Edinson Volquez

Edinson Volquez is a professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic and is a pitcher. Volquez began playing professional baseball in 2005 after being picked by the Texas Rangers. He made his way up through the farm system in rapid time and in 2005, became one of the three most sought after pitchers in the Rangers' farm system - a trio of John Danks, Thomas Diamond and Edinson Volquez. Together, they were known as "DVD", for the initials of their last names.

Volquez was picked by the Texas Rangers in 2001, straight out of high school. He rapidly progressed through the Minors to make his debut for the Rangers in August 2005. He started badly, losing his first three starts as well as one of the three games where he came on as a relief pitcher. His ERA was at a staggering 14.21, prompting a swift demotion to the Oklahoma Redhawks in the AAA-League.

He spent the early part of 2006 with the Redhawks and slightly improved with a 7.29 ERA and one win in 8 starts. However, things weren't working out with Volquez and the Rangers decided to bump him down to work on his control. So, one of the top prospects in the farm system was sent back down the ladder to the A-League to play for the Bakersfield Blaze.

His return was slower and slowly but surely, Volquez was back in the MLB roster by 2007, showing great signs of improvement.

In December of 2007, the Rangers had had enough of Volquez and traded him out to the Cincinnati Reds. It took him just four months to make it to the starting pitcher's spot with the Reds and on his debut, Volquez pitched 5.1 innings with just 5 hits and 1 ERA. He continued on his good work and had a 7-1 record to begin with, with an ERA of 1.33 in just 9 starts. This was the first time that any Reds' pitcher had ever allowed just 1 ERA in all but one starts since 1912.

In May 2008, he took his strikeout total to 74 after getting 12 batters out in 6 innings. He further moved his win-loss tally to 8-2 after throwing a 7-inning shutout against the Philadelphia Phillies in June. His strong performances meant a call-up to the 2008 MLB All-Star Game where he pitched the 7th inning and got hit for a 2-run homer by J. D. Drew.

Volquez ended 2008 with a 17-6 record and an ERA of 3.21, which was the best in the National League.