KANSAS CITY, Kan.– The Kansas City T-Bones announced today that the club has signed former Major League right-handed pitcher Randall Delgado for the 2019 season.  

 

Randall Delgado, a native of Las Tablas, Panama, joins the T-Bones with parts of six seasons in the Major Leagues, mostly with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Delgado most recently signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox and went to spring training with the “southsiders” this spring. He was released on March 20th but appeared in four games with Chicago, working five innings with four strikeouts and six earned runs on eight hits. Delgado played this past winter for the Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Winter League.  The right-hander would pitch in three games, all in relief, giving up one earned run in 2.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts.

 

Delgado spent 2018 with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization where he appeared in 10 games in the Big Leagues, the fewest since he was in seven games his debut season in 2011 with Atlanta.  Injuries threatened to derail his season, but he fought through it to eventually make it to the big club. He would begin the season on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left oblique and then make four rehab appearances between AAA Reno in the Pacific Coast League and high A Visalia in the California League. Delgado would be moved to the 60-day disabled list on May 20th and after another re-hab assignment, he would come off the DL on July 6th.

 

In his first game of the 2018 season, he earned the win on July 7th against San Diego, tossing a 1.2 of scoreless relief.  Delgado would make five more appearances out of the Diamondbacks pen, tossing seven innings with two strikeouts. He would post a 5.14 ERA, allowing seven hits and four earned runs while going 2-0 before being designated for assignment on July 25th.  He would resign a minor-league deal with Arizona on the 31st of July and would surrender just one earned run in 9.2 innings at AAA in his stay with Reno in the PCL. Delgado would once again make it back to the Big Leagues as his contract was purchased on September 15th where he finished by working four games with a 4.15 ERA in 4.1 innings. After allowing two earned runs on September 17th, he would work his next three outings scoreless over 3.2 innings, giving up just one hit.

 

In 2017 Delgado again had to fight the injury bug that would limit him to 26 appearances on the season. He made five starts for Arizona but would not pitch again after being placed on the disabled list on July 16th with right elbow inflammation. Prior to being shut down, Delgado had a stretch as a starter where he gave up three earned runs in three straight starting nods combined over 18 innings of work. He would allow two runs or fewer in four of five starts and would put up a 0-1 record with a 2.52 ERA as a starter. In the pen Delgado was 1-1 in 2017 with a 4.30 ERA for the D-Backs. Overall he would pitch in 62.2 innings with 60 strike outs with 25 earned runs on 60 hits with a season ERA of 3.59. He walked just 14 on the season and had his second season with at least one save and one start (2015), joining Josh Collmenter (2014-15) and Patrick Corbin (2012, '16) as the only pitchers in team history to do so multiple times. Delgado had a career-long, 15.1-inning scoreless streak over 6 games from April 28-May 19 in 2017.

 

Delgado would make 79 appearances in 2016, setting a career high. He would go 5-2 with a 4.44 ERA, surrendering 37 earned runs in 75 innings for Arizona. His 79 appearances were the second most in franchise history, trailing only Oscar Villarreal in 2003 (86), and he finished ranked among the leading relievers in the National League in multiple categories. He would rank third in appearances, tied for 10th in wins and 11th in innings pitched. Delgado had a lights-out month of June, giving up one earned run in 12.1 innings with a 0.71 ERA tying him for second with Sammy Solis of Washington and right behind Jeurys Familia of the New York Mets with a 0.69 ERA. Delgado would prove durable and efficient for the Diamodbacks, pitching at least one inning in 17 relief outing and another eight time he would work at least two innings. His 17 appearances in August were tied for the third most in franchise history in a single month, and he would finish the season strong with a career-high 14 consecutive appearances totaling 11.1 innings with-out allowing an earned run from August 5th through 30th .

 

In 2015 Delgado had some of his best professional numbers as a Big Leaguer. He would post a career low 3.25 ERA, winning a career best eight games, and his 64 games was good for second on his career resume with Arizona. For the season Delgado was 8-4 with a career best 12 holds and a save in 72 innings. He held opponent batters to a career low .234 average with 26 earned runs on 63 hits with 73 punchouts. He led the National League relievers in wins and was 12th in strikeouts (T-12th) and 14th in innings pitched. Delgado would notch his first save on May 30 at Milwaukee, working three innings giving up one earned run. It was the eighth three-plus inning save in club history and the fourth time he had worked at least three innings in relief in his career. He would make one start for the Diamondbacks on the road August 22nd at Cincinnati. He gave up four earned runs in 2.1 innings at Great American Ballpark. From June 27th onward, Delgado would put up an impressive 2.06 ERA, giving up eight earned runs in his final 34 relief outings over 35 innings.

