Almonte Awesome in Somerset
by Mike Ashmore
May 18, 2006 - Hunterdon County Democrat

He's pitched in the big leagues. He's pitched in Japan. But right now, he's pitching for the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League. And that's OK with Hector Almonte.

The 30-year-old native of the Dominican Republic spent the 2005 season with Richmond, the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and Saltillo of the Mexican League.

In 18 games with Richmond, Almonte went 1-1 with an ERA of 2.70 over 26.2 innings of work. Numbers like that would seem to warrant a call-up to the big leagues for the pitcher who was last in the show with Montreal in 2003. To the Braves, it warranted a pink slip.

"I had it in my contract that if I wasn't in the big leagues or at least on the 40-man roster by June 15th," Almonte said, "that I can get out of my contract."

Just two weeks before that June 15th cutoff date, he left a game against Indianapolis with what he described as discomfort in his forearm. The Braves sent him on a rehab assignment, giving Almonte the impression his spot in the organization was secure.

"But a week into it," Almonte said, "they said you haven't been pitching in a week, so we're going to release you."

"I went home and spent ten days training and I got calls from Milwaukee and Kansas City, but they didn't offer me anything. They offered me a job in Triple-A, but nothing like a September call-up. So I said let me see what happens in Mexico, so that's why I decided to go there."

For as impressive as he was with Richmond, he was even better with Saltillo, picking up two wins and allowing just two earned runs in ten appearances with the team.

Contrary to popular belief, right handed pitchers with fastballs in the mid-90s don’t grow on trees, so that’s why it’s all the more surprising that Almonte didn’t receive a Spring Training invitation this year.

“I asked my wife whether I should play in an independent league or stay home,” Almonte said, “and she said if I stayed home, nobody was going to see me play.”

The Somerset Patriots agreed, signing Almonte and penciling him in for the role of closer, a spot that was filled by David Elder and Robert Marquez last year.

"For me,” Almonte said, “being a short reliever - like a setup guy or a closer - is where I'm confident on the mound.”

Sixth on the team in innings pitched, Almonte is already tied for third in strikeouts, evidence that his trademark fastball still has some kick to it. But the friendly fireballer insists he’s no one trick pony.

"I've been a fastball pitcher for all of my career,” Almonte said.

“But I have other stuff in my repertoire of pitching. Before I didn't used to throw a lot of breaking balls, but now I can go and get ahead with my split-finger or my slider. My fastball is still there, but right now my mentality is to be more selective with my pitches.”

It looks like Almonte will get to be selective a little later on this season as well - when he gets to pick from a variety of offers he’s sure to receive from 29 teams looking to capitalize on Atlanta‘s mistake.

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