League in 1999, Piñeiro rebounded after a midseason promotion to the Tacoma Rainiers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 2000, when he “dominated hitters, permitting a .227 average and collecting two shutouts in eight starts.”2

At the age of 21, Piñeiro, “called in as a stopgap, with the Mariners short of starting pitching,”3 made an impressive big-league debut on August 8, 2000, in Chicago against the White Sox. Staked to a 4-0 lead before taking the mound, he pitched into the seventh inning and picked up the win, yielding five hits and two runs in six innings. Exclusively used as a reliever after this start, Piñeiro finished the season with a 5.59 ERA in 19⅓ innings.

Piñeiro was called up by the Mariners and made his Seattle debut on July 5, 2001. He dominated in his first seven outings (four starts) with a 2-0 record and a 0.86 ERA over 31⅓ innings while holding right-handed batters hitless in 46 at-bats. He featured four pitches – fastball, slider, curve, and changeup – and made the sixth-most starts on the 116-46 Mariners. “He was a little bit tentative before [moving into the rotation],” observed Mariners GM Pat Gillick. “Now he’s got a ‘here-it-is, try-to-hit-me,’ attitude. Piñeiro throws 92 to 94 mph and occasionally touches 96.”4 Still just 22, Piñeiro appeared poised beyond his years. “His mound demeanor is unusual for a rookie in that he seems unaffected by anything that happens, good or bad,” a sportswriter observed.5

Piñeiro soon struggled so severely that he lost his rotation spot. “He’s been getting the ball up, and his velocity hasn’t been as good,” manager Lou Piniella said. “He just hasn’t been as sharp.”6

The sportswriter who praised Piñeiro now noted that in addition to losing speed on his fastball, “his slider and curve lost some snap. … Pitching coach Bryan Price spotted a mechanical flaw that might get the velocity back. Piñeiro was dragging his arm behind him longer than necessary, expending too much energy getting the ball past his head instead of exploding in front of his body.”7

Near the end of 2001, Piñeiro drew a fine and a three-game suspension after hitting Troy Glaus of the Angels with a pitch two innings after Lou Pote had plunked Edgar Martinez of the Mariners. The rookie denied ill intent. “You try to work Glaus with curves away from his power,” Piñeiro said. “To keep him from going after them, you throw fastballs in. This one sailed a bit, that’s all. Now I’m the bad guy in this.”8

Piñeiro finished the season with a 6-2 record and career bests in ERA (2.03) and WHIP (0.942). He did not pitch as Seattle beat Cleveland in five games in the American League Division Series and appeared only in the final game of the Championship Series upset loss to the New York Yankees. Coming on in relief with the bases loaded, none out, and the Yankees leading 5-0, Piñeiro received a plaudit from Fox play-by-play announcer Joe Buck, who proclaimed, “The Mariners love him coming out of the bullpen.”9 On this day, the Yankees loved Piñeiro as well.

After fanning Scott Brosius, Piñeiro threw a wild pitch on a ball in the dirt that catcher Dan Wilson, laboring with a bad back, could not contain, allowing a run to score. After walking Alfonso Soriano, Piñeiro gave up a popup single to Chuck Knoblauch that fell between Bret Boone and Jay Buhner, which made the score 7-0. A walk to Derek Jeter pushed the New York lead to 8-0. David Justice’s solid RBI single put Seattle behind 9-0. The Yankees went on to win the game 12-3 and the ALCS, four games to one.

Piñeiro did not appear in another playoff game for eight years, a long wait but shorter than that of the Mariners, who did not return to the postseason until 2022.

Piñeiro pitched his first nine games in relief in 2002 before returning to the rotation for the rest of the season. After shutting out Tampa Bay for eight innings, he received praise from teammate Rubén Sierra, who said, “He’s getting better with every game. … The thing is, he’s not afraid to get hit. … He throws a lot of strikes. Every game out, he’s getting more mature. He’s learning how to pitch.”10

Piñeiro finished the season 14-7 with a 3.24 ERA. His 4.7 WAR led Seattle pitchers and placed him third overall on a good Seattle team that finished in third place in the American League West with a 93-69 record.

