Jose Ascanio

Jose Eleazar Ascanio is a Venezuelan professional baseball player who plays as a Relief Pitcher. As an 18-year old, Ascanio was signed by the Atlanta Braves and he began playing for the GCL Braves, Atlanta's minor league side. With 17 strikeouts and a 1.37 ERA, Ascanio had a 4-1 win-loss record. The following year, he moved up to the Rome Braves and went 3-3. He had 64 strikeouts and a 3.84 ERA in 34 games, combined with a career-high 9 saves.

Ascanio continued his form for the next few years until joining the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in 2005. An average season with the Pelicans was marred with a fractured back, an injury that sidelined him after just a few games in the season. Ascanio came back stronger than ever and in 2007, was called up for his Major League debut after Wilfredo Ledezma couldn't make it back to the USA after returning home to Venezuela over the All-Star break.

Ascanio made his debut on his first call-up, pitching the 9th inning in a 9-1 win. He gave away three hits, and a run, on his first appearance and got two strikeouts. In July, he was sent down to the lower leagues again, only to be recalled a few weeks later. Ascanio got his first win as well the following month when he pitched the last two innings in a 13-inning game and had a 5.06 ERA to end the season with a 1-1 record.

At the end of 2007, Ascanio made way for Will Ohman and Omar Infante as he was traded for the duo, to Chicago.