Junior Guerra #41

Junior J. Guerra...On Twitter: @ juni1685...Junior and his wife Erika have two children: Veronica and Danna...Nickname is “Cabezón”...Has used the name for past Player’s Weekend jerseys...Nickname originated in his youth, because he had a big head...Played for MLB All-Stars in 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series, posting a 3.86 ERA (9.1 IP - 4 ER) in two starts...Learned how to throw splitter from former Major League reliever Jean Machi while they were pitching in winter ball in Venezuela in 2009...Has pitched in Venezuelan Winter League for Tiburones de La Guaira nearly every offseason since 2008...Played for Honolulu Sharks in 2008 Hawaiian Winter Baseball League...Competed in Europe for two seasons...Spent 2010 in Spain with CB Sant Boi and won Spanish Baseball Championship...Played for T&A San Marino in 2014 Italian Baseball League...Pitched two seasons for Wichita Wingnuts (2011 & 2013) in American Association and spent 2012 in Mexican League with Leones de Yucatan.

2020

Appeared in 25 games out of bullpen in first season with Diamondbacks, which ranked ninth among N.L. relievers...83.7 MPH average exit velocity was lowest among all D-backs pitchers (min. 300 pitches)...Opponents were limited to a .152 average (5/33) with runners in scoring position and were hitless in 12 at-bats with RISP and two outs...Allowed just one home run on season...0.38 HR/9 rate ranked seventh among N.L. relievers (min. 20 IP). 

2019

Led NL relievers with 83.2 innings in a career-high 72 appearances for the Brewers, going 9-5 with 21 holds, 3 saves, a 3.55 ERA (33 ER in 83.2 IP), .194 opponent average and 77 strikeouts...Had 23 outings greater than 1.0 inning, going 8-0 with a 2.38 ERA (11 ER in 41.2 IP), .143 opponent average and 40 strikeouts in those contests, and 12 outings of 2.0+ innings, going 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA (6 ER in 24.2 IP), .125 opponent average and 28 strikeouts...Posted a 6-3 record with 1 save, a 2.72 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and .173 opponent average in 33 outings after the All-Star Break...His 5 wins in the month of August were the most in the NL and tied for second most in the Majors (also: Mike Clevinger/CLE), trailing only James Paxton/NYY (6)...Signed a 1-year contract for 2020 with a club option for 2021 with the Dbacks on on Dec. 9.

2018

Began the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he made 1 start (4/5 at Omaha) before he was recalled on 4/11... Went 6-9 with a 4.09 ERA in 31 games (26 starts) with Milwaukee... Made his first 26 appearances as a starter, going 6-9 with a 4.27 ERA (135ip, 64er)... The Brewers went 13-13 in his starts... Produced 10 quality starts, going 2-2 with a 2.32 ERA in those starts (62ip, 16er)... Made 5 scoreless appearances as a reliever (6ip)... Was on the 10-day disabled list from 7/14-7/23 with right forearm tightness... Appeared in 2 postseason games... Pitched in Game 2 of the NLCS vs. Los Angeles (1ip, 1k).....stranded an inherited runner... Took the loss in Game 4 of the NLCS at Los Angeles, allowing an RBI-single in the 13th inning to Cody Bellinger (3.2ip, 2h, 1r, 1er, 0bb, 4k, 1wp)... Pitched in the Japan All-Star Series against Nippon Professional Baseball following the season... Pitched for La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League... Signed a 1-year contract on 1/11/19, avoiding arbitration.

2017

Went 1-4 with a 5.12 ERA in 21 games (14 starts)... The Brewers went 4-10 in his starts... Produced 4 quality starts... Held opponents to a .230 batting average... Was 1-4 with a 5.20 ERA as a starter (64ip, 37er) and 0-0 with a 4.26 ERA in relief (6.1ip, 3er)... Made his first career Opening Day roster... Was the Brewers' Opening Day starter and received no decision in the team's 7-5 defeat on 4/3 vs. Colorado (3ip, 1h, 2r, 2er, 0bb, 4k, 1hr, 1hbp).....left the game with a right calf strain suffered while running to first base on a sacrifice bunt.....was placed on the DL the next day... Had two stints on the disabled list: 4/4-5/25 (right calf strain) and 7/9-7/17 (right shin contusion)...Was optioned on 7/30 to Triple-A Colorado Springs (5gs, 2-1, 1.52era).....was recalled on 9/1... Pitched for La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League (9g, 8gs, 3-2, 2.98era)

2016

Named Brewers Most Valuable Pitcher as voted on by members of the Milwaukee Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America...Began the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he went 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA in 4 starts...Was recalled by Milwaukee on 5/3...Went 9-3 with a 2.81 ERA in 20 starts during his first full Major League season...The Brewers went 14-6 in his starts...Produced 12 quality starts, going 7-1 with a 1.66 ERA in those starts (81.1ip, 15er)...Was named Brewers Pitcher of the Month for July (5gs, 2-1, 1.59era, 34ip, 25k)...Was on the 15-day disabled list from 8/8-9/1, retroactive to 8/4, with right elbow inflammation...Went 7-3 with a 2.93 ERA in 17 starts prior to his disabled list stint (107.1ip, 35er) and 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA after being reinstated (14.1ip, 3er).

2015

Began the season at Double-A Birmingham, where he went 2-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 5 games (3 starts).....held Southern League opponents to a .221 batting average with 26 strikeouts in just 19.2 innings…Was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte on 5/5 and went 2-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 26 games (8 starts).....held International League opponents to a .193 batting average with 79 strikeouts in just 63.2 innings…Contract was selected by Chicago-AL on 6/7.....was optioned back to Charlotte on 6/30…Made 3 relief appearances for the White Sox, posting a 6.75 ERA (4ip, 7h, 3r, 3er, 1bb, 3k, 1hr)…His Major League debut came on 6/12 at Tampa Bay (2ip, 4h, 1r, 1er, 1ibb, 2k, 1wp).....his first career strikeout was Rene Rivera…Was claimed off waivers by Milwaukee on 10/7…Following the season pitched for La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League for the eighth consecutive year (2008-15).