Andy Abad
Encyclopedia
Fausto Andres "Andy" Abad (born August 25, 1972 in West Palm Beach, Florida
) is a former professional baseball
player. He is also known as "Tulile" in the Dominican Republic. Abad is of Cuba
n descent; his father escaped Cuba during the Fidel Castro
revolution. Before being drafted, he graduated from Jupiter High School in Florida, and then attended Middle Georgia College
. He resides in Jupiter, Florida
. He is currently the hitting coach for the Low-A Yakima Bears
in the Arizona Diamondbacks
organization.
hitting and throwing Abad was drafted in the 16th round (443rd overall) in the amateur draft by the Boston Red Sox
, who assigned him to the Gulf Coast Red Sox of the Gulf Coast League
that year.
In , Abad advanced to the Single-A Sarasota Red Sox, where he hit .288. He remained in Sarasota through part of , advancing to the Double-A Trenton Thunder
for whom he hit .240.
He was sent back down to Single-A Sarasota in , hit .287 for the Single-A team, and was again called up to Trenton, where he hit .277 with the Thunder.
In , Abad only played 45 games, all with Trenton. He hit .303 that year, the first of multiple .300-plus seasons.
In , Abad started out with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
. He hit .307 with 16 home runs and stole 10 bases. The next season, he hit 15 home runs and again posted 10 steals. On October 15, 1999, Abad was released from his contract.
Abad went overseas, and played in Japan with the Kintetsu Buffaloes
in . Following the 2000 season, the Oakland Athletics
signed him to a contract. He started with their Triple-A club, the Sacramento River Cats
, where he had one of the best seasons of his minor league career, hitting .301 with 19 home runs. Abad hit .529 during the 2001 Pacific Coast League
playoffs.
After the season, Abad was granted free agency and later picked up by the Florida Marlins
where he spent the season with their Triple-A affiliate, the Calgary Cannons
.
In , he signed, again, with Boston. He started out the season with Triple-A Pawtucket. While with Pawtucket, he hit .304 with 13 homers and made the International League
All-Star team.
Abad was picked up by Pittsburgh
in . Abad hit .292 with 15 homers with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds
. He was then released, and subsequently signed by the Cleveland Indians
. He played the season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
. During the season, he hit .293 with a career high 20 home runs and was voted the team co-MVP
In the minors in with the Triple-A Louisville Bats
, he hit .267 with 9 home runs. He was granted free agency and later signed by the Milwaukee Brewers
in where he was assigned to the Nashville Sounds, for whom he hit .316 in 269 at-bats. Abad became a free agent at the end of the season. He signed with the Pericos de Puebla
of the Triple-A Mexican League
for . After playing 30 games for the team, he was released in late April.
He pitched in seven minor league games: one in 1994 and 1996, two in 2002, and one game in 2005, 2006, and 2007, with a 3.86 ERA
in 10 innings pitched. He allowed 12 hits and two home runs, gave up four earned runs, and had four strikeout
s.
as a pinch hitter
for Jeremy Giambi
, resulting in a fly-out. This was his only plate appearance of the year. Abad returned to the big leagues in for a little more than a week with the Boston Red Sox
. Appearing in 9 games (17 at-bats), he hit just .118. He was again granted free agency after the season. In , he was on the Cincinnati Reds
opening day 25-man roster. In 5 games in the majors that year, he went 0 for 3, drawing two walks
.
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
) is a former professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He is also known as "Tulile" in the Dominican Republic. Abad is of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n descent; his father escaped Cuba during the Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
revolution. Before being drafted, he graduated from Jupiter High School in Florida, and then attended Middle Georgia College
Middle Georgia College
Middle Georgia College is a publicly supported, residential,charter unit of the University System of Georgia, in the city Cochran in the U.S. state of Georgia. Founded in 1884, the school is the oldest two-year college in the United States. It is currently being transformed into a 4 year college...
