Ramiro Mendoza (born June 15, 1972 in panama city ]], Panama) is a Major League Baseball middle relief pitcher. Mendoza has played with the New York Yankees (1996-2002, 2005) and Boston Red Sox (2003-04). He bats and throws right-handed. Mendoza throws a sinker along with a slider, a four-seam fastball and a changeup. A former starter in the minors, he is able to work several innings at a time. In the field, he handles his defensive responsibilities very well. He is a good fielder, and he has learned to control the running game.
In a nine-year career, Mendoza has compiled a 59-40 record with 462 strikeouts and a 4.29 ERA in 796 innings pitched. He returned to the New York Yankees before the 2005 season.
Mendoza was born on the same day as another former Yankee pitcher - Andy Pettitte. He was also born on the same day as Tony Clark, who played for the Yankees in 2004.
After recovering from shoulder surgery during the 2005 offseason, Mendoza returned to the Yankees after September callups of the 2005 season, becoming one of three members of the World Champion Red Sox to play for the 2005 Yankees, along with Mark Bellhorn and Alan Embree. After the 2005 season, Mendoza signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees.
Interesting Fact: Mendoza is the only modern day player to win a World Series ring with both the New York Yankees (1996-2000) and the Boston Red Sox (2004).
