Carlos Guillén
Encyclopedia
Carlos Alfonso Guillén is a Major League Baseball
second baseman
and switch-hitter.
Guillén was signed by the Houston Astros
as a non-draft amateur free agent in 1992. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners
with pitcher
Freddy García
and John Halama
in the deal that sent Randy Johnson
to the Astros. Guillén made his debut in 1998 and was traded to Detroit at the end of the 2003 season.
and third
base with incumbent Alex Rodriguez
at shortstop. After Alex Rodriguez signed with the Texas Rangers
for the season, Guillén moved back to his natural position. He had a league-average campaign in his first full season with the club.
In Game 3 of the 2000 American League Division Series
, he hit a squeeze play
in the bottom of the ninth inning to score Rickey Henderson
and complete the Mariners' sweep of the Chicago White Sox
. In September 2001, Guillén was hospitalized after being diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis
, but was ready for the American League Championship Series
against the New York Yankees
the following month.
(97), runs (97), doubles
(37), triples
(10), total bases
(283), slugging percentage (.542), OPS
(.921), and his .318 batting average
was only second to .334 of teammate Iván Rodríguez
. Guillén also got his first All-Star
berth. However, his breakout season was cut short, as he missed the final month of the 2004 season after tearing his ACL
while legging out a triple.
He healed well during the 2004 05 offseason and was back to his previous form in time for 's opening day, although problems with his left hamstring
kept him out of the lineup for much of the year.
Guillén returned to elite status in having another outstanding season. His on-base percentage reached .400 for the first time in his career, and he led all Major League shortstops with a .919 OPS
.
On August 1, 2006, Guillén became the tenth Tiger to hit for the cycle in a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
In 2006, Guillén became the first player in modern Major League history to raise his average for six consecutive seasons, batting .320. In the field, however, he tied for the major league lead in errors at shortstop, with 28.
with two out in the bottom of the first.
On September 30, 2007, on his 32nd birthday, Guillén hit the 93rd home run of his career and it gave him 100 RBIs in a season for the first time in his career.
Due to the acquisition of shortstop Edgar Rentería
from the Atlanta Braves
during the 2007–2008 offseason, and due to his decreased mobility, Guillén initially moved to first base to start the 2008 season. However, on April 22, manager Jim Leyland
announced that Guillén would be moving to third base, with Miguel Cabrera
becoming the new starting first baseman.
On September 27, 2008 Tigers manager Jim Leyland
announced that Guillén will play left field in 2009. Guillén sat out several weeks of the season with a shoulder injury.
Jim Leyland announced Guillén would play left field again in 2010 if he stays healthy, but Guillén publicly stated he would prefer to play third base or shortstop.
In May 2010, it was announced that Guillén would be the Tigers 2nd baseman after returning from a hamstring injury which he suffered on April 23, replacing rookie Scott Sizemore.
Guillén sat out the first half of 2011 after having microfracture surgery on his left knee in September. He finally returned to play on July 16 and got Jered Weaver
ejected of a July 31st game vs the Angels after he hit a solo shot and bragged about it at Comerica Park
, getting Weaver mad and ejected after throwing a high fastball to the following batter Detroit catcher Alex Avila
. Weaver was upset about Magglio Ordonez
hitting a home run off of him earlier, and constantly telling Tigers captain Miguel Cabrera
that he was "an asshole" about the situation. Guillen took matters into his own hands after hearing what Weaver said about his good friend, Ordonez. Currently, Guillen is the Tigers' starting 2nd baseman, but on August 14th got put back on the DL for a wrist injury.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and switch-hitter.
Guillén was signed by the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
as a non-draft amateur free agent in 1992. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
with pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Freddy García
Freddy García
Freddy Antonio García , nicknamed "The Chief", is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent...
and John Halama
John Halama
John Thadeuz Halama is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently playing for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League. During his major league career, Halama played with the Houston Astros , Seattle Mariners , Oakland Athletics , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , Boston Red Sox , Washington...
in the deal that sent Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
to the Astros. Guillén made his debut in 1998 and was traded to Detroit at the end of the 2003 season.
Seattle Mariners
In Seattle, Guillén was initially forced to play secondSecond baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and third
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
base with incumbent Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
at shortstop. After Alex Rodriguez signed with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for the season, Guillén moved back to his natural position. He had a league-average campaign in his first full season with the club.
In Game 3 of the 2000 American League Division Series
2000 American League Division Series
-Oakland Athletics vs. New York Yankees:-Chicago vs. Seattle:The Seattle Mariners returned to the postseason to avenge two postseason failures in the 1990s. The Chicago White Sox returned to the postseason for the first time since 1993...
, he hit a squeeze play
Squeeze play (baseball)
In baseball, the squeeze play is a maneuver consisting of a sacrifice bunt with a runner on third base. The batter bunts the ball, expecting to be thrown out at first base, but providing the runner on third base an opportunity to score...
in the bottom of the ninth inning to score Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
and complete the Mariners' sweep of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. In September 2001, Guillén was hospitalized after being diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, but was ready for the American League Championship Series
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
the following month.
2004-06
In , Guillén joined a young and restructured Tigers team. In a career year, he led his club in RBIRun batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(97), runs (97), doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(37), triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(10), total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
(283), slugging percentage (.542), OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
(.921), and his .318 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
was only second to .334 of teammate Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
. Guillén also got his first All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
berth. However, his breakout season was cut short, as he missed the final month of the 2004 season after tearing his ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
while legging out a triple.
He healed well during the 2004 05 offseason and was back to his previous form in time for 's opening day, although problems with his left hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
kept him out of the lineup for much of the year.
Guillén returned to elite status in having another outstanding season. His on-base percentage reached .400 for the first time in his career, and he led all Major League shortstops with a .919 OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
.
On August 1, 2006, Guillén became the tenth Tiger to hit for the cycle in a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
In 2006, Guillén became the first player in modern Major League history to raise his average for six consecutive seasons, batting .320. In the field, however, he tied for the major league lead in errors at shortstop, with 28.
2007-2011
On August 6, 2007, he got his 1,000th hit, knocking in Curtis GrandersonCurtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Before joining the Yankees in 2010, he played with the Detroit Tigers . A center fielder, Granderson is known for being a five-tool player...
with two out in the bottom of the first.
On September 30, 2007, on his 32nd birthday, Guillén hit the 93rd home run of his career and it gave him 100 RBIs in a season for the first time in his career.
Due to the acquisition of shortstop Edgar Rentería
Edgar Rentería
Edgar Enrique Rentería Herazo , nicknamed "The Barranquilla Baby," is a Colombian professional baseball shortstop. He throws and bats right-handed. Previously, he has played for the Florida Marlins, the St...
from the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
during the 2007–2008 offseason, and due to his decreased mobility, Guillén initially moved to first base to start the 2008 season. However, on April 22, manager Jim Leyland
Jim Leyland
James Richard "Jim" Leyland is a Major League Baseball manager, currently with the Detroit Tigers.He led the Florida Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997, and previously won three straight division titles with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
announced that Guillén would be moving to third base, with Miguel Cabrera
Miguel Cabrera
José Miguel Cabrera Torres nicknamed "Miggy", is a Venezuelan professional baseball first baseman with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed....
becoming the new starting first baseman.
On September 27, 2008 Tigers manager Jim Leyland
Jim Leyland
James Richard "Jim" Leyland is a Major League Baseball manager, currently with the Detroit Tigers.He led the Florida Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997, and previously won three straight division titles with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
announced that Guillén will play left field in 2009. Guillén sat out several weeks of the season with a shoulder injury.
Jim Leyland announced Guillén would play left field again in 2010 if he stays healthy, but Guillén publicly stated he would prefer to play third base or shortstop.
In May 2010, it was announced that Guillén would be the Tigers 2nd baseman after returning from a hamstring injury which he suffered on April 23, replacing rookie Scott Sizemore.
Guillén sat out the first half of 2011 after having microfracture surgery on his left knee in September. He finally returned to play on July 16 and got Jered Weaver
Jered Weaver
Jered David Weaver , is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...
ejected of a July 31st game vs the Angels after he hit a solo shot and bragged about it at Comerica Park
Comerica Park
Comerica Park is an open-air ballpark located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the home of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball's American League, replacing historic Tiger Stadium in 2000....
, getting Weaver mad and ejected after throwing a high fastball to the following batter Detroit catcher Alex Avila
Alex Avila
Alexander Thomas Avila is an American professional baseball catcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 210 pounds. Avila was born in Hialeah, Florida.-Early Baseball Career:...
. Weaver was upset about Magglio Ordonez
Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio José Ordóñez Delgado is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right fielder. He has played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers . Ordóñez is six feet, one inch tall and weighs .-Professional career:...
hitting a home run off of him earlier, and constantly telling Tigers captain Miguel Cabrera
Miguel Cabrera
José Miguel Cabrera Torres nicknamed "Miggy", is a Venezuelan professional baseball first baseman with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed....
that he was "an asshole" about the situation. Guillen took matters into his own hands after hearing what Weaver said about his good friend, Ordonez. Currently, Guillen is the Tigers' starting 2nd baseman, but on August 14th got put back on the DL for a wrist injury.