Biographical

Portrait of Rafael Betancourt

Rafael Betancourt PIndians

Indians Player Cards | Indians Team Audit | Indians Depth Chart

Career Summary
Years G IP W L SV ERA WARP
13 680 685.7 38 37 75 3.36 12.4
Birth Date4-29-1975
Height6' 2"
Weight215 lbs
Age48 years, 11 months, 28 days
BatsR
ThrowsR
WARP Summary

MLB Statistics

Historical (past-seasons) WARP is now based on DRA..
cFIP and DRA are not available on a by-team basis and display as zeroes(0). See TOT line for season totals of these stats.
Multiple stints are are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA- WARP
2003 CLE MLB 33 0 38.0 2 2 1 27 13 36 5 95 6.4 3.1 1.2 8.5 0% .222 1.05 4.01 2.13 99 3.73 78.1 0.7
2004 CLE MLB 68 0 66.7 5 6 4 71 18 76 7 104 9.6 2.4 0.9 10.3 0% .346 1.34 3.05 3.92 71 2.43 50.0 2.3
2005 CLE MLB 54 0 67.7 4 3 1 57 17 73 5 99 7.6 2.3 0.7 9.7 0% .294 1.09 2.60 2.79 72 2.40 51.6 2.3
2006 CLE MLB 50 0 56.7 3 4 3 52 11 48 7 109 8.3 1.7 1.1 7.6 0% .273 1.11 3.68 3.81 103 5.41 110.3 0.2
2007 CLE MLB 68 0 79.3 5 1 3 51 9 80 4 99 5.8 1.0 0.5 9.1 0% .240 0.76 2.28 1.47 75 2.76 57.2 2.4
2008 CLE MLB 69 0 71.0 3 4 4 76 25 64 11 105 9.6 3.2 1.4 8.1 0% .311 1.42 4.42 5.07 96 3.78 80.6 1.3
2009 CLE 0 29 0 30.7 1 2 1 25 15 32 3 102 7.3 4.4 0.9 9.4 0% .278 1.30 3.78 3.52 94 3.61 77.4 0.6
2009 COL 0 32 0 25.3 3 1 1 17 5 29 1 102 6.0 1.8 0.4 10.3 0% .254 0.87 1.86 1.78 87 3.76 80.7 0.4
2010 COL MLB 72 0 62.3 5 1 1 52 8 89 9 102 7.5 1.2 1.3 12.9 0% .303 0.96 2.50 3.61 64 2.33 52.6 1.8
2011 COL MLB 68 0 62.3 2 0 8 46 8 73 7 109 6.6 1.2 1.0 10.5 0% .262 0.87 2.49 2.89 79 2.73 63.6 1.5
2012 COL MLB 60 0 57.7 1 4 31 53 12 57 6 119 8.3 1.9 0.9 8.9 0% .292 1.13 3.13 2.81 93 4.46 102.3 0.2
2013 COL MLB 32 0 28.7 2 5 16 26 11 27 2 112 8.2 3.5 0.6 8.5 0% .289 1.29 3.19 4.08 110 5.58 133.5 -0.3
2015 COL MLB 45 0 39.3 2 4 1 43 12 40 4 110 9.8 2.7 0.9 9.2 0% .328 1.40 3.36 6.18 115 6.79 158.7 -1.0
2009 TOT MLB 61 0 56.0 4 3 2 42 20 61 4 102 6.8 3.2 0.6 9.8 0% .000 1.11 2.92 2.73 91 3.68 78.9 1.0
CareerMLB6800685.7383775596164724711057.82.20.99.532%.2851.113.083.36863.6078.712.4

