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Pitcher P.J. Sifuentes stood alone as an inductee into the Beisbol Sudamerica Hall of Fame in 2011, receiving 92.8% on his ballot debut. The next closest to the 66% requirement was 1B Nyx Navas with 60.1% on his second ballot. Catcher Moises Avalos had 57.9% on his third go. No one else was above 50% and the next best debut was down at 30.2%. The BSA ballot also didn’t see any players dropped following ten failed ballots.



P.J. “Big Train” Sifuentes – Starting Pitcher- Quito Thunderbolts – 92.8% First Ballot

P.J. Sifuentes was a 6’1’’, 200 pound right-handed pitcher from Macara, Ecuador, a small town of about 11,000 people on the southern border with Peru. Sifuentes was known for having great stuff, very good movement, and above average control. His fastball hit the 96-98 mph range regularly and was part of a five-pitch arsenal. Sifuentes’ splitter and forkball were his most devastating pitches, but his changeup and curveball could get you out too.

Relative to other South American aces, Sifuentes’ stamina was average. He was relatively durable, but saw his career shortened by two major injuries. Sifuentes was very outspoken and polarizing at times, but he was fiercely loyal to those close to him. He was often on the right side of the issues he spoke out on, making Sifuentes a popular figure generally in his native Ecuador.

After an excellent amateur career, Sifuentes was picked #6 overall in the 1992 BSA Draft by Quito. He was a full-time starter immediately for the Thunderbolts and an immediate starter for Ecuador in the World Baseball Championship. From 1993-2005 in the WBC, Sifuentes had a 3.31 ERA over 138.2 innings, 11-5 record, 170 strikeouts, 56 walks, 108 ERA+, and 3.6 WAR.

In his rookie season for Quito, Sifuentes posted a 2.81 ERA and 6.2 WAR, earning 1993 Rookie of the Year honors. His arrival helped the Thunderbolts bounce back from a mediocre 69-93 in 1992 to 93-69 in 1993, missing out on a wild card by only one game. In 1994, Sifuentes posted an all-time great sophomore season.

Sifuentes led the Bolivar League in ERA (1.84), wins (24-5), quality starts (32), FIP- (53), and WAR (11.8). These would all be career bests, along with his 293.1 innings, 333 strikeouts, 195 ERA+, and 0.93 WHIP. Sifuentes won Pitcher of the Year and took second in MVP voting.

Quito made the playoffs as a wild card and went all the way to Copa Sudamerica, beating Fortaleza for the 1994 title. Sifuentes was mixed in the playoffs with a 3.80 ERA over 21.1 innings and 22 strikeouts. Regardless, he became a favorite forever of Thunderbolts fans for helping them to their first Cup win since 1965.

Sifuentes was third in 1995 Pitcher of the Year voting, but struggled in his one playoff start as Quito lost in the first round. In 1996, Sifuentes led in strikeouts, WHIP, and WAR. The Thunderbolts fell to just above .500, but committed to Sifuentes with a five-year, $11,220,000 extension.

Quito would fall into mediocrity for the rest of Sifuentes’ run, only finishing above .500 once in his remaining seasons. 1997 saw Sifuentes’ first setback with bone chips in his elbow. This required surgery and cost him the last month of the season and the 1998 WBC. He was back for the 1998 regular season, but posted very average stats, making many observers think he might be a flash in the pan.

Sifuentes bounced back with an excellent 1999 with a 2.43 ERA and 9.7 WAR, taking second in Pitcher of the Year voting. 2000 had a lousy 4.20 ERA, but his 6.9 WAR and 76 FIP- suggested he was plagued by bad luck. Sifuentes looked better to start 2001, but suffered a partially torn UCL in early July. This injury would have a 10-11 month recovery time and put Sifuentes’ future in doubt.

Quito gave him a one-year extension in hopes he could return to form in 2002. He made it back for 186 innings with a 3.63 ERA and 4.5 WAR. That would be his last year with the Thunderbolts, who let Sifuentes leave for free agency at age 33.

With Quito, Sifuentes had a 145-117 record, 3.01 ERA, 2473.1 innings, 2666 strikeouts, 473 walks, 214/319 quality starts, 123 ERA+, 71 FIP-, and 71.6 WAR. He’d remain a popular figure in the capital region and saw his #34 uniform later retired. Sifuentes’ next chapter began with a five-year, $7,480,000 deal with Bogota.

The Bats had just seen their playoff streak snapped at seven years, missing the wild card by a game. They hoped Sifuentes could solidify the rotation and they were right. Bogota went 112-50 in 2003, but suffered a BLCS upset loss to Caracas. Sifuentes led in wins at 23-3 with a 3.00 ERA and 6.6 WAR. His strikeout numbers were lower than the past, but this was still enough to win his second Pitcher of the Year.

Sifuentes struggled again in the playoffs though with a 6.14 ERA over 22 innings. He had a nice 2004 and fared better in that playoff run, going 4-0 in five starts with a 3.05 ERA over 38.1 innings and 43 strikeouts. Bogota won Copa Sudamerica over Salvador, giving Sifuentes his second cup win.

His stamina and velocity both dropped in 2005 and Sifuentes was used only as a part-time starter. The small sample paid off, as he led in ERA at 2.44 over 181 innings and posted four shutouts. Sifuentes was third in Pitcher of the Year voting with that effort. Bogota didn’t use Sifuentes in the playoffs, but he earned a third ring as the Bats repeated as Copa Sudamerica champs, this time beating Fortaleza.

Sifuentes’ exact role for 2006 was a bit uncertain, but he didn’t make it to the regular season. He suffered a partially torn labrum in spring training, originally expected to cost him just three months. Sifuentes suffered a setback in late May and doctors said he had to retire at age 36. With Bogota, Sifuentes had a 57-20 record, 2.99 ERA, 706.2 innings, 637 strikeouts, 133 ERA+, and 15.3 WAR.

The final stats had a 202-137 record, 3.01 ERA, 3180 innings, 3303 strikeouts, 590 walks, 275/413 quality starts, 110 complete games, 20 shutouts, 125 ERA+, 74 FIP-, and 86.9 WAR. As of 2037, he ranked 34^th in pitching WAR. Sifuentes wasn’t an inner-circle level guy, but very few argued against him being a first ballot Hall of Famer. He received 92.8% and was BSA’s lone inductee in 2011.