Guide Note

Carlos Silva is a pitcher in the starting rotation of MLB’s Seattle Mariners.

Silva was born on April 23, 1979, in Bolívar, Venezuela. He graduated in 1996 from U.E. General Ezequiel Zamora High School, in Bolivar. Silva came to the U.S. in the summer of 1996 after being signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent. His professional baseball debut, at age 17, was with Martinsville, a now defunct team, of the Class D Appalachian League.

In 2002, at age 23, he signed a major league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. On April 1, 2002 he made is major league debut, as a reliever. In two seasons with the Phillies he pitched 171 innings for a combined record of 8 wins, 1 loss and 1 save.

The Minnesota Twins acquired Silva in a four-player trade with the Phillies. After a short stint in the bullpen he joined the Twins' starting rotation. In his four seasons in Minnesota his combined record was 47 wins, 45 losses and 94 saves. In 2005 he tied a Major League record for the least number of pitches thrown in a 9 inning game, with 75 pitches, the last time this was accomplished was 1957.

Silva's ability to work a quick paced game, throw a sinking fastball in the nineties; combined with a slider, a changeup, and a splitter made him a valuable talent in the free agent market. During the 2007 off-season Silva signed, as a unrestricted free agent, with the Mariners. His contract is for four years and is believed to be valued in the range of $44 to $48 million. Fast Facts:

1. Born: April 23, 1979 in Bolívar, Venezuela
2. Height: 6'4"
3. Weight: 245 Lbs.
4. Position: Pitcher
5. Major League Debut: April 1, 2002
6. Career Record: 55-46 (through 2007)
7. ERA: 4.31 (through 2007)
8. Strikeouts: 495 (through 2007)
9. Bats: Right
10. Throws: Right

Minor League Teams

• Batavia Muckdogs (A)
• Clearwater Threshers (A)
• Reading Phillies (AA)
• Beloit Snappers (A)

Major League Teams

• Philadelphia Phillies
• Minnesota Twins
• Seattle Mariners