Gustavo Chacín

Gustavo Adolfo Chacín Gonzalez (Template:PronEng) (born December 4, 1980 in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela) is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher who is currently a free agent.

Chacín throws a fastball that ranges between 87–92 mph, a changeup, and a slider. Chacin's success is due in part to his deceptive delivery, which includes a stutter in his motion while pivoting with his back foot.

In 2004, Chacín led all minor leaguers with 18 wins, and was the 24th pitcher used by the Blue Jays, tying the team record set in the 2002 season. Beside this, Chacín became the first left-handed starter to win his major debut against the New York Yankees in the Joe Torre era (1996–2007).

Chacín began at "AA" Eastern League New Hampshire. He was 16–2 with 109 strikeouts and a 2.86 ERA in 141²/₃ innings, having earned his promotion to the "AAA" International League Syracuse Chiefs after a 34-innings scoreless streak. With the Chiefs, Chacín posted a 2–0 record with 14 SO and a 2.31 ERA in 11 ²/₃ innings. Then, he was promoted to the Blue Jays and made his debut on September 20, 2004 at Yankee Stadium. Chacín allowed two earned runs on three hits over seven innings for the win, as Toronto passed the Yankees 6–3. In his second start, Chacín held the Orioles to four hits and a run in seven innings, but took the loss. At the end of the season, he compiled a 1–1 record with six strikeouts and a 2.57 ERA in 14 innings.

At spring training in 2005, Chacín landed a spot on the Jays' starting rotation. The rookie jumped out to a hot start in the American League, earning a record of 4–1 with 18 strikeouts and a 2.41 ERA over 32.2 innings through the month of April, and was selected the AL Rookie of the Month^[1]. In July, Chacín won five of his six starts, being named the Rookie of the Month for second time in the season^[2]. Chacín pitched and won the final game of the season for the Blue Jays against the Kansas City Royals with a solid pitching line of: 7.2 innings, 7 hits allowed, 1 run, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts in the 7–2 Blue Jay win. Chacín finished the season with a record of 13–9 and 3.72 ERA in 34 starts. He collected 121 strikeouts in 203 innings. He finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting, netting two first place votes and fourteen total points,^[3] and was named to Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team along with fellow Blue Jay Russ Adams.^[4]

Chacín finished his 2006 season 9–4 with a 5.05 ERA. ^[5]. In 2007, Chacín was arrested on Friday, March 16 for driving under the influence in Tampa, Florida. The left-hander was stopped by Tampa Police at 3:43 a.m. ET and booked on the misdemeanor charge. Police reports indicated that Chacín's blood alcohol level measured .150, which is much higher than the legal limit of .08. The pitcher was released on a $500 bond.^[6] In 2008, Chacín began the season with Toronto's Class-A affiliate Dunedin Blue Jays. On May 9, 2008, he was designated for assignment, and was eventually sent outright to the minors. He became a free agent at the end of the season.

• Chacín cannot grow hair because of alopecia areata.
• A joke on Toronto sports radio station Fan 590 that the name Chacín sounds like it should be the name of a cologne led the Blue Jays to do a Chacín Cologne night on June 27, 2006.^[7]
• Wears sunglasses while pitching regardless of whether he is in an indoor or outdoor stadium and weather conditions. Many have said he looks somewhat like a supervillain when wearing the glasses. ^[8]

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