 

Delgado had solid year in the Big Leagues in 2014. He would strike out a career high 86 batters in 47 games while making four starts for the D-Backs.  The right-hander would go 4-4 with a 4.87 ERA in 77.2 innings. His 78 strikeouts as a reliever tied him for seventh-highest, single season total by an Arizona reliever in club history. The strike out became a weapon for Delgado as he increased his strikeout per 9.0 innings rate from 6.11 in 2013 to 9.97 in 2014.  Delgado ranked ninth among National League relievers in strikeouts per 9.0 innings at 11.45.  He would go 3-2 with a 4.40 ERA (30 ER in 61.1 IP) as a reliever and 1-2 with a 6.61 ERA (12 ER in 16.1 IP) as a starter.  Delgado held opponent batters to a .203 average against out of the pen. 

 

In the first-ever regular season game played in Australia, Delgado worked 0.2 scoreless innings out of the pen on March 23 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers in Sydney.  He became the first pitcher to earn the win and loss on the same day on August 13th at Cleveland, since the Phillies' Geoff Geary on September 3, 2006 vs. Braves.  Delgado earned the win in his return to rotation on September 4th at San Diego, tossing five scoreless innings. It was the first career start with no runs and no walks allowed in Delgado’s career.

 

The 2013 season was Delgado’s first in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.  On January 24 the Braves traded Delgado, 3B Martin Prado, RHP Zeke Spruill, SS Nick Ahmed and 3B Brandon Drury to Arizona for OF Justin Upton and 3B Chris Johnson. He would begin the season at AAA Reno in the Pacific Coast League following his option to AAA in spring training. Delgado would go 2-5 with a 5.91 ERA in 64 innings with 57 strikeouts in 13 starts. In his last five starts with the Aces, he went 2-2 with a 2.15 ERA (7 ER in 29.1 IP) with only one home run allowed. Arizona would recall Delgado on June 1st to the Major League roster. He would work 116.1 innings in the desert striking out 79 in 20 games. Delgado would make a career-high 19 starts with one complete game, posting a 5-7 record with a 4.26 ERA He would hold opponents to a .227 average (64-for-282) after the All-Star Break, compared to a .331 (52-for-157) before. Delgado averaged just 1.78 walks per 9.0 innings, down from 4.08 in 2012. Delgado had 11 quality starts, going at least six innings of three earned runs or less, including a stretch from June 18th to July 26th where he had four in a row and six out of eight.

 

He posted a 3.32 ERA (24 ER in 65.0 IP) with eight home runs allowed at home, compared to 5.44 (31 ER in 51.1 IP) and 16 on the road. Delgado made his D-backs debut in relief on June 3 at St. Louis, giving up two runs in two frames. He would make his first start on June 18 vs. the Miami Marlins, throwing a quality start of two earned runs in seven innings, and he stayed in the rotation the rest of season for Arizona.  Delgado allowed three earned runs or less in eight straight starts from June 18-July 26, going 3-3 with a 2.61 ERA (15 ER in 51.2 IP).  He compiled a career-high 14.2-inning scoreless streak from July 21-26 and tossed his first career shutout and complete game on July 26 vs. the San Diego Padres. That game was also a historical mark as he was the first D-backs pitcher with a shutout and a multi-hit game since Randy Johnson had the same feat on September 14, 2003 vs. the Colorado Rockies. It was also the third shutout in club history with three strikeouts or less.