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shownClick to hide.
YEAR Team Lg LG G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA-
2003 CLE MLB AL 33 0 38.0 2 2 1 27 13 36 5 95 6.4 3.1 1.2 8.5 0% .222 1.05 4.01 2.13 99 3.73 78.1
2004 CLE MLB AL 68 0 66.7 5 6 4 71 18 76 7 104 9.6 2.4 0.9 10.3 0% .346 1.34 3.05 3.92 71 2.43 50.0
2005 CLE MLB AL 54 0 67.7 4 3 1 57 17 73 5 99 7.6 2.3 0.7 9.7 0% .294 1.09 2.60 2.79 72 2.40 51.6
2006 CLE MLB AL 50 0 56.7 3 4 3 52 11 48 7 109 8.3 1.7 1.1 7.6 0% .273 1.11 3.68 3.81 103 5.41 110.3
2007 CLE MLB AL 68 0 79.3 5 1 3 51 9 80 4 99 5.8 1.0 0.5 9.1 0% .240 0.76 2.28 1.47 75 2.76 57.2
2008 CLE MLB AL 69 0 71.0 3 4 4 76 25 64 11 105 9.6 3.2 1.4 8.1 0% .311 1.42 4.42 5.07 96 3.78 80.6
2009 CLE MLB AL 29 0 30.7 1 2 1 25 15 32 3 102 7.3 4.4 0.9 9.4 0% .278 1.30 3.78 3.52 94 3.61 77.4
2009 COL MLB NL 32 0 25.3 3 1 1 17 5 29 1 102 6.0 1.8 0.4 10.3 0% .254 0.87 1.86 1.78 87 3.76 80.7
2010 COL MLB NL 72 0 62.3 5 1 1 52 8 89 9 102 7.5 1.2 1.3 12.9 0% .303 0.96 2.50 3.61 64 2.33 52.6
2011 COL MLB NL 68 0 62.3 2 0 8 46 8 73 7 109 6.6 1.2 1.0 10.5 0% .262 0.87 2.49 2.89 79 2.73 63.6
2012 COL MLB NL 60 0 57.7 1 4 31 53 12 57 6 119 8.3 1.9 0.9 8.9 0% .292 1.13 3.13 2.81 93 4.46 102.3
2013 COL MLB NL 32 0 28.7 2 5 16 26 11 27 2 112 8.2 3.5 0.6 8.5 0% .289 1.29 3.19 4.08 110 5.58 133.5
2013 CSP AAA PCL 1 0 1.0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 18.0 0.0 0.0 9.0 0% .500 2.00 1.56 9.00 80 2.99 65.0
2014 CSP AAA PCL 7 0 6.0 1 0 0 10 3 4 2 15.0 4.5 3.0 6.0 0% .381 2.17 8.19 10.50 130 7.16 151.6
2014 GJR Rk PIO 14 0 13.3 1 0 0 18 5 11 0 12.2 3.4 0.0 7.4 0% .367 1.73 3.48 2.03 95 5.93 125.4
2015 COL MLB NL 45 0 39.3 2 4 1 43 12 40 4 110 9.8 2.7 0.9 9.2 0% .328 1.40 3.36 6.18 115 6.79 158.7
2015 ABQ AAA PCL 1 0 1.3 0 0 0 2 1 2 1 13.5 6.8 6.8 13.5 0% .333 2.25 12.59 13.50 98 5.01 110.0

Plate Discipline

YEAR Pits Zone% Swing% Contact% Z-Swing% O-Swing% Z-Contact% O-Contact% SwStr%
2008 1146 0.5052 0.5096 0.7209 0.6960 0.3192 0.7568 0.6409 0.2791
2009 847 0.5313 0.5348 0.7241 0.7178 0.3275 0.8019 0.5308 0.2759
2010 914 0.5624 0.5832 0.7017 0.7101 0.4200 0.7479 0.6012 0.2983
2011 958 0.5741 0.5470 0.7366 0.6982 0.3431 0.7865 0.6000 0.2634
2012 900 0.5711 0.5111 0.7391 0.6673 0.3031 0.7901 0.5897 0.2609
2013 473 0.5116 0.4715 0.7758 0.6198 0.3160 0.8600 0.6027 0.2242
2015 671 0.5231 0.5306 0.7472 0.7208 0.3219 0.7826 0.6602 0.2528
Career59090.54150.53020.73110.69400.33750.78300.60370.2689

