The Geno Espineli (left-handed reliever) - Filipino - will be pitching for the San Francisco Giants after getting a call-up...
The 25-year-old pitcher is 6-foot-4 and looks as though he should throw 95 mph. Actually, he throws 85 but is deceptive and relies on a changeup he learned by trying the grip he saw on the back of a baseball card when he was a kid. Obviously, it works. Espineli was 1-1 with a 2.06 ERA in 34 games for
Espineli has had a whirlwind couple of weeks, first pitching for the victorious Pacific Coast League in the Triple-A All-Star Game, then being named to the Olympic team before getting his first big-league call. It is unclear whether he still will go to
Espineli believes he is the first full-blooded Filipino to pitch in the majors. With a 1-2-3 inning Sunday, including a strikeout of his first hitter, Mike Cameron, he became the 12th Giant to make his major-league debut in 2008. Espineli also becomes one of four rookies in the seven-man bullpen. He also becomes the 15th home-grown player on the 25-man roster.
Good luck to him! I know another Filipino who once played in the Majors - Benny Agbayani from Hawaii. I think he is now plying his trade in Japan.
This is such a great news esp. to a sports fan like me.
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