Michael Pineda to debut for Mariners, face Alexi Ogando and Nelson Cruz for Rangers

As the Dominican Baseball Guy noted last week, the Mariners named rookie Michael Pineda as their fifth starter toward the end of spring training.  Pineda will square off against another Dominican making his debut as a starter for the Rangers, Alexi Ogando.

Pineda brings a strong physical pedigree (6-foot-7, 260 pounds), and real power stuff to the big leagues for the first time tonight.  He was very successful in the minors, then posted a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings at spring training.  The Mariners decided to put him in as the fifth starter after the success in spring training.  Pineda is from Yaguate, DR.

Ogando had a wildly successful rookie year, after being mired in a visa scandal that left him stranded in the Dominican Republic and the Rangers Dominican academy for a couple years.  He had a 1.30 ERA in 44 games and 42 innings, while becoming a vital part of the Rangers middle relief down their pennant stretch.  Ogando is from San Pedro de Macoris, DR.

Another Dominican, Nelson Cruz is going for a HR in his fifth strait game to start the season.  The Rangers have several other Dominicans, so there will be a number of Dominican versus Dominican match ups tonight.  Cruz is from Monte Cristi, DR.

Nelson Cruz, by Keith Allison on Flickr