Edwin Escobar

Edwin José Escobar Hernandez (born April 22, 1992) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Texas Rangers signed Escobar as an international free agent in 2008. Then in 2010, he was sent to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for minor leaguer Ben Snyder.

The Giants added Escobar to their 40-man roster after the 2012 season. He started the 2014 season with the Fresno Grizzlies.

The Giants traded Escobar and Heath Hembree to the Boston Red Sox for Jake Peavy on July 26, 2014. He was called up to the Red Sox on August 10, and returned to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox the next day. Escobar was recalled on August 27, 2014, and pitched a scoreless 8th inning in his Major League debut in Toronto against the Toronto Blue Jays. He was designated for assignment on April 20, 2016, to make room on the active roster for William Cuevas.

The Arizona Diamondbacks claimed Escobar off waivers, and optioned him to the Triple-A Reno Aces. The Diamondbacks promoted Escobar to the major leagues to make his first major league start on May 30, 2016.

On November 18, 2016, the Cleveland Indians claimed Escobar off waivers. Escobar was designated for assignment on January 5, 2017 to make room on the 40-man roster for Edwin Encarnación. He was released on January 10, to pursue a pitching opportunity in Japan.

On January 11, 2017, Escobar signed a one-year, $775,000 with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Escobar is son of shortstop José Escobar, as well as cousin of shortstop Alcides Escobar, and pitchers Kelvim Escobar and Vicente Campos.