Juan Berenguer

Juan Berenguer
Pitcher
Born: (1954-11-30) November 30, 1954 Aguadulce, Panama
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 17, 1978, for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
October 4, 1992, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	67–62
Earned run average	3.90
Strikeouts	975
Teams
New York Mets (1978–1980) Kansas City Royals (1981) Toronto Blue Jays (1981) Detroit Tigers (1982–1985) San Francisco Giants (1986) Minnesota Twins (1987–1990) Atlanta Braves (1991–1992) Kansas City Royals (1992)
Career highlights and awards
2× World Series champion (1984, 1987)

Juan Bautista Berenguer (born November 30, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball(MLB) pitcher for the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins and other teams. He had a career record of 67 wins and 62 losses. A mean-looking, husky Panamanian (5'11, 250) with long hair and a mustache, he was called "Pancho Villa" by his teammates. Twins fans admiringly referred to him as "Senor Smoke" or "El Gasolino," due to his mid-90s mph fastball.

Playing career

Berenguer signed with the Mets as an amateur free agent in 1975. He went 8–1 (3.94) for the 1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins and 8–4 (3.96) in 1988. Extremely wild as a youngster, he learned to harness his 90-plus-mph fastball, which he liked to throw inside, and added a forkball. His effectiveness was aided by his intimidating appearance and disposition.

Berenguer suffered one of MLB's oddest off-field injuries while pitching for Atlanta in 1991. On an off day, while he was home wrestling with his kids, he broke his pitching arm and ended up missing the remainder of the season, also missing out on the Braves Cinderella run to the World Series that year.

After his MLB career ended, Berenguer continued to play in the minor leagues. After spending 1993 and part of 1994 in the Mexican League, he returned to Minnesota, playing for the independent Minneapolis Loons and Southern Minny Stars. He signed to pitch for the Duluth-Superior Dukes of the Northern League prior to the 1998 season, but never played for them.

Personal life

Berenguer married Denise Colacurcio. His son Chris is a hockey player with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)