Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an 18-year-old free agent from the Domincan Republic 10/21/91 ... made major-league debut 9/9/98 in Cincinnati, allowing one hit over three scoreless innings and retiring the first six batters he faced ... earned first big-league win in his first start 9/14/98 vs. Pittsburgh ... pitched a no-hitter, defeating Arizona and Randy Johnson, 1-0, 6/25/99, striking out eight and walking one ... traded to Colorado 11/16/99 in a seven-player deal that saw St. Louis acquire RHP Darryl Kile ... signed by Cleveland as a free agent, 1/8/04.

With the Rockies, he went: 5-2, 3.18 ERA, 24 saves in 2000; 6-1, 4.09 ERA, 17 saves in 2001; 2-10, 3.56 ERA, 41 saves in 2002; 2-10, 5.22 ERA, 20 saves in 2003 ... spent two stints on the disabled list in 2001 with inflammation in his right shoulder ... went more than a year without a win, enduring a 12-game losing streak (7/4/02 to 7/30/03 ... saved 17 games in a row (9/23/01 to 6/1/02).