Bronson Anthony Arroyo is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who plays with the Boston Red Sox since 2003. Previously, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates between 2000 and 2002.
In a five-season career, Arroyo has compiled a 19-23 record with 267 strikeouts and a 4.63 ERA in 383 innings.
On August 10, 2003, Arroyo pitched the fourth nine-inning perfect game in the 121-year history of the International League as the Pawtucket Red Sox beat the Buffalo Bisons 7-0 at McCoy Stadium. He needed 101 pitches to throw his masterpiece (73 strikes), struck out nine, and got 10 fly outs and eight ground balls from the Buffalo 27 batters. Amazingly, he went to a three-ball count to just three hitters all game. At the end of the month, he was with the big club for good.
Arroyo's fastball is in the upper '80s and is quite effective considering his excellent command. Nevertheless, his best pitch is a sharp slider, moving away from right-handers. He is good at pulling the string on the curveball, and he has a straight changeup as well. He also is good at holding runners, and he covers his ground well and knows what to do when he gets the ball.
Arroyo improved in 2004, while jumping from middle relief to starting, to strengthen his role as the Red Sox No. 5 starter. This was by far his best season statistically, when he compiled a 4.03 ERA with career-highs in wins (10) and innings (178.2), while posted a very respectable 3.02 strikeout-to-walk ratio (142-to-47).
Arroyo steps into the 2005 season solidly entrenched in the pitching rotation and looking to gain on last year's success.
Arroyo incorporates a kick leg in his pitching motion that is unique among active major leaguers: he extends his front leg completely straight and lifts it up to a level above his waist before delivering the ball. This motion has occasionally been described as reminiscent of the kick leg performed by The Rockettes.