Delgado had his contract purchased on June 17^th from Mississippi and made his Major League debut that night vs. the Texas Rangers in place of the injured Tommy Hanson. He would give up three earned runs on seven hits in four innings and was charged with the loss in his debut. The Braves would option Delgado back to AA after his spot start. He would earn a promotion to AAA Gwinnett on August 2^nd.  Delgado would make four starts with the G-Braves, going 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 21.2 innings and issuing 11 walks while striking out 25 batters. In his first two starts with Gwinnett on Augst 6th vs. Charlotte and August 11th at Scranton-Wilkes Barre, he combined for 13 scoreless frames while allowing just six hits, five walks and striking out 15. The Braves would recall Delgado for a second time on August 16th, and he once again filled in for Tommy Hanson. He would toss a quality start, holding San Francisco to one hit and one earned run in six innings with four strikeouts in a 2-1 Braves win. He would be optioned back to AAA following the game.Delgado finished the season ranked second among Braves minor league pitchers with 135 strikeouts and was sixth in innings pitched with 139.0.

 

Delgado was recalled for a third time on September 4^th to start in place of the injured Jair Jurrjens. The righty would pitch five innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Delgado remained in the Big League the rest of the season and would go 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his final four starts for Atlanta. He would throw a career-high 101 pitches in five innings, but he did not earn a decision in the Braves' win 4-1 over Florida on September 14th.  He allowed a solo home run to Greg Dobbs in the second inning and left after 5.0 IP, trailing 1-0. He would allow one run over five innings on September 9th at St. Louis as the Braves fell 4-3 to the Cardinals in 10 innings. Delgado left the game with a 2-1 lead, but the bullpen could not hold the lead. Delgado had a three-start span, from August 6th to 16th between Gwinnett and Atlanta where he allowed one earned run on seven hits over 19.0 IP. In his fifth professional season, went 8-8 with a 3.67 ERA in a career-high 32 starts between Atlanta, Gwinnett (AAA) and Mississippi (AA). He also notched career highs with 174.0 innings pitched and 153 strike outs.  Delgado would earn his first career win at Florida on September 20th by tossing five scoreless frames in a 4-0 victory. He entered the 2011 season ranked by Baseball America as the third-best prospect in the Braves organization and the 30th-best prospect in all of baseball. He was also ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the Carolina League.

In the 2010 season, Delgado opened the season with High-A Myrtle Beach, going 4-7 with a 2.76 ERA in 20 games started.  He would earn a promotion to AA Mississippi on July 23^rd and would make eight starts for the M-Braves, going 3-5 with a 4.74 ERA.  For the season Delgado posted a 7-12 record with a 3.30 ERA in 28 starts between the two stops in the Braves system.  He would notch 162 K’s in 161 innings and would lead the Carolina League with 120 strikeouts, despite a promotion to AA in mid-July. He paced the Braves organization with 162 strikeouts and ranked second in innings pitched (161), opponent's average (.210) and WHIP (1.03). His 3.30 ERA ranked fifth among Braves minor league starting pitchers. He garnered Myrtle Beach Pitcher of the Year honors and was also named by the Braves organization as the Myrtle Beach Pitcher-of-the-Month for April. Delgado was also the Carolina League Pitcher-of-the-Week for the week ending May 9th. He went 1-0 and allowed two earned runs in 12 innings pitched while totaling 16 strikeouts. He posted a season-high 12-strikeouts May 25th at Lynchburg, allowing just one earned run in seven innings pitched, but he suffered the loss.Delgado would be named to the Carolina League All-Star team for the 2010 season, and following the season, he was rated by Baseball America as the Braves seventh-best prospect.

In 2009 Delgado would spend the entire season at Low A Rome in the South Atlantic League and would rank seventh among minor league full-season starting pitchers, averaging 10.23 strikeouts per 9 innings.  In 25 starts he would go 5-10 with a 4.35 ERA in 124 innings with 141 strikeouts. Delgado had 141 strikeouts, good for second on the Rome pitching staff and second among Atlanta farmhands, and his 1.39 WHIP was 10th-best in the Braves organization. In 2008 at rookie-level Danville in the Appalachian League, Delgado would make 14 starts, going 3-8 with a 3.13 ERA in 69 innings with another 81 K’s. Delgado led the team in strikeouts and would finish second in the Appalachian League in fanning batters.  He also led the team with 14 games started and was second in innings pitched. Delgado was named the 13th-best prospect in the Braves farm system following the season by Baseball America. In his rookie season as a pro, Delgado would go 1-2 with the Dominican Summer League rookie club with a 2.00 ERA in 45 innings. He would add 50 strikeouts for the Braves in his first season.