. He resides in Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 39,328. The estimate population for 2009 is 50,606. As of 2006, the population had grown to 50,028, according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research....
. He is currently the hitting coach for the Low-A Yakima Bears
Yakima Bears
The Yakima Bears are a minor league baseball team in Yakima, Washington. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2001, formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers from the team's creation in 1990 when the Salem...
in the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
organization.
Minor leagues, Japan
The left-handedLeft-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
hitting and throwing Abad was drafted in the 16th round (443rd overall) in the amateur draft by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, who assigned him to the Gulf Coast Red Sox of the Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
that year.
In , Abad advanced to the Single-A Sarasota Red Sox, where he hit .288. He remained in Sarasota through part of , advancing to the Double-A Trenton Thunder
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are an American Minor League Baseball team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League, and are the two-time defending league champions...
for whom he hit .240.
He was sent back down to Single-A Sarasota in , hit .287 for the Single-A team, and was again called up to Trenton, where he hit .277 with the Thunder.
In , Abad only played 45 games, all with Trenton. He hit .303 that year, the first of multiple .300-plus seasons.
In , Abad started out with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
. He hit .307 with 16 home runs and stole 10 bases. The next season, he hit 15 home runs and again posted 10 steals. On October 15, 1999, Abad was released from his contract.
Abad went overseas, and played in Japan with the Kintetsu Buffaloes
Kintetsu Buffaloes
The was a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka, Japan, which were in the Pacific League. The team was owned by Kinki Nippon Railway Co. and later sold to the Orix Group, the owner of the Orix BlueWave baseball team, in 2004...
in . Following the 2000 season, the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
signed him to a contract. He started with their Triple-A club, the Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
, where he had one of the best seasons of his minor league career, hitting .301 with 19 home runs. Abad hit .529 during the 2001 Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
playoffs.
After the season, Abad was granted free agency and later picked up by the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
where he spent the season with their Triple-A affiliate, the Calgary Cannons
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
.
In , he signed, again, with Boston. He started out the season with Triple-A Pawtucket. While with Pawtucket, he hit .304 with 13 homers and made the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
All-Star team.
Abad was picked up by Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in . Abad hit .292 with 15 homers with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
. He was then released, and subsequently signed by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. He played the season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
. During the season, he hit .293 with a career high 20 home runs and was voted the team co-MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
In the minors in with the Triple-A Louisville Bats
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
, he hit .267 with 9 home runs. He was granted free agency and later signed by the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in where he was assigned to the Nashville Sounds, for whom he hit .316 in 269 at-bats. Abad became a free agent at the end of the season. He signed with the Pericos de Puebla
Pericos de Puebla
The Pericos de Puebla are a baseball team that has been a member of the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol since 2000. They have existed on and off since 1942 in various other leagues...
of the Triple-A Mexican League
Liga Mexicana de Beisbol
The Mexican League is a summer minor league baseball league with teams based across Mexico. Along with the International League and the Pacific Coast League, it is one of three leagues playing at the triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It is the only Minor League...
for . After playing 30 games for the team, he was released in late April.
He pitched in seven minor league games: one in 1994 and 1996, two in 2002, and one game in 2005, 2006, and 2007, with a 3.86 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 10 innings pitched. He allowed 12 hits and two home runs, gave up four earned runs, and had four strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s.
Major league career
Abad made his Major League Baseball debut in with the Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
for Jeremy Giambi
Jeremy Giambi
Jeremy Dean Giambi is a left-handed, former Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Red Sox. He also played in the minors for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. He is the younger brother of Colorado Rockies first...
, resulting in a fly-out. This was his only plate appearance of the year. Abad returned to the big leagues in for a little more than a week with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Appearing in 9 games (17 at-bats), he hit just .118. He was again granted free agency after the season. In , he was on the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
opening day 25-man roster. In 5 games in the majors that year, he went 0 for 3, drawing two walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
.