FOR RELEASE: 4:00 p.m. (CDT), Monday, August 7, 2000
The Texas Rangers announced today that the club has recalled righthanded pitcher Darwin Cubillan (COO-be-on) from Oklahoma of the Pacific Coast League. Cubillan is expected to be in uniform for tonight’s game in Cleveland.
To make room for Cubillan, righthanded pitcher Francisco Cordero has been optioned to Oklahoma.
Cubillan, 25, was acquired by Texas from the Toronto Blue Jays with infielder Mike Young in the deal for righthanded pitcher Esteban Loaiza on July 19. Since joining Oklahoma, he has pitched 13 scoreless innings in six relief appearances with one save, allowing 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out ten. For the season, Cubillan has posted a 0.39 era (2 er/45.2 ip) in 30 relief appearances with Syracuse of the International League and Oklahoma.
Cubillan also pitched for Toronto from May 19-June 24, going 1-0, 8.04 in 7 relief appearances, his first major league action. The righthander defeated Atlanta for his first big league victory on June 7.
Originally signed by the Yankees in June, 1993, Cubillan pitched seven season in the New York organization before being signed by Toronto as a minor league free agent in November, 1999. He had not pitched above class A prior to this season, spending 1998 and 1999 at the Yankees’ Tampa club. Cubillan was 7-4, 2.51 in 1999, ranking second in the Florida State League in appearances. He pitched in just one game total in 1996 and 1997 after having reconstruction surgery on his right elbow.
The 6-foot-2, 170 pound righthander is a native and still resides in Bobure, Zulia Venezuela.
Cordero was 1-1 with a 5.62 era in 41 relief appearances with the Rangers this season but had compiled a 9.75 era in his last 22 appearances beginning May 30. He was acquired from Detroit in a nine-player trade in November, 1999.
DARWIN CUBILLAN-2000 STATISTICS Team W-L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER BB SO Syracuse 3-1 0.55 24 0 6 32.2 14 2 2 13 41 Toronto 1-0 8.04 7 0 0 15.2 20 14 14 11 14 Oklahoma 0-0 0.00 6 0 1 13.0 5 0 0 3 10