Manuel Pina
Encyclopedia
Manuel Elías Piña Reyes (ˈpiːnjə; born June 5, 1987 in Barquisimeto
, Venezuela
) is a major league baseball catcher for the Kansas City Royals
.
system, hitting .247 in 27 games for the AZL Rangers. He played for the AZL Rangers again in 2007, hitting .244 in 14 games. In 2007, he played for the Clinton LumberKings
, hitting .228 in 86 games. He split 2008 between the Bakersfield Blaze
(61 games) and Frisco RoughRiders
(23 games), hitting .267 overall. With the RoughRiders again in 2009, he hit .259 in 86 games.
On September 3, 2009, he was traded with Tim Smith to the Royals for Daniel Gutierrez.
On July 31, 2011, Piña was added to the Royals' active roster after Matt Treanor
was placed on the disabled list
. He made his major league debut on August 3, getting two hits in a win over the Baltimore Orioles
. He also threw out Vladimir Guerrero
while trying to steal
second base in the first inning of this game.
Barquisimeto
Barquisimeto is the capital city of the State of Lara located in west central Venezuela, halfway between Caracas and Maracaibo on the Turbio River.-Overview:...
, Venezuela
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 catcher for 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...
.
Career
Piña began his professional baseball career in 2005 in the Texas RangersTexas 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...
system, hitting .247 in 27 games for the AZL Rangers. He played for the AZL Rangers again in 2007, hitting .244 in 14 games. In 2007, he played for the Clinton LumberKings
Clinton LumberKings
The Clinton LumberKings are a Midwest League Class A minor league baseball team based in Clinton, Iowa, USA, affiliated with the Seattle Mariners.-History:Clinton joined the Midwest League in 1954 and is the oldest franchise in the league...
, hitting .228 in 86 games. He split 2008 between the Bakersfield Blaze
Bakersfield Blaze
The Bakersfield Blaze are a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and are a farm team of the Cincinnati Reds. The Bakersfield Blaze play their home games at Historic Sam Lynn Ballpark...
(61 games) and Frisco RoughRiders
Frisco RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are currently the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball club. The team plays in the Texas League, assigned to the South Division. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport, Louisiana, and were known as the Shreveport Captains...
(23 games), hitting .267 overall. With the RoughRiders again in 2009, he hit .259 in 86 games.
On September 3, 2009, he was traded with Tim Smith to the Royals for Daniel Gutierrez.
On July 31, 2011, Piña was added to the Royals' active roster after Matt Treanor
Matt Treanor
Matthew Aaron Treanor is an American professional baseball catcher who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball...
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:...
. He made his major league debut on August 3, getting two hits in a win over the 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...
. He also threw out Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Guerrero
Vladimir Alvino Guerrero is a free agent Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter.In , he was voted the American League MVP...
while trying to steal
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
second base in the first inning of this game.