Stat of the Day: Get to Know Ricky Nolasco

Did you know: Ricky’s given name is Carlos

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Royals signed Ricky Nolasco, a 12-year veteran of the Major Leagues, to a minor league contract on March 8. Nolasco made his spring debut Tuesday night vs. the Giants, and worked around a two-out walk to record a scoreless inning. He will make his first start in the Royals’ split-squad game today vs. the Dodgers.

Here are some interesting notes on one of the newest Royals:

• Nolasco was originally drafted out of high school by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft.
• Following the 2005 season, he was traded to the Florida Marlins with RHP Sergio Mitre and LHP Renyel Pinto for OF Juan Pierre.
• He spent eight of his 12 big league seasons in Miami and is the franchise’s all-time leader in wins (87), starts (197), innings (1225.2) and strikeouts (1,001).
• Nolasco set a career high and a Marlins franchise record with 16 strikeouts on Sept. 30, 2009 at Atlanta. He struck out the side in the third, fourth and fifth innings to mark nine consecutive strikeouts, one shy of Tom Seaver’s Major League record of 10 straight in 1970.
• His full name is Carlos Enrique Nolasco. He goes by Ricky in honor of his father’s favorite player, Rick Monday. His father, Emilio, moved to Southern California from Mexico in 1971.
• At age 10, he was in attendance at Dodger Stadium for Kevin Gross’ no-hitter vs. San Francisco on Aug. 17, 1992. The Dodgers’ catcher that day was Mike Scioscia, who was Nolasco’s manager when he was with the Angels from 2016–17.
• His first Major League hit was a home run against the team that drafted him — the Cubs — off of Sean Marshall, on May 22, 2006.
• He’s made four Opening Day starts, including: 2017 with the Los Angeles Angels, 2014 with Minnesota and 2013 and 2009 with Miami.
• Among 18 active pitchers who’ve recorded at least 1,800 innings, his 2.19 BB/9 rate is second best, trailing only Zack Greinke (2.18).
• His 312 career starts are 12th most among active pitchers since he debuted in 2006.
• Nolasco has 12 career complete games and six shutouts, including one on Aug. 31, 2016 vs. Cincinnati. He retired the final 12 batters of that start and the first 16 batters of his next start on Sept. 6 at Oakland. His streak of 28 consecutive batters retired was the longest by an Angels pitcher since Mike Witt’s perfect game in 1984.