Francisco Casillas Liriano (b. October 26, 1983 in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball pitcher currently on the roster of the Minnesota Twins. He made his major league debut in relief on September 5, 2005 against the Texas Rangers. He later joined the starting rotation and won his first game on September 30, 2005 against the Detroit Tigers. Liriano started the 2006 season in the bullpen, but was promoted to the starting rotation in May, exchanging positions with struggling starter Carlos Silva. He won his first three Major League starts, proving himself a bright spot in the Twins starting rotation.

His acquisiton by the Twins came as a throw-in prospect in a deal that sent A.J. Pierzynski (now of the Chicago White Sox) to the San Francisco Giants for closer Joe Nathan and starter Boof Bonser, a deal which may go down as one of the most lopsided trades in MLB history (Pierzynski was cut after his first year, while Liriano and Nathan are mainstays and all-stars on the major league club, and Bonser being returned to Triple-A in early July). Often compared to teammate Johan Santana, Liriano is touted as one of the "super-prospects" within the Minnesota Twins organization. Liriano has four pitches in his arsenal. An above-average fastball that has been clocked as high as 98 MPH, a devastating slider, a changeup similar to that of teammate Johan Santana, as well as a curveball.

--Wikipedia