Carlos Vasquez
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Carlos Augusto Vasquez (born: December 6, 1982 in Sucre, Venezuela) is a minor league pitcher currently in the Chicago White Sox organization. At 6'2", 185 pounds, this lefthander was signed by the Chicago Cubs as an undrafted free agent in 2000.
Originally a starting pitcher, Vasquez saw some success in that role. For example, in 2000 with La Pradera of the Venezuelan Summer League, he struck out 65 batters in 62+ innings, with a 3.32 ERA. Even with those respectable statistics, his record was a poor 1 and 5. Injured during all of 2001, he went 5 and 6 with a 4.26 ERA in 15 starts for the Boise Hawks in 2002. In 2003 with the Lansing Lugnuts, he went 10 and 13 with a 3.74 ERA in 23 starts. 2004 faired him a little better record-wise--with the Daytona Cubs, he went 6-5 with a 3.87 ERA.
He did not play baseball in 2005 because he was suspended for steroid use, but in 2006 he was converted to a reliever, with impressive results. In 18 games for Daytona that season, he went 3 and 0 with a tiny 1.57 ERA. Upon a promotion to the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, his ERA rose a tad but he still pitched impressively for them-in 36 games with West Tenn, he struck out 60 in 50+ innings while posting a respectable 3.55 ERA. The only causes of concern might be his poor 3 and 5 record and the 13 wild pitches he threw while with West Tenn.
On November 16, 2006, Vasquez was traded with David Aardsma to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Neal Cotts.
Vasquez has spent four pro seasons with Federico Baez-longer than any other teammate.
