page_title: Rafael Betancourt
section_title: Cleveland Indians
hierarchical_section_title: Rafael Betancourt / Career / Cleveland Indians
caption_attribution_description: English: Rafael Betancourt pitches during the Cleveland Indians' 2009 home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.
context_page_description: Rafael Jose Betancourt is a Venezuelan former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians and Colorado Rockies, as well as in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Yokohama BayStars.
context_section_description: After sitting out the 2002 season he signed with the Cleveland Indians as a minor league free agent and made his Major League debut for the Indians on July 13, 2003 against the Chicago White Sox. He pitched in 33 games for the Indians, registering an ERA of 2.13.
  In 2004, Betancourt went 5-6, his first full season in the Majors.
  On July 8, 2005 he became the sixth Major League player to be suspended for testing positive in steroids testing. He went on to appear in 54 games.
  In 2006, Betancourt's ERA grew a full run higher than his previous season. Betancourt's best season was in 2007, as he registered career bests in ERA, Innings pitched and walks allowed.
  On January 23, 2008, he signed a new two-year contract with the Indians with a club option for 2010.
caption: Pitching with the Indians in 2009
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