Injury History  —  No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation
2014-06-05 - Minors - - - - -
2013-08-23 2013-09-30 15-DL 38 33 Right Elbow Surgery Tommy John Surgery - Surgical Date Is Estimated 2013-09-16 -
2013-07-15 2013-08-17 15-DL 33 27 - General Medical Surgery Appendectomy 2013-07-19 -
2013-06-01 2013-06-28 15-DL 27 25 Right Groin Strain - -
2013-05-22 2013-05-25 DTD 3 2 Right Groin Tightness - -
2010-08-24 2010-08-28 DTD 4 3 Groin Strain -
2010-05-06 2010-05-13 DTD 7 5 General Medical Respiratory Flu -
2010-03-01 2010-03-25 Camp 24 0 Right Shoulder Inflammation -
2009-12-27 2010-01-19 Off 23 0 General Medical Illness Virus -
2009-09-20 2009-09-24 DTD 4 3 Lower Leg Strain Calf -
2009-08-23 2009-08-24 DTD 1 1 Right Groin Strain -
2009-06-01 2009-07-09 15-DL 38 33 Right Groin Strain Moderate -
2008-05-31 2008-06-04 DTD 4 4 Low Back Tightness -
2006-04-20 2006-05-16 15-DL 26 23 Right Shoulder Strain Latissimus Dorsi -
2005-06-30 2005-07-18 15-DL 18 16 Right Shoulder Inflammation -
2004-06-26 2004-07-11 15-DL 15 14 Right Shoulder Inflammation Biceps Tendinitis -

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2015 COL $1,000,000
2014 COL $
2013 COL $4,250,000
2012 COL $4,000,000
2011 COL $3,775,000
2010 COL $3,775,000
2009 CLE $3,350,000
2008 CLE $2,050,000
2007 CLE $840,000
2006 CLE $365,300
2005 CLE $338,600
2004 CLE $305,200
YearsDescriptionSalary
11 yrPrevious$24,049,100
11 yrTotal$24,049,100

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status
10 y 79 dOctagon1 year/$1M (2015)

Details
  • 1 year/$1M (2015). Re-signed by Colorado as a free agent 1/27/15 (minor-league contract). Contract selected by Colorado 4/1/15. DFA by Colorado 8/23/15. Released 8/27/15.
  • 2 years/$8.5M (2012-13), plus 2014 mutual option. Signed extension with Colorado 1/25/12. 12:$4M, 13:$4.25M, 14:$4.25M mutual option, $0.25M buyout. Colorado declined 2014 option 10/29/13.
  • 1 year/$4.25M (2012), plus 2013 mutual option. Signed extension with Colorado 1/31/11. 12:$4M, 13:$4.25M mutual option, $0.25M buyout.
  • 2 years/$7.55M (2010-11). Re-signed 1/19/10 (avoided arbitration after accepting arbitration offer 12/7/09). 10:$3.775M, 11:$3.775M. Performance bonuses: $50,000 each for 40, 45 GF. $0.1M each for 50, 55, 60 GF.
  • 2 years/$5.4M (2008-09), plus 2010 club option. Signed extension with Cleveland 1/23/08. 08:$2.05M, 09:$3.35M, 10:$5.4M club option. Performance bonuses based on GF. Acquired by Colorado in trade from Cleveland 7/23/09. Colorado declined 2010 option 11/13/09.
  • 1 year/$0.84M (2007). Re-signed 1/07 (avoided arbitration).
  • 1 year/$0.3653M (2006). Re-signed 2/06.
  • 1 year/$0.3386M (2005). Re-signed 3/05 (split contract, $244,200 in minors).
  • 1 year/$0.3052M (2004). Re-signed 2/04.
  • 1 year (2003). Contract purchased 7/03.

2019 Preseason Forecast

Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET

PCT W L SV G GS IP H BB SO HR BABIP WHIP ERA DRA VORP WARP
Weighted Mean?????0.0?00?.0000.000.00?0.00.0

BP Annual Player Comments

The rest of this card is restricted to Baseball Prospectus Subscribers.

Not a subscriber? Click here for a free card so you can see what's missing.

Click here for more information on Baseball Prospectus subscriptions or to subscribe and get instant access to the best baseball content on the web.

