Cincinnati Reds Player Profile – Alfredo Simon

Apr 12, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Alfredo Simon (31) pitches during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Reds newest star starting pitcher Alfredo Simon has been making headlines on and off the field recently, get to know the pitcher a little more today. Simon has not always been the star pitcher that he is at the moment.

Simon was born on May 8th, 1981 in Santiago, Dominican Republic. There is not much known about Simon’s life growing up in the Dominican. What is know about Simon is that he didn’t always go by the name Alfredo Simon. When he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1999 Simon used the name Carlos Cabrera and said he was 21 months younger than he actually was.

The Phillies would not find out Simons real legal name until the 2004 season, four years after he made his professional debut for the Phillies in the Dominican Summer League.

Simon made his way around the minor leagues until his major league debut in 2008 with the Baltimore Orioles. After playing for the Phillies until 2004 he was subsequently traded to the San Francisco Giants. Simon made appearances for all three of the Giants minor league teams during his two seasons in the Giants organization. Simon filed for free agency following the 2006 season.

The Texas Rangers picked up Simon in free agency prior to the 2007 season. In December one month after signing with the Rangers Simon was drafted by the Orioles in the Rule 5 Draft. The Rule 5 draft essentially allows teams to draft players from organizations with too many pitchers, the goal is to use draft them to teams that could use them in the majors.

After being drafted the Orioles subsequently traded Simon to the Phillies that day. A few months later the Phillies sent Simon back to the Rangers where he would pitch the 2007 season struggling with a 5-10 overall record in 22 starts. He was granted free agency following the season.

In 2008 the Los Angeles Dodgers signed the struggling pitcher, he was released before the season started. Following his release Simon’s chances of making it to the majors looked slim to none. Simon turned to the Mexican League where he played half a season going 7-2 over 11 starts with a 2.67 ERA, the Orioles signed him again during the 2008 season.

Simon finally made it to the big leagues in 2009 when he was named to the starting rotation for the Baltimore Orioles. Simon only started two games for the Orioles until Tommy John Surgery sidelined him for the rest of the season. Simon then turned into a reliever when he returned from surgery. In 2010 Simon converted 17 of 21 save opportunities.

In 2011 Simon was held in a Dominican prison for 3 months while being charged with involuntary manslaughter. Simon was ultimately acquitted of manslaughter and allowed to return to the United States,

In 2012 the Reds claimed Simon off waivers from the Orioles. Simon pitched out of the bullpen that season with a 2.66ERA in 36 games for the Reds that season. Simon doubled his appearances in 2013 where he saw action in 63 games with a 2.87ERA.  This season Simon was moved into the rotation following a Mat Latos injury. Simon currently is the second best pitcher on the staff with a 1.60ERA through the first month of the season and sixth best in the National League.

Simon more recently has been charged with rape in a civil lawsuit in Washington D.C. That case is still ongoing.