16
2013
Nelson Figueroa: Hometown Kid Shines In WBC Spotlight
An article by 
I always regarded the WBC as Dancing With The Stars with spikes. It’s a manufactured competition, but with its roots in nationalism.
However, last night’s USA-Puerto Rico elimination match was compelling, far more interesting than your average Mets-Marlins spring training game. That interest was generated by the passion in the stands. The WBC means more in terms of national pride to the teams and fans in Asia and Latin America than to the United States.
Puerto Rico is now in the international sports spotlight. The American players who are always in the spotlight can now return to their major league teams and big contracts.Nationalism represented some of the motivational fuel for Nelson Figueroa, a journeyman pitcher who has toiled for six teams in parts of nine years – including the Mets – but pitched like a star last night in sending the United States home for the third straight time.
Figueroa was special, doing what he used to do at times with the Mets, which was burn innings. But, last nigh he gave Puerto Rico six shutout innings in his 80-pitch allotment. Working both sides of the plate effectively with everything but an electric fastball, he gave US hitters nothing to hit.
Putting on a show was the rest of his motivational fuel.
“We were supreme underdogs against that lineup,’’ Figueroa told reporters. “It was motivation to show them what kind of pitcher I was.’’
Maybe he showed what kind of pitcher he can be to somebody with the power to make a decision on his career as so many other have done.
Figueroa was signed by Arizona to a minor league contract as organizational depth in December. If Figueroa were higher on the pitching food chain, but not good enough to be a given, he might have been better off in spring training.
However, in this case, showing what he could do against major league hitters should count for more points than a couple of innings against the Dodgers minor leaguers.
Sometime this year, the Diamondbacks or somebody else, will have a sudden need for an arm and think back at how Figueroa toyed with the US lineup.
Figueroa is not flashy. He does not have a great fastball or singular dominant pitch. What he has is command of the corners and guile. When both are on he’s tough to beat.
“I don’t throw very hard, but I pitch inside,’’ Figueroa said, giving us his personal scouting report. “It was a great exhibition of what can be done without a plus fastball. It was an opportunity to demonstrate that good pitching beats good hitting.’’
That’s the way it always has been and always will be. From a fundamental perspective, that’s baseball’s essence. From a human perspective, Figueroa is also the essence of the sport.
History has given us far more Figueroas in the game than Matt Harveys or Stephen Strasburgs. Harvey and Strasburg have power potential and will always get a shot. Things must break right for Figueroa to get his.
Figueroa has bounced around the globe in search of a job, last pitching in the major leagues with Houston in 2011. He’s been with the Phillies. Toronto and the Yankees released him without his cup of coffee. He has pitched in the winter leagues, for Mexico, for just about anybody who would give him the ball and a few dollars.
Figueroa pitches because that’s what he does. The sport is in his blood, rushing through his veins and consuming his soul. Until he’s physically unable, or run out of teams, Figueroa will pitch. It is players like him, perhaps even more than players like Justin Verlander, as the reason we watch.
Verlander is elite. Figueroa is more like us, who once dreamed of the big leagues. However, unlike us, he persevered through rough times, rejection and defeat to get the taste we will never.
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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Good for PR & good for Figueroa. Otherwise, bah humbug. Bad format with pros with fat contracts, where the risk of injury is real and potentially damaging to them, their teams, and their fans.
Want to continue this Olympics of the Diamond? Fine. Do it with best amateurs in the Sport in both USA and Other Countries. No pros. Thanks.
Figgy was denied the opportunity to play for Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series due to some misunderstanding by him it seems that if he played for a D.R. team during Winter ball he waived his right to play in the series. He has always taken great pride to represent P.R. whenever he could so seeing him get the chance in the WBC and pitch well last night was good to see.
P.R. has gone further than I ever envisioned. I’m hoping the final is kept in the Caribbean with D.R. & P.R. squaring off.
Mr. North NJ: Nothing pretentious about him. He embodies perseverance have played all over the world he belongs in the WBC. For Figgy to succeed is special for him and to his fans as I am one of them.
“Nothing pretentious about him.”
Agreed.
I still can’t believe this guy kept the US in check. Unbelievable.
It was good to see. Congratulations to Figs. and The PR team.
Congrats to Figgy and Bah Hum Bug to the top of the USA order, Rollins looked like he wanted to be somewhere else, Phillips has usually hit higher up in order; is this the best 2 leadoff guys the US team can come up with?
Hosner was terrible I hope he does better for KC.
The US lacked the intensity you find in playoff games and it showed in 1st loss to Mexico with ancient Garcia playing RF, really!
If not for GS by David and his continued clutch hitting in Arizona the USA would be on their way home.
Where is the passion to play for your country, the one that invented the darn sport, really?
I guess you don’t get a QS for going 6 innings and then use that at arbitration or the fact you helped your country win can’t be turned into a new contract just has the USA once again losing in this tournament.
If players have no passion, or you cant’ get the “BEST” to play as other countries do then don’t have a team.
Some of these teams, Mexico and players from PR and DR have been playing winter ball so maybe their pitching is a better conditioning but really guys the other teams have maybe 2 o3 MLB stars while we “supposedly” have one at every spot, sure don’t look like it.
Captain America has shown his true value
“Where is the passion to play for your country, the one that invented the darn sport, really?”
That passion is way higher in the Caribbean than in America
The way Canadian folks take to Hockey is the way Latinos take to baseball.
baseball is a way of life down in some of these countries, it reminds me of the way it USED to be here…back when we used to get together as kids and play baseball in each others backyards or in the street….
hell it was snowing like crazy this winter….and driving around surburbia….i didnt see ANYONE play football in the street…nobody….
no kill the man with the ball..
not even two-hand touch
all these kids are locked up in their rooms playing video games or on their smart phones…
go down to DR or Cuba or some parts of PR ( I’ve been to all 3 ) where folks live in shacks…and kids play the way WE USED TO PLAY….OUTSIDE….WITH EACH OTHER….
The American Passion to play sports is now on your X-Box or PS3