Carlos Gómez
Encyclopedia
Carlos Argelis Gómez Pena, nicknamed "Go-Go", (born December 4, 1985, in Santiago, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the Milwaukee Brewers
.
, Gómez was considered one of the top New York Mets
outfield
prospects, and was considered to be a five-tool prospect
. While they were teammates, Mets shortstop
José Reyes, who led the National League
in stolen bases and triples
for multiple seasons, said that Gómez is faster than he is. In fact, while he and Reyes were teammates with the Mets, he routinely beat Reyes in foot races during Spring training
.
In , he played for the Double-A Binghamton Mets
of the Eastern League, and was the co-winner of the Sterling Award
. He finished second in the league with 41 stolen bases and fifth in the league with eight triples. He also batted .281 (121–430) with 53 runs scored, 24 doubles, seven home run
s and 48 runs batted in.
Gómez started the season with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs
. Playing every day, by the second week of May he led the Pacific Coast League
with 17 stolen bases in 36 games and hit .286 (40-for-140), scoring 24 runs
, and hitting eight doubles
, two triples
, and two home runs.
Gómez was part of the youth movement in New York, and had quickly become a fan favorite at Shea Stadium
. He was the youngest player in the National League
when he made his major league debut on May 13, 2007. On May 16, 2007, he appeared in the Mets starting lineup along with Carlos Beltrán
and Carlos Delgado
, marking the first time in Major League history that a single team had three starters named "Carlos" in their lineup. He was nicknamed 'Little Carlos', since he was the third Carlos on the team.
He became expendable when Johan Santana
, of the Minnesota Twins
, became available via trade, and on January 29, 2008, he and pitcher
s Deolis Guerra
, Phillip Humber & Kevin Mulvey
were sent to the Twins for the two time Cy Young Award
winner.
Gómez became the starting center fielder
for the Twins, following Torii Hunter
's signing with the Los Angeles Angels. He won a three-way race for the center field in 2008, beating out prospects Denard Span
and Jason Pridie
. Gómez's 40-time had been clocked at 4.29 by the MLB. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire
has nicknamed him "Go-Go" due to his last name and his blazing speed. Batting first, with Alexi Casilla
batting second, Gardenhire has referred to the speedy duo as "Loose Cannon One," and "Loose Cannon Two."
He had an excellent regular-season debut for the Twins, going 2-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and two runs as the Twins beat the Angels, 3–2. On April 11, 2008, Gómez hit his first career triple off Yasuhiko Yabuta
of the Royals
.
On May 7, 2008, Gómez hit for the cycle
against the Chicago White Sox
at U.S. Cellular Field
in Chicago. He became the fourth major leaguer and second in Twins history to hit for the reverse natural cycle. He also became the third-youngest player to hit for the cycle in MLB history.
In 2008 he led the major leagues with 30 bunt hits, but was also picked off a major-league-leading 10 times. Defensively, he led all major league center fielders in errors, with 8.
in exchange for J. J. Hardy.
In 2011, he led all NL outfielders in range factor
, at 2.97, and tied for the NL lead in fielding percentage of outfielders, at 1.000. Through 2011, he had the best career range factor of all active major league outfielders, at 2.923. During the 2011 Postseason, Gómez hit .357, with 1 home run and 2 RBIs.
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for 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...
.
Minor leagues
At just 16 years of age, Gómez signed with the Mets as an international free agent on July 27, 2002. Along with Fernando MartínezFernando Martínez (baseball)
Jesús Fernando Martínez Álvarez is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder. He is a current Free agent, and last played for the orginization o fht eNew York Mets appearing several times in the majors, in center-field.-Career:...
, Gómez was considered one of the top New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
prospects, and was considered to be a five-tool prospect
Five-tool player
In baseball, a five-tool player is one who excels at hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning skills and speed, throwing ability, and fielding abilities....
. While they were teammates, Mets shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
José Reyes, who led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in stolen bases and 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....
for multiple seasons, said that Gómez is faster than he is. In fact, while he and Reyes were teammates with the Mets, he routinely beat Reyes in foot races during Spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
.
In , he played for the Double-A Binghamton Mets
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Mets are a U.S. minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club...
of the Eastern League, and was the co-winner of the Sterling Award
Sterling Award
The Sterling Award was an award given to the top player, or players, in the New York Mets organization at each level of the minor leagues, emblematic of the team's Most Valuable Player. The award was called the Doubleday Award in honor of former Mets co-owner Nelson Doubleday, Jr....
. He finished second in the league with 41 stolen bases and fifth in the league with eight triples. He also batted .281 (121–430) with 53 runs scored, 24 doubles, seven home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 48 runs batted in.
Gómez started the season with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
. Playing every day, by the second week of May he led the 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...
with 17 stolen bases in 36 games and hit .286 (40-for-140), scoring 24 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and hitting eight 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....
, two 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....
, and two home runs.
New York Mets (2007)
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
. He was the youngest player in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
when he made his major league debut on May 13, 2007. On May 16, 2007, he appeared in the Mets starting lineup along with Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Beltrán
Carlos Iván Beltrán is a Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:In his youth, Beltrán excelled in many sports, with volleyball and baseball being his favorites. At his father's urging, he gave up volleyball to concentrate on baseball when he was seventeen...
and Carlos Delgado
Carlos Delgado
Carlos Juan Delgado Hernández is a retired Puerto Rican professional baseball player. With 473 home runs and 1,512 RBI, he holds the all-time home run and RBI records among Puerto Rican players....
, marking the first time in Major League history that a single team had three starters named "Carlos" in their lineup. He was nicknamed 'Little Carlos', since he was the third Carlos on the team.
He became expendable when Johan Santana
Johan Santana
Johan Alexander Santana Araque is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher who is currently playing for the New York Mets. He is a native of Venezuela....
, of the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, became available via trade, and on January 29, 2008, he and 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...
s Deolis Guerra
Deolis Guerra
Deolis Alexander Guerra is a minor league right-handed pitcher in the Minnesota Twins' organization currently assigned to the Twins' Double-A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats....
, Phillip Humber & Kevin Mulvey
Kevin Mulvey
Kevin John Mulvey is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Minnesota Twins.-Early life:Mulvey is a New Jersey native...
were sent to the Twins for the two time Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner.
Minnesota Twins (2008-09)
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
for the Twins, following Torii Hunter
Torii Hunter
Torii Kedar Hunter is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.Hunter has taken away many home runs throughout his 13-year major league career by "climbing the fence" in the outfield. He has won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards as an outfielder.Hunter resides...
's signing with the Los Angeles Angels. He won a three-way race for the center field in 2008, beating out prospects Denard Span
Denard Span
Keiunta Denard Span is an American Major League Baseball outfielder for the Minnesota Twins. He was selected by the Twins with the 20th overall pick in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft from Tampa Catholic High School...
and Jason Pridie
Jason Pridie
Jason Orville Pridie is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.-Tampa Bay Rays:...
. Gómez's 40-time had been clocked at 4.29 by the MLB. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire
Ron Gardenhire
Ronald Clyde "Gardy" Gardenhire is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and current manager of the Minnesota Twins.He is six feet tall and weighed 175 pounds during most of his baseball career....
has nicknamed him "Go-Go" due to his last name and his blazing speed. Batting first, with Alexi Casilla
Alexi Casilla
Alexi Casilla Lora is a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Minnesota Twins.-Professional career:...
batting second, Gardenhire has referred to the speedy duo as "Loose Cannon One," and "Loose Cannon Two."
He had an excellent regular-season debut for the Twins, going 2-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and two runs as the Twins beat the Angels, 3–2. On April 11, 2008, Gómez hit his first career triple off Yasuhiko Yabuta
Yasuhiko Yabuta
is a Japanese baseball pitcher. He currently plays for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He competed in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and struck out Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, and Derrek Lee....
of the Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
.
On May 7, 2008, Gómez hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
against 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...
at U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field
U.S. Cellular Field is a baseball ballpark in Chicago, Illinois. Owned by the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, it is the home of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball's American League. The park opened for the 1991 season, after the White Sox had spent 81 years at old Comiskey Park...
in Chicago. He became the fourth major leaguer and second in Twins history to hit for the reverse natural cycle. He also became the third-youngest player to hit for the cycle in MLB history.
In 2008 he led the major leagues with 30 bunt hits, but was also picked off a major-league-leading 10 times. Defensively, he led all major league center fielders in errors, with 8.
Milwaukee Brewers (2010-present)
On November 6, 2009, Gómez was traded to the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee 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 exchange for J. J. Hardy.
In 2011, he led all NL outfielders in range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
, at 2.97, and tied for the NL lead in fielding percentage of outfielders, at 1.000. Through 2011, he had the best career range factor of all active major league outfielders, at 2.923. During the 2011 Postseason, Gómez hit .357, with 1 home run and 2 RBIs.