The 2003 season represented the first of three straight in which Piñeiro pitched exclusively as a starter for the Mariners. Future Hall of Famer Mike Mussina agreed with observers who compared him to Piñeiro. “His hair is a little lighter than mine,” Mussina said, breaking into a laugh. “But he comes over the top with his pitches. He has a 12-to-6 (straight overhand) curve and a nice changeup. So some of those comparisons I would think are legitimate.”11

From May 30 through July 31, Piñeiro went 9-1 with two shutouts. He could not recall pitching a better game than the first of those whitewashes, which featured a career-high 12 strikeouts against Minnesota.12 A valley followed the peak as Piñeiro lost all five of his August starts. According to The Sporting News, “He says his fastball, slider and curve were working. However, his command has been off. Piñeiro … normally doesn’t beat himself with walks. In his winning streak, he allowed 15 walks in 59 innings. But in his skid, he walked eight in 19 innings.”13

Piñeiro finished 2003 with career highs in wins (16) and strikeouts (151) while tying with four others for the league lead in shutouts (2). Now eligible for arbitration, he and the Mariners agreed on a three-year contract for $14.5 million after the 2003 season. Piñeiro appreciated the security and the Mariners expressed optimism that he would continue to improve. General manager Bill Bavasi told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that Piñeiro, 25, “could be ready to become a major force.”

“We believe he’s already among the top-tier starters in the game and is poised to join a truly elite group,” Bavasi said. “He has electric stuff, but it’s his makeup that makes Joel truly special.”14

Piñeiro’s only complete game in 2004 was a 2-1 loss to the Yankees. His father attended that game at Yankee Stadium, only the second time he saw his son pitch for Seattle.15 After his first dozen starts, Piñeiro had a 1-8 record with a 5.31 ERA. He improved to 6-11 after 21 starts, but his season ended early due to a flexor bundle strain in his throwing arm.16

As the Mariners player representative in 2005, Piñeiro spoke out against steroid use. “I think it’s fine that you have rules in place so that nobody does [steroids],” he said. “I think if you put it to a vote, players who have nothing to hide will vote for it.”17

On the field, he still struggled. An American League scout commented, “What’s with his fastball? It used to be a weapon. Now it’s just average. … He doesn’t cut loose like he used to. I don’t know if it’s a holdover from the injury or not, but he’s not the same pitcher he was.”18

Former teammate Freddy García favored a mental rather than physical explanation, positing that “[R]eports Piñeiro was available in a trade might have played ever so slightly into Piñeiro’s recent troubles.”19

After his final start of 2005, Piñeiro admitted, “It’s been a frustrating year. I’ve been down, then up. I never settled into a place to be steady.”20

Piñeiro bottomed out in 2006 with a career-worst -1.9 WAR that saw him pitch in relief for the first time since 2002. Seattle sportswriters, accustomed to treating him kindly, expressed criticism. Columnist Jim Moore called Piñeiro “pathetic,” “flat-out weird,” and “equal parts space cadet and head case” in one devastating diatribe.21

In his first four seasons in Seattle, Piñeiro had gone 37-20. In his next three he went 21-35. His ERA rose from 2.03 in 2001 to 3.24 in 2002 to 3.78 in 2003 to 4.67 in 2004 to 5.62 in 2005, and to 6.36 in 2006. The Mariners did not offer him a contract after the conclusion of the 2006 season. “It was tough after the injury in 2004,” said Piñeiro. “Things started going downhill for me after that.”22

Now a free agent, Piñeiro signed with the Boston Red Sox to pitch in relief, leaving Seattle sixth in career wins with 58.23 “Even when he was having great seasons as a starter, our [scouting] reports were, ‘Wow, this guy can be unbelievable in the bullpen,’” Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer said. “We think we signed a very good pitcher.”24

In fact, Piñeiro made little impact during his short stay in Boston, earning one win, one hold, and one loss. Ironically, his lone defeat came during his only appearance in Seattle. Coming on to start the bottom of the ninth in a 1-1 game, Piñeiro walked Ichiro Suzuki with one out before giving up a walk-off double to José López. “In my heart, I felt great,” Piñeiro said. … “I hung a pitch. When you make a mistake, that’s what happens. … I just left the pitch up.”25

In July the Sox designated Piñeiro for assignment, after which he agreed to go to the minors.26 On July 31 Boston traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for cash and a player to be named later.27 The Red Sox would go on to win the 2007 World Series.