BP Articles

Click here to see articles tagged with Rafael Betancourt

BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2013-08-27 13:00:00 (link to chat)Is Rafael Betancourt's career done?
(MindofStan from Philadelphia, PA)
that's a fair question to be asking. He's going to have to make a hard decision. If he's up for it, he'll be able to come back. But at 38 he may be ready to just end the ride. (Harry Pavlidis)
2012-03-06 13:00:00 (link to chat)Derek, how do you see the closer situations playing out in Colorado and LA (Dodgers)? Thanks, Dan
(DanDaMan from SeaCliff)
Rafael Betancourt is the man in Colorado, no question. In LA, Guerra looks like the favorite with Jansen trailing. Lots of people think Guerra losing the job is inevitable, but I'm not convinced. I'd project them for a 25/15 split of the saves. Jansen's superior skills, however, make him a better fantasy player in most leagues despite fewer saves. (Derek Carty)
2012-01-10 13:00:00 (link to chat)Who are some breakout closers you have in mind for 2012? Not just save collectors, guys that could be elite. Kimbrel was a a draft day jewel for lots of people last year, no doubt.
(froston from Canada!)
Rafael Betancourt, Jason Motte, Addison Reed, Grant Balfour. Betancourt and Motte have already shown elite skills and will likely start the year with the jobs. Reed's riskier but could be elite too (also might not get the job), Balfour's a tier below but still good (and too might not get the job). (Derek Carty)
2009-07-30 14:00:00 (link to chat)HI John. That's for doing this chat! It's frustrating as a Twins fan that the team never makes a move to get better. All we ever hear from the front office is that "they're trying hard, but other teams ask for too much in return". Yet, guys we could use, like Rafael Betancourt, Felipe Lopez, and Cla Meredith get dealt for almost nothing. Are the fans being lied to? Why are the Twins never able to get in on deals like those?
(Kirby from Minnesota)
The Twins strongly believe in their player development system and prefer a homegrown team. It's worked for them in the fact they've been highly competitive throughout the decade. However, I think they've cost themselves a shot at making at least World Series appearance by not making a big in-season move. (John Perrotto)
2009-07-31 14:00:00 (link to chat)With the acquisitions of Betancourt and Beimel, to go with good performances (if not better) from Street, Morales and Daley, are the Rockies now well positioned for their playoff run?
(Tom from Arvada, CO)
They shored up their biggest weakness, although it's funny to hear the acquisition of Rafael Betancourt, so frustrating his entire career, be cited as help. In any case, I think the Rockies will fall a bit short to the Braves or NLC loser. (Joe Sheehan)
2008-12-11 14:00:00 (link to chat)Should the Indians option Joe Smith and put Eddie Moo on a six-week trial before cutting bait, or have we seen the Last of the Mujica?
(buffum from Austin TX)
I'd take Smith over Mujica any time. I think Smith, Jensen Lewis and Rafael Betancourt will set up Kerry Wood. (John Perrotto)
2008-06-17 15:00:00 (link to chat)What do you think of the Indians and Tigers playoff chances going forward? The Sox are anywhere from 55-70 percent favorites from the 3 BP odds reports. That sounds accurate to you?
(colintj from a2)
Given where those three teams are right now and the underlying causes for how they got there, I think that sounds about right. Cleveland has lost Jake Westbrook for the season, they've lost Victor Martinez for awhile, Travis Hafner has joined the ranks of the undead, and Rafael Betancourt is looking pretty clammy and monosyllabic as well. Detroit is out Bonderman already, the rest of their rotation is a mess, we don't know how well their bullpen can hold up, and they have to dig their way out of a sizeable hole. Meanwhile in Chicago we've seen guys like Carlos Quentin, Alexei Ramirez, Gavin Floyd, and John Danks start to deliver on their promise even as the offense in general has underachieved. The Sox lead isn't insurmountable but given the run differentials and the injury situations I'd place my nickel on them. (Jay Jaffe)
2008-05-23 13:00:00 (link to chat)After what you've see in the first 45-50 games or so, do you think the White Sox are now the favorites in the AL Central? It seems that Cleveland's bullpen, in addition to its anemic offense, may hold them back.
(Jeff from Chicago)
Don't look now, but the Tigers have scored 30 runs in their last three games. Once Verlander gets going and the the rest of the starting pitchers pick it up, they're going to close ground in a hurry. And I think Cleveland's bullpen will get better, but that depends on Rafael Betancourt righting the ship. Joe Sheehan wrote about the White Sox yesterday, and said the bar in the AL Central has been lowered to about 88 or 89 wins, from 93 or so. It's definitely turned into a three team race, and the White Sox are looking like they'll be around all year. I still wouldn't call them the favorites, but I'm not sure I'd call the Indians or ChiSox the favorites, either. (Caleb Peiffer)


BP Roundtables

No BP Roundtables have mentioned this guy.

 

PITCHf/x Pitcher Profile

A Collaboration between BrooksBaseball.net and Baseball Prospectus - Pitch classifications provided by Pitch Info LLC


Although he has not thrown an MLB pitch in 2024, Rafael Betancourt threw 6,654 pitches that were tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2007 and 2015, all of them occuring in Spring Training. In 2015, he relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (91mph), also mixing in a Slider (79mph) and Splitter (85mph).