Rafael Carmona

Rafael Carmona
Pitcher
Born: (1972-10-02)October 2, 1972
Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Died: (2021-08-02)August 2, 2021 (aged 48)
Comerío, Puerto Rico
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 18, 1995, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
June 12, 1999, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
Win–loss record11–7
Earned run average4.94
Strikeouts96
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Rafael Carmona (October 2, 1972 – August 2, 2021) was a Puerto Rican former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners from 1995 to 1999.

Carmona attended Juano Colon High School in Comerío, Puerto Rico, then Indian Hills Community College. He helped the Indian Hills team reach the 1993 JUCO World Series. He was 2–0 with 13 saves in the regular season and picked up three more saves in the postseason.[1]

The Mariners selected Carmona in the 13th round of the 1993 MLB draft. He was a California League All-Star in 1994, finishing second in the league in saves. He made his MLB debut in May 1995, which led his hometown of Comerío to throw a carnival in his honor.[2] He made his first MLB start on May 29 against the New York Yankees in Derek Jeter's MLB debut.[1][3] In 1996, his best season in the majors, Carmona led Mariners relievers with 90+1⁄3 innings pitched, going 8–3 with one save, a 4.28 earned run average, and 62 strikeouts.[4][5]

On November 30, 1997, Carmona was in a car accident in Puerto Rico. He broke two bones in his right forearm, derailing his career.[6][7] He briefly returned to the majors in 1999, ending his playing career in Triple-A in 2000.[5]

Carmona died on August 2, 2021.[5] He was married.[7] He was posthumously inducted into Indian Hills' athletics hall of fame in 2023.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "'23 Rafael Carmona". Indian Hills Community College Athletics. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  2. ↑ Seattle Mariners 1998 Media Guide. pp. 37, 38.
  3. ↑ Feinsand, Mark (May 28, 2020). "Jeter didn't stick when he first arrived". MLB.com. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  4. ↑ "1996 Seattle Mariners Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Rafael Carmona Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Carmona suffers broken right arm in car accident". South Idaho Press. Associated Press. December 2, 1997. p. 5. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  7. 1 2 McGrath, John (March 28, 1999). "Car crash shattered an arm and a career". The Columbian. Tacoma News Tribune. p. 31. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
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