SALOMON TORRES

3/11/72; NDFA '89 (San Francisco); Dominican Republic
R/R; 5-11, 165

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA
1990 R (SF)	11-1-0	13	13	90.0	44	5	101	0.50
1991 A (SF)	16-5-0	28	28	210.0	148	47	214	1.41
1992 AA (SF)	6-10-0	25	25	162.0	167	34	151	4.21
1993 NL (SF)	3-5-0	8	8	44.2	37	27	23	4.03
1993 AAA (SF)	7-4-0	14	14	105.0	105	27	99	3.50
1993 AA (SF)	7-4-0	12	12	83.0	67	12	67	2.70
1994 NL (SF)	2-8-0	16	14	84.1	95	34	42	5.44
1994 AAA (SF)	5-6-0	13	13	79.0	85	31	64	4.22
1995 AL (Sea)	3-8-0	16	13	72.0	87	42	45	6.00
1995 NL (SF)	0-1-0	4	1	8.0	13	7	2	9.00
1995 AAA (Sea)	1-1-0	5	4	28.0	20	13	19	3.21
1995 AAA (SF)	0-0-0	1	0	2.0	0	0	5	0.00
1996 AL (Sea)	3-3-0	10	7	49.0	44	23	36	4.59
1996 AAA (Sea)	7-10-0	22	21	134.0	150	52	121	5.29
1997 AL (Sea)	0-0-0	2	0	3.1	7	3	0	27.00
1997 NL (Mon)	0-0-0	12	0	22.1	25	12	11	7.25
1997 AAA (Mon)	0-0-0	2	1	5.0	7	2	2	5.40
2002 NL	2-1-0	5	5	30.0	28	13	12	2.70
2002 AAA	8-5-0	26	24	162.1	169	39	136	3.83
2003 NL	7-5-2	40	15	121.0	128	42	84	4.76
2003 AAA	1-0-0	1	1	5.0	2	1	4	1.80
2004 NL	7-7-0	84	0	92.0	87	22	62	2.64

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA	OAVG	OOBP	OSLG
2005 NL	5-5-3	78	0	94.2	76	36	55	2.76	.222	.304	.345

Torres has one of the more unusual backgrounds in the majors.  Originally a highly regarded prospect, he apparently lost his confidence and left the game.  He resurfaced after five years out of pro ball, joining the Pirates on a spring training invitation in 2002.  They sent him to AAA, where he had a good season, improving as time went along.  He was called up late in the year and began with a spectacular start against Atlanta.  He pitched well in most of his remaining outings and got a shot at the rotation in 2003, but lost out to Jeff D'Amico and started the season in the bullpen.  He ended up in the rotation, mainly as a replacement for Kris Benson.  Torres was much more effective as a reliever, with a 3.20 ERA out of the bullpen.  As a starter he got hurt with gopher balls and often lost his effectiveness after a few innings.

As with Brian Meadows, the Pirates went into the 2004 season believing Torres was best suited to relief.  Their conviction was correct, as he became one of MLB's better setup men.  He has very good stuff, with a fastball that often hits 95-96 and a good slider.  He doesn't fan a lot of hitters, but he allowed very few walks in 2004, helping him to post a 1.18 WHIP, and he cut way down on the gopher balls, allowing only six.  He also was very durable, as Lloyd McClendon sought to get him into every key, non-save situation, often using him several days in a row.  His 84 appearances were a Pirate record for a pitcher who throws overhand.  The Bucs signed Torres to a two-year contract after the season.  He struggled for much of the 2005 season, with his ERA getting as high as 4.34 in early August.  His K rate almost completely evaporated in the first half, as he registered only 10 in his first 36 IP.  The problem was almost certainly stiffness in his neck and shoulder, which he seemed unable to shake and which caused a drop in his velocity.  Some time in early August the problem seemed to clear up and his velocity returned.  He was brilliant in the last two months, allowing only two runs in his last 30 outings.  After Jose Mesa was removed from the closer's role, Torres shared it with Mike Gonzalez and did a very good job.

Early in the off-season, the Pirates made noises about Torres competing with Gonzalez for the closer role, but going into spring training it was clear the role belonged to Gonzalez.  The team also signed Roberto Hernandez to serve as a fallback.  It's not clear whether Torres or Hernandez will serve as the primary RH setup reliever.  At the end of March Torres signed a two-year extension, so he'll be in Pgh. through 2008.

Return to Pitchers