After a 13-11 record and a 4.79 ERA over the rest of 2007 and 2008 with the Cardinals, Piñeiro regained his form in 2009 after pitching coach Dave Duncan in spring training persuaded him to emphasize his sinker. “I’m going to throw it no matter what,” Piñeiro said. “That’s going to be my game plan no matter if it’s at Wrigley Field, Coors Field, whatever field.”28

Piñeiro also credited his backstop: “Another thing that really helped was having one of the best catchers in the game in Yadier Molina – man, what a game-changer he was not only in calling pitches but also blocking pitches and slowing down the running game.”29

Piñeiro went 15-12 with a 3.49 ERA in 2009 while tying with four others for the league lead in shutouts (2). He also led the National League by allowing the fewest walks per nine innings (1.136). Piñeiro started Game Three of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers and struggled from the outset as Manny Ramírez doubled into the left-center-field gap to drive in Matt Kemp. “It was concerning that Piñeiro had recorded his first three outs on fly balls,” wrote Ben Shpigel of the New York Times. “As the best ground-ball pitcher in baseball (statistically, anyway), Piñeiro may encounter some turbulence if his sinker isn’t sinking.”30 The observation proved prescient; Piñeiro took the loss after giving up four runs in four innings to Los Angeles, which completed the sweep.

Re-entering free agency, Piñeiro signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He had another good year with a 10-7 record and a 3.84 ERA in 2010 although he missed nearly two months due to injury. “I just threw a curveball, and a lot of pain came through the oblique,” he said. “It’s weird. I have no idea how to explain it.”31

Piñeiro pitched poorly in 2011, his last season in the majors. In his first 18 starts, he had a 5-6 mark with a 5.31 ERA before being relegated to the bullpen. “He’ll take a step back and exhale, that’s for sure,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “As far as getting functional work in a game, it will be hit or miss.”32

Piñeiro made only nine more appearances that season and finished his career with a 104-93 record and a 4.41 ERA. He battled shoulder problems and pitched minor- and winter-league ball until 2017 with little distinction. The Orioles signed him to minor-league deals in 2012 and 2013 (he pitched in just five minor-league games in the Baltimore system), and the Cubs did the same in 2014 (he pitched in only four minor-league games for the Chicago organization). Later in 2014, Major League Baseball suspended Piñeiro for 50 games after he failed a drug test. “I have never taken a performance-enhancing drug,” Piñeiro said. “The positive test was a result of taking a commercially available supplement to aid in recovering from the shoulder injury and subsequent surgery that caused me to miss most of the 2012 and 2013 seasons.”33

Those who recalled his anti-steroid comments in 2005 could have accused Piñeiro of hypocrisy; in any event, the combination of advancing age, diminishing skills, frequent injuries, and a damning suspension doomed his comeback attempts.

Joel and his wife, the former Shirley Rivera, have four children: Joel, Jr., born in 2003, Juliana (2005), and Adrian and Fabian, twins born in 2008.34 A right-handed pitcher like his father, the younger Joel had an 0-2 record in four starts for Florida International University as a redshirt sophomore in 2023 after missing his freshman year due to injury.35 Naturally, the two discuss the game. “A lot of influence,” the younger Joel Piñeiro said of his father. “We talk a lot. Everything’s more approach now and the mental side of the game more than anything.”36

After retiring, Piñeiro reflected on his career with pride: “I can say one of my greatest thrills and big accomplishments was becoming only the fifth Puerto Rican (fourth born) to win 100 games in MLB.”37

NOTES

1 “All-County Baseball Team,” Orlando Sentinel, June 2, 1996: 242.

2 “Joel Piñeiro,” USA Today Baseball Weekly, August 16-22, 2000: 51. In fact, Piñeiro had nine starts with Tacoma.

3 John Hickey, “Mariners Call on Piñeiro,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, April 29, 2002.

4 “Inside Dish,” The Sporting News, August 20, 2001: 8.

5 Larry LaRue, “Seattle Mariners,” The Sporting News, August 20, 2001: 35.

6 John Hickey, “Mariners Notebook: The Problem with Piñeiro,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, August 28, 2001.

7 Larry LaRue, “Seattle Mariners,” The Sporting News, September 10, 2001: 41.

8 Bob Finnigan, “Notebook: Edgar Not Talking after He, Piñeiro Draw Suspensions,” Seattle Times, October 4, 2001. Article from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum player file on Piñeiro. Thanks to Reference Librarian Rachel Wells for scanning the Piñeiro file.

9 Quotations and game analysis come from the author viewing www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUFs3YXFkIk (accessed November 10, 2023).

10 John Hickey, “Piñeiro’s Finally Tampa-Resistant,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, July 11, 2002.

11 John Hickey, “Piñeiro Only Second Best,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, May 1, 2003.

12 “Seattle Mariners,” The Sporting News, June 9, 2003: 35.

13 “Seattle Mariners,” The Sporting News, September 8, 2003: 58. In fact, he walked 21 in 64⅔ innings.

14 John Hickey, “Piñeiro, Meche Settle,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, January 20, 2004.

15 John Hickey, “Mariners Notebook: ‘Complete’ Progress for Piñeiro,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, May 16, 2004.

16 John Hickey, “Mariners Notebook: Piñeiro Plans Return,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, July 29, 2004.

17 John Hickey, “Mariners Notebook: Piñeiro Is Aggressive in Loss,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, May 1, 2005.

18 John Hickey, “Piñeiro Struggles Again,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, June 26, 2005.

19 John Hickey, “Piñeiro Earns a Win to Dye For,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, August 5, 2005.

20 John Hickey, “Rangers Shell Piñeiro,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, September 28, 2005.

21 Jim Moore, “Go 2 Guy: Pining for Piñeiro to Go Away,” Seattle-Post Intelligencer, June 21, 2006.

22 Geoff Baker, “Piñeiro finally gets cut loose,” Seattle Times, December 13, 2006.Piñeiro Hall of Fame player file.

23 2007 Boston Red Sox Media Guide, 202.

24 Jeff Horrigan, “Piñeiro: Start to Finish,” Boston Herald, January 5, 2007. Piñeiro Hall of Fame player file.

25 Amalie Benjamin, “Unwelcome Home,” Boston Globe, June 28, 2007: C6.

26 Nick Cafardo and Amalie Benjamin, “Team Is Interested in Devil Rays’ Wigginton,” Boston Globe, July 26, 2007: C6.

27 Amalie Benjamin, “Donnelly Needs Surgery,” Boston Globe, August 1, 2007: D5. Outfielder Sean Danielson eventually went to Boston but never made the majors.

28 R.B. Fallstrom (Associated Press), “Pujols, Piñeiro Power Cardinals,” April 22, 2009.

29 Joel Piñeiro, “Joel Piñeiro on His Successful Late-Career Makeover, Thoughts on the Shift, Top 5 MLB Ballparks and More,” The Athletic, June 12, 2021. (www.nytimes.com/athletic/2644819/2021/06/12/joel-pineiro-on-his-successful-late-career-makeover-thoughts-on-the-shift-top-5-mlb-ballparks-and-more/, last accessed August 25, 2025).

30 Ben Shpigel, “Game Analysis: Dodgers 5, Cardinals 1,” New York Times, October 10, 2009 (archive.nytimes.com/bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/live-analysis-dodgers-at-cardinals-game-3/?searchResultPosition=2, accessed November 22, 2023).

31 Associated Press, “Angels’ Piñeiro Out 6-8 Weeks with Oblique Strain,” July 28, 2010.

32 Mike Digiovanna, “Angels Demote Struggling Joel Piñeiro to Bullpen,” Los Angeles Times, August 4, 2011 (www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-aug-04-la-sp-0805-angels-fyi-20110805-story.html, last accessed August 28, 2025).

33 Jerry Crasnick, “Joel Piñeiro Suspended 50 Games,” ESPN.com, June 30, 2014.

34 “Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Wives and Girlfriends (WAGS)” (www.playerwives.com/teams/mlb/los-angeles-angels-of-anaheim/page/3/#google_vignette, accessed November 10, 2023).

35 “Joel Piñeiro” (fiusports.com/sports/baseball/roster/joel-Piñeiro/11310, accessed November 22, 2023).

36 Tim Hayes, “APPY LEAGUE: Joel Piñeiro stars for JC in win over Joe Kinneberg-led Bristol in Son’s Day Showdown,” Bristol (Virginia) Herald Courier, July 10, 2023 (heraldcourier.com/sports/appy-league-joel-pi-eiro-stars-for-jc-in-win-over-joe-kinneberg-led-bristol/article_022f2c8a-1edc-11ee-a8c5-3ffbd3f723e2.html, last accessed August 28, 2025).

37 Joel Piñeiro, “Innings and Pitch Limits, My Offseason Routine, What Makes a Catcher Great and More,” The Athletic, April 16, 2021 (www.nytimes.com/athletic/2517262/2021/04/16/joel-pineiro-innings-and-pitch-limits-my-offseason-routine-what-makes-a-catcher-great-and-more/, last accessed August 25, 2025). A winner of 177 games, John Candelaria “was born on November 6, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, to Puerto Rican parents.” Steve West, “John Candelaria,” sabr.org/bioproj/person/john-candelaria/ (accessed February 14, 2024).