Pedro Feliz
Encyclopedia
Pedro Julio Feliz is a Dominican Republic
minor league baseball
third baseman
for the San Diego Padres
of Major League Baseball
. Feliz has hit 20 or more home run
s in four of his first five seasons as a starting third baseman
and is an above average fielder at third base. He spent the first eight years of his major league career with the San Francisco Giants
(2000 through 2007) before signing a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies
in 2008.
s expanded in September 2000.
for 51 games at third base, played 70 games for the injured J. T. Snow
at first base
, appeared in 20 at shortstop
and four in the outfield
. With the bat, Feliz posted career highs in ((batting average)) (.276), ((home runs)) (22), ((RBI)) (84), ((at bats)) (603), and ((games played)) (144).
Feliz has been moved around defensively throughout, especially during the Giants' injury-riddled season. By 2007, he had settled into the role of the Giants' starting third baseman.
Although Feliz is a decent power hitter, his career batting average prior to the season was only .255, and he draws few walks, having never posted an on-base percentage above .305 or an OPS
above .793. He has often been criticized for his lack of patience at the plate. In , he struck out a career-high 112 times.
On June 8, 2007, in a game against the Oakland Athletics
, Feliz played catcher
for the first time in his major league career. During that game, the Giants' starting catcher Bengie Molina
left on a double switch. Their backup catcher, Eliézer Alfonzo
, was