Les Straker

Les Straker
Pitcher
Born: (1959-10-10) October 10, 1959 Ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar State, Venezuela
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 11, 1987, for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 1988, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
Win-Loss record	10-15
Earned run average	4.22
Strikeouts	99
Teams
Minnesota Twins (1987-1988)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (1987)

Lester Paul Straker Bolnalda (born October 10, 1959 in Ciudad Bolívar, Bolívar State, Venezuela), best known as Les Straker, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins.

A ten-year minor leaguer, Straker went all the way to the 1987 World Series in his rookie year. As a young prospect, Straker was released by the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland Athletics. He made his major league debut with the Twins as their number-three starter behind Frank Viola and Bert Blyleven.

Straker became the first Venezuelan to pitch in the World Series when he started games three and six. He began 1988 on the disabled list and never completely recovered his form, being released when the season was over.

In his two-season, 47-game career, Straker had a record of 10–15, with 99 strikeouts, one shutout, one save, and a 4.22 earned run average.

See also

• List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball

External links

• Career statistics and player information from ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs