Atahualpa Severino

Atahualpa O. Severino (born November 6, 1984) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Washington Nationals.

Severino began his professional career in 2006, pitching for the Dominican Summer Nationals. He appeared in 13 games, eight of which were starts, going 2-0 with a 0.99 ERA in 45+1⁄3 innings, striking out 69 batters.

In 2007, Severino pitched for the DSL Nationals (3-0, 0.48 ERA in 3 games started) and the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals (1-0, 2.94 ERA in 13 games, five starts), going a combined 4-0 with a 2.06 ERA in 16 games (eight starts). He had 59 strikeouts in 52+1⁄3 innings.

Severino split the 2008 season between the Potomac Nationals (0-4, 3.96 ERA in 26 relief appearances) and the Hagerstown Suns (4-2, 4.05 ERA in 15 relief appearances), going a combined 4-6 with a 4.00 ERA in 41 relief appearances. He improved in 2009, as he split the season between Potomac (4-0, 2.54 ERA in 29 games) and the Double-A Harrisburg Senators (6-0, 2.78 ERA in 15 games), going a combined 10-0 with a 2.62 ERA in 44 relief appearances.^[1]

Severino appeared on the Major League roster with the Nationals for three days in 2010, but did not appear for the team, briefly becoming a phantom ballplayer. Severino made his Major League debut on September 6, 2011. He appeared as a reliever in 6 games in 2011, going 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 4+2⁄3 innings, striking out 7 and walking 1.^[2]

In 2012 Severino made 46 relief appearances for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, posting a record of 3-0 with a 2.81 ERA and three saves.^[3] He was designated for assignment on August 6, 2012.

On November 16, 2012 the Kansas City Royals announced they had signed Severino to a minor league contract for the 2013 season. No financial terms of the deal were announced.^[3]

Severino was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 30, 2013, in exchange for cash considerations.^[4]

On December 18, 2013, Severino signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves organization.^[5] He made 40 appearances for the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves in 2014, registering a 5-3 record and 3.22 ERA with 54 strikeouts and two saves across 44+2⁄3 innings pitched.

On April 1, 2016, Severino signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. In 59 appearances out of the bullpen, he compiled a 3-2 record and 2.70 ERA with 46 strikeouts across 46+2⁄3 innings pitched. Severino became a free agent after the season.

On December 7, 2017, Severino signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. In eight appearances for México, he recorded a 3.60 ERA with six strikeouts over five innings of work. Severino was released by the Diablos on April 8, 2018.

On April 13, 2018, Severino signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.

On June 17, 2018, Severino was traded to the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League. In seven appearances for Quintana Roo, he struggled to an 0-2 record and 13.50 ERA with nine strikeouts across 4+2⁄3 innings pitched. Severino was released by the Tigres on July 27.

He was selected Dominican Republic national baseball team at 2013 World Baseball Classic and 2019 Pan American Games Qualifier.^[6]

• Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet