Erick Aybar
Encyclopedia
Erick Johan Aybar is a Major League Baseball
shortstop
with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
.
. He is affectionately referred to as "Admiral Aybar" by Angels fans, named after the beloved Star Wars character Admiral Ackbar
.
on September 25, 2007, in a game against the Texas Rangers
.
On September 5, 2009, Aybar tied a franchise record for most triples in a game, 2, against the Kansas City Royals
.
September 8, 2009, Aybar had his first career walk-off hit, against the Seattle Mariners
.
In game 4 of the 2009 ALCS, Aybar made a single non-glove hand catch to get a double play.
He used to have long dreads, but before Game 6 of the 2009 ALCS he shaved his head.
In Game 3 of the 2009 ALDS against the Boston Red Sox, his hit against Jonathan Papelbon in the 9th inning with 2 outs and 2 strikes kept the Angels alive in Game 3. They would go on to win the game and sweep the nemesis Red Sox.
On November 1, 2011, Aybar was awarded his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award
.
would accept in a deal for ace Roy Halladay
, but broke down when the Angels refused to send Aybar to Toronto as part of the deal. Some speculation had it that Aybar was Angels' owner Arte Moreno's favorite player. His name was raised again as a potential trade piece in a move for Halladay during the 2009 Winter Meetings. General Manager Tony Reagins
commented that, "It would take a significant package to move some players. Erick is very talented. We haven't seen the best of him yet. He's still improving, and there's a real good chance we'll see that in an Angels uniform." Scioscia confirmed that much of the discussions turned on Aybar, saying, "It just didn't turn out to be a match. But I do know Toronto was asking for our shortstop."
and the Dominican Republic
squared off. Both of these countries are no strangers to each other and have developed a very heated rivalry over the years.
Down, 4-3, in the ninth, Baltimore
catcher
Ramon Hernandez
, named the Caribbean Series MVP, led off the bottom of the frame with a single
and was immediately replaced by pinch runner
William Bergolla
. The moved proved to be a wise one because Bergolla advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and tied the game at 4 when he rambled home on Gonzalez's single to right field. He would not stay at first long.
Cubs catcher Henry Blanco
followed with a high popup to shallow left field between Dominican shortstop Erick Aybar and left fielder Napoleón Calzado
. Backpedaling and seemingly confused, the ball hit Aybar's head and rolled away. Gonzalez sped around the bases to send Venezuela's Caracas Baseball Club into the record books with a 5-4 victory to secure the title.
infield/outfielder Willy Aybar
. He is also the cousin of Wil Aybar, who coaches Central Mass Diving and the diving team at The College of the Holy Cross
in Worcester, Massachusetts
.
Aybar has a wife, Nhachari Aybar.
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...
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...
with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
.
Dominican Republic
Aybar has also previously played in the Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. He is affectionately referred to as "Admiral Aybar" by Angels fans, named after the beloved Star Wars character Admiral Ackbar
Admiral Ackbar
Admiral Ackbar is a fictional character in the Star Wars science fiction saga. A member of the amphibious Mon Calamari species, Ackbar was the foremost military commander of the Rebel Alliance who led major combat operations against the Galactic Empire and was later integral in the formation of the...
.
Highlights
Aybar hit his first career major league home runHome 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...
on September 25, 2007, in a game against 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...
.
On September 5, 2009, Aybar tied a franchise record for most triples in a game, 2, against the Kansas City 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...
.
September 8, 2009, Aybar had his first career walk-off hit, against 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...
.
In game 4 of the 2009 ALCS, Aybar made a single non-glove hand catch to get a double play.
He used to have long dreads, but before Game 6 of the 2009 ALCS he shaved his head.
In Game 3 of the 2009 ALDS against the Boston Red Sox, his hit against Jonathan Papelbon in the 9th inning with 2 outs and 2 strikes kept the Angels alive in Game 3. They would go on to win the game and sweep the nemesis Red Sox.
On November 1, 2011, Aybar was awarded his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award
Rawlings Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
.
2009
In 2009, Aybar hit .312 (eight in the AL) and posted the fourth-best OPS (.776) of all AL shortstops.2009 Trade Rumors
In 2009, Aybar was included in a rumored list of players that the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
would accept in a deal for ace Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay
Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
, but broke down when the Angels refused to send Aybar to Toronto as part of the deal. Some speculation had it that Aybar was Angels' owner Arte Moreno's favorite player. His name was raised again as a potential trade piece in a move for Halladay during the 2009 Winter Meetings. General Manager Tony Reagins
Tony Reagins
Tony Demetrius Reagins was an executive in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Reagins had previously served as general manager of the Angels from 2007 until his 2011 resignation...
commented that, "It would take a significant package to move some players. Erick is very talented. We haven't seen the best of him yet. He's still improving, and there's a real good chance we'll see that in an Angels uniform." Scioscia confirmed that much of the discussions turned on Aybar, saying, "It just didn't turn out to be a match. But I do know Toronto was asking for our shortstop."
Caribbean Series
During the MLB offseason, Aybar plays in the Caribbean Series alongside many other fellow MLB players from the countries involved. It is a way for them to prepare for the upcoming MLB season by playing in live games and it is a way for them to represent their country. The most talked about series was probably in 2006 when VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
squared off. Both of these countries are no strangers to each other and have developed a very heated rivalry over the years.
Down, 4-3, in the ninth, Baltimore
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Ramon Hernandez
Ramón Hernández
Ramón José Hernández Marin is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher who plays for the Colorado Rockies. Previously, he played with the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles , and Cincinnati Reds .-Career:Hernández is a career .263 hitter with 144 home runs, 651 RBI, and 455...
, named the Caribbean Series MVP, led off the bottom of the frame with a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
and was immediately replaced by pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
William Bergolla
William Bergolla
William José Bergolla is a second baseman. Bergolla was signed by the Cincinnati Reds as a non-drafted free agent in and made his major league debut on May 9, . He bats and throws right-handed....
. The moved proved to be a wise one because Bergolla advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and tied the game at 4 when he rambled home on Gonzalez's single to right field. He would not stay at first long.
Cubs catcher Henry Blanco
Henry Blanco
Henry Ramón Blanco is a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He currently plays in Major League Baseball as a catcher and is currently a free agent...
followed with a high popup to shallow left field between Dominican shortstop Erick Aybar and left fielder Napoleón Calzado
Napoleón Calzado
Napoleón Calzado is a former Major League Baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles. Calzado played for the Orioles in the season. In four games, he had one hit in five at bats, playing the outfield. He batted and threw right-handed...
. Backpedaling and seemingly confused, the ball hit Aybar's head and rolled away. Gonzalez sped around the bases to send Venezuela's Caracas Baseball Club into the record books with a 5-4 victory to secure the title.
Family
Aybar is the youngest brother (by 10 months) of former Tampa Bay RaysTampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
infield/outfielder Willy Aybar
Willy Aybar
Willy Del Jesus Aybar is an infielder who currently plays for the Yuma Scorpions in the North American League. Aybar has previously played in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and Tampa Bay Rays...
. He is also the cousin of Wil Aybar, who coaches Central Mass Diving and the diving team at The College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
.
Aybar has a wife, Nhachari Aybar.