Ezequiel Carrera
Encyclopedia
Ezequiel Manuel Carrera (born June 11, 1987 in Guiria, Venezuela
) is a Major League Baseball
center fielder
for the Cleveland Indians
. He was the starting outfielder for the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
. He was signed with the New York Mets
as a non-drafted free agent on April 4, . He was named the "best defensive outfielder" in the Florida State League
in by Baseball America
.
and batted .227 with eight RBIs and 19 runs scored in 45 games.
In he hit .301 with one homer, 19 RBIs, 41 runs scored and 22 stolen bases in 57 games in the Venezuelan Summer League. He went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base on June 2. Carrera stole three bases on June 13.
He started and spent most of the season with the Rookie-League Gulf Coast League Mets
of the Gulf Coast League
but also played with the Short-Season Brooklyn Cyclones
. He hit .329 between the two clubs with 82 hits, 10 doubles, three triples, one home runs, 32 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.
In he spent the season with the Class-A St. Lucie Mets
where he served as the primary leadoff hitter and ranked fourth in the Florida State League
with 28 stolen bases.
, Aaron Heilman
, Mike Carp
, and Jason Vargas
to the Seattle Mariners
in a 12-player deal on December 10, 2008.
Carrera had a break-out season batting .337 with two home runs, 38 RBIs and 27 steals batting lead-off for the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
of the Midwest League
. He was named to the Southern League Mid-Season All-Star Team on June 29. He was placed on the disabled list
on July 9 with a right thumb injury. He was reinstated on August 1. Carrera and teammate Greg Halman
were selected to the 2009 Southern League Postseason All-Star Team as voted upon by the league's field managers, radio broadcasters and print media. Carrera was also a mid-season All-Star selection as well is leading the league in batting average.
along with Juan Díaz for Russell Branyan
.
Carrera was called up by the Indians on May 20, 2011. He made his major league debut that night as a pinch hitter. In his first major league plate appearance, he reached first base safely on a drag bunt, driving in the game-winning run in the eighth inning.
Carrera was optioned back to Triple-A Columbus on May 26, 2011. After a series of recalls and options, Carrera spent the majority of the season with the Indians.
Venezuela
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...
) is a Major League Baseball
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...
center fielder
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 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 was the starting outfielder for the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...
. He was signed with the 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...
as a non-drafted free agent on April 4, . He was named the "best defensive outfielder" in the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
in by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
.
New York Mets
Carrera spent the season in the Venezuelan Summer LeagueVenezuelan Summer League
The Venezuelan Summer League is a minor league baseball rookie league which operates in Carabobo and Aragua states, Venezuela.The VSL was created in 1997, after several operational years of the Major League Baseball's academies in the country...
and batted .227 with eight RBIs and 19 runs scored in 45 games.
In he hit .301 with one homer, 19 RBIs, 41 runs scored and 22 stolen bases in 57 games in the Venezuelan Summer League. He went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base on June 2. Carrera stole three bases on June 13.
He started and spent most of the season with the Rookie-League Gulf Coast League Mets
Gulf Coast League Mets
The Gulf Coast League Mets are the Rookie "A" Level minor league affiliate of the New York Mets. The team plays at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The GCL Mets entered the league in 1988 playing their home games in Sarasota, Florida at Twin Lakes Park. The team moved their base of...
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...
but also played with the Short-Season Brooklyn Cyclones
Brooklyn Cyclones
The Brooklyn Cyclones is a minor league baseball team in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League, affiliated with the New York Mets. The Cyclones play at MCU Park just off the Coney Island boardwalk in the New York City borough of Brooklyn....
. He hit .329 between the two clubs with 82 hits, 10 doubles, three triples, one home runs, 32 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.
In he spent the season with the Class-A St. Lucie Mets
St. Lucie Mets
The St. Lucie Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Port St. Lucie, Florida.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club.The team plays at Digital Domain Park...
where he served as the primary leadoff hitter and ranked fourth in the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
with 28 stolen bases.
Seattle Mariners
The Mets traded Carrera along with Endy ChávezEndy Chávez
Endy de Jesus Chávez is a Major League Baseball outfielder.Chávez bats and throws left-handed and is considered to have good fielding skills, speed, and the ability to hit to all parts of the field...
, Aaron Heilman
Aaron Heilman
Aaron Michael Heilman is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. Heilman was drafted by the New York Mets out of Notre Dame in 2001. He came up through the Mets system as a starting pitcher but was converted to a relief pitcher in 2005...
, Mike Carp
Mike Carp
Christopher Michael Carp is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Seattle Mariners.-Professional career:...
, and Jason Vargas
Jason Vargas
Jason Matthew Vargas is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. He has played parts of two seasons in the major leagues with the Florida Marlins, part of one season in the major leagues with the New York Mets and the last two seasons with the Seattle Mariners.-College...
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...
in a 12-player deal on December 10, 2008.
Carrera had a break-out season batting .337 with two home runs, 38 RBIs and 27 steals batting lead-off for the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...
of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. He was named to the Southern League Mid-Season All-Star Team on June 29. He was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
on July 9 with a right thumb injury. He was reinstated on August 1. Carrera and teammate Greg Halman
Greg Halman
Gregory Anthony "Greg" Halman was a Dutch professional baseball outfielder. He played with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball during the and seasons...
were selected to the 2009 Southern League Postseason All-Star Team as voted upon by the league's field managers, radio broadcasters and print media. Carrera was also a mid-season All-Star selection as well is leading the league in batting average.
Cleveland Indians
On June 26, 2010 he was traded to the Cleveland IndiansCleveland 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...
along with Juan Díaz for Russell Branyan
Russell Branyan
Russell Oles Branyan is a Major League Baseball first baseman. He throws right-handed, bats left-handed, and primarily plays first base, but is capable of playing third base and the outfield. Branyan began his professional career in the Cleveland Indians minor league system...
.
Carrera was called up by the Indians on May 20, 2011. He made his major league debut that night as a pinch hitter. In his first major league plate appearance, he reached first base safely on a drag bunt, driving in the game-winning run in the eighth inning.
Carrera was optioned back to Triple-A Columbus on May 26, 2011. After a series of recalls and options, Carrera spent the majority of the season with the Indians.