Maicer Izturis
Encyclopedia
Maicer Eduardo Izturis is a Major League Baseball
third baseman
, second baseman
, and shortstop
for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed. Izturis is the half brother of Baltimore Orioles
shortstop
César Izturis
.
He was signed by the Cleveland Indians
as a non-drafted free agent
on April 1, 1998, and was traded to the Montreal Expos
at the end of the 2003 season.
In 2004, Izturis hit .338 with three home run
s and 36 RBI
for the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers
before being promoted to the Major League level with the Montreal Expos. He registered a hit
in his August 27, 2004 debut, singling
off San Diego Padres
right-hander Dennis Tankersley
in the second inning. In 32 games with the Expos, Izturis hit .206 (22-for-107) with one home run and 14 RBI.
On November 19, 2004, Izturis was traded to the Angels along with outfielder
Juan Rivera for outfielder José Guillén
.
Though a shortstop
by trade, Gold Glover Orlando Cabrera
occupied that position on the Angels roster, relegating Izturis to the role of a utility infielder
. After the placement of veteran Darin Erstad
on the disabled list
, the Angels moved star utilityman
Chone Figgins
to center field during the 2006 campaign, and Izturis emerged as the club's starting third baseman
, until the Angels signed Gary Matthews, Jr.
to start in center field for the 2007 season, forcing Figgins back to third base.
In a game against the Cleveland Indians
on July 17, 2006, he had a career high four hits in one game, going 4-5 with 1 RBI and 3 runs
.
Izturis speaks to the press through an interpreter.
On January 25, 2010, the Angels signed Izturis to a three year contract worth $10 million, avoiding arbitration. FanGraphs
Matthew Carruth called it a "fantastic deal" at "an insanely discounted rate" estimating his market value at about $20 million over three years. Baseball Prospectus
called the deal a good 'insurance policy', adding, "he's a good enough offensive contributor to add value whatever the position among second, short, and third, and a good enough defender at any of them to be playable".
After Scot Shields'
retirement following the 2010 season, as well as the trade of Juan Rivera to the Toronto Blue Jays
, Izturis became the longest-tenured Angel.
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...
third baseman
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...
, 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 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...
for 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...
. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed. Izturis is the half brother of Baltimore Orioles
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...
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...
César Izturis
César Izturis
César David Izturis is a Major League Baseball shortstop who is currently a free agent. He is the half-brother of shortstop Maicer Izturis, who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Julio Izturis, who plays in the minor leagues in the San Francisco Giants organization.Izturis' greatest...
.
He was 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...
as a non-drafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on April 1, 1998, and was traded to the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
at the end of the 2003 season.
In 2004, Izturis hit .338 with three 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 36 RBI
Run 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...
for the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers
Edmonton Trappers
The Edmonton Trappers were a minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, ending with the 2004 season. Home games were played at Telus Field in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada....
before being promoted to the Major League level with the Montreal Expos. He registered a hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in his August 27, 2004 debut, singling
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...
off San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
right-hander Dennis Tankersley
Dennis Tankersley
Dennis Lee Tankersley is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. From through , Tankersley played for the San Diego Padres. He bats and throws right-handed.-Career:...
in the second inning. In 32 games with the Expos, Izturis hit .206 (22-for-107) with one home run and 14 RBI.
On November 19, 2004, Izturis was traded to the Angels along with 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...
Juan Rivera for outfielder José Guillén
José Guillén
José Manuel Guillén |San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic]]) is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. A prototypical league journeyman, the Giants were the tenth team for which Guillén has played since his major league debut in 1997....
.
Though a 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...
by trade, Gold Glover Orlando Cabrera
Orlando Cabrera
Orlando Luis Cabrera, nicknamed "O-Cab" and "The OC", is a Colombian-American baseball infielder.He won a World Series championship in 2004 with the Boston Red Sox. He has played for the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins,...
occupied that position on the Angels roster, relegating Izturis to the role of a utility infielder
Utility infielder
A utility infielder is a baseball player, usually one who does not have a regular starting role on the team and who is capable of playing more than one of the four defensive infield positions: second base, third base, shortstop, and less typically first base...
. After the placement of veteran Darin Erstad
Darin Erstad
Darin Charles Erstad is the Head Coach of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team and a former Major League Baseball outfielder/first baseman. Prior to , he had played with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise before signing with the Chicago White Sox in 2007...
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:...
, the Angels moved star utilityman
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
Chone Figgins
Chone Figgins
Desmond DeChone "Chone" Figgins is an American Major League Baseball third baseman for the Seattle Mariners. Figgins is a utility player, playing all positions except catcher, pitcher, and first base.-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim:...
to center field during the 2006 campaign, and Izturis emerged as the club's starting third baseman
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...
, until the Angels signed Gary Matthews, Jr.
Gary Matthews, Jr.
Gary Nathaniel Matthews, Jr. is an outfielder who is currently a free agent. Matthews is the son of Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Gary Matthews, who played 16 years in the majors as an outfielder. Matthews, Jr...
to start in center field for the 2007 season, forcing Figgins back to third base.
In a game against 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...
on July 17, 2006, he had a career high four hits in one game, going 4-5 with 1 RBI and 3 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...
.
Izturis speaks to the press through an interpreter.
On January 25, 2010, the Angels signed Izturis to a three year contract worth $10 million, avoiding arbitration. FanGraphs
Fangraphs
FanGraphs.com is a website run by Fangraphs Inc., located in Arlington, Virginia, and created and owned by David Appelman that provides statistics for every player in Major League Baseball history....
Matthew Carruth called it a "fantastic deal" at "an insanely discounted rate" estimating his market value at about $20 million over three years. Baseball Prospectus
Baseball Prospectus
Baseball Prospectus is an organization that publishes a website, BaseballProspectus.com, devoted to the sabermetric analysis of baseball. BP has a staff of regular columnists and provides advanced statistics as well player and team performance projections on the site...
called the deal a good 'insurance policy', adding, "he's a good enough offensive contributor to add value whatever the position among second, short, and third, and a good enough defender at any of them to be playable".
After Scot Shields'
Scot Shields
Robert Scot Shields is a former American Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He played his entire baseball career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, serving as their setup man since...
retirement following the 2010 season, as well as the trade of Juan Rivera to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto 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 ....
, Izturis became the longest-tenured Angel.