Matter All About: Ricky Nolasco

31
Jul/061

Matter All About: Ricky Nolasco

A year ago on June 28, Ricky Nolasco was making his ninth and final start of the year for Triple-A Iowa–a stint that concluded with a 9.30 ERA and an average of less than four and a half innings per start. This year on June 28, however, the fourth round Cubs draft pick in 2001 was named to the Southern League all-star team following a perfect record in the first half and the leagueâ€™s second best ERA. Now he’s with the big club, the Florida Marlins throwing zero’s left and right, shutting down major league talent like he has been doing it for years. Coming off a near no-no, Ricky is truely turning into the top flight starting pitcher scouts thought he could be.

Ricky last threw 7.1 innings of 1 hit ball against the Philadelphia Phillies

2006 Quick Stats
REC 9-6 | SV 0 | ERA 3.94 | WHIP 1.30
VS. LEFT: .323 / .907 VS. RIGHT: .221 / .632 HOME: .253 / .734 AWAY: .279 / .775
(Stats listed are batting average and OPS against)

Short Bio
Carlos (Ricky) Enrique Nolasco… graduated from Rialto High School (CA) in 2001… was a two-time All-State selection and a two-time League MVP in high school… was selected to play in North-South Game and the Daily Bulletin All-Star Game, after going 7-3 with 1.28 ERA and 110 strikeouts during senior year… was four-year varsity letterman… enjoys offroading, camping, poker and golf… brother, David, is a pitcher who last played in the Milwaukee Brewers system.

2005 Highlights
Spent season with West Tenn (AA) in the Chicago Cubs organization… went 14-3 with 2.89 ERA in 27 starts… recorded 173 strikeouts and walked 46 batters in 161.2 innings… Led Southern League in strikeouts and finished tied for first with 14 wins… finished third in league with 2.89 ERA and 161.2 innings… named Southern League Pitcher of the Year… named to Southern League All-Star team… was ranked the No. 7 prospect in the Cubs organization by Baseball America… Won first eight decisions, going 8-0 with 2.64 ERA in first 17 starts… won six straight starts from April 13 to May 10… suffered first loss of season on July 17 against Mississippi, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits in 3.0 innings… won three consecutive starts from August 24 to September 3… Was twice named the Southern League Pitcher of the Week… took home the honors for the week of July 4-10 and again from August 29 to September 5… Batted .120 (6×50) with three RBI… recorded one double , but fanned in 22 of 50 at-bats.

Media
Nolasco’s dominant performance
Nolasco’s big night
Nolasco’s big night
Nolasco’s two-run single
Nolasco goes 7 strong