What is Vicente Padilla's net worth?
Vicente Padilla is a retired Nicaraguan professional baseball pitcher who has a net worth of $20 million. Padilla demonstrated remarkable skills on the mound that enabled him to enjoy a successful 12-year career in the MLB. Padilla played for multiple teams over his career, including the Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers, and was selected to the 2002 MLB All-Star Game.
Early Life
Born on September 27, 1977, in Chinandega, Nicaragua, Padilla discovered his passion for baseball at a young age. He signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent in 1998. Following several years in the minor leagues where he honed his skills and gained valuable experience, Padilla made his major league debut with the Diamondbacks in 1999.
Major Leagues
Padilla made his Major League debut in 1999 against the Cincinnati Reds, pitching in the ninth inning and giving up four hits and three runs without recording an out.
In 2000, Padilla was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Philadelphia Phillies and moved to the starting rotation in 2002. He battled injuries in 2004 and 2005, posting a combined win-loss record of 16-19. After posting a 4.71 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP during the 2005 season he was traded to the Texas Rangers for Ricardo Rodríguez.
During the 2006 season with the Rangers, he came under fire for his now infamous "lack of control" on the mound. Padilla caused a controversy in Chicago when he hit White Sox catcher, A. J. Pierzynski, twice and later in the season caused a benches-clearing brawl against the Angels when he repeatedly threw at Angels batters, showing particular interest in slugger Vladimir Guerrero.
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In 2009, Padilla signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was activated to start playing later that year. In 2010, Padilla re-signed with the Dodgers a one-year, $5.025 million deal with a $1 million signing bonus. The Dodgers announced that Padilla would be their opening day starter but due to a number of recurring injuries, Padilla was only able to start 16 games for the team that year. He was put on the disabled list in 2011 and injuries prevented him from returning to the team that year.
In 2012, Padilla signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox that included an invitation to spring training. He earned $1.5 million when he was promoted to the major league level but was held up for a brief time with a scandal in Nicaragua for failing to pay child support. On January 16, 2013, Padilla signed a one-year deal with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Nippon Professional Baseball League.
Contracts and Career Earnings
Over the course of his career, Padilla signed several lucrative contracts. After his stellar 2002 season with the Phillies, he agreed to a one-year contract worth $2.6 million, avoiding salary arbitration. In 2006, after moving to the Texas Rangers, he signed a three-year contract extension worth $33.75 million. Throughout his 12-year career in the MLB, Padilla earned more than $50 million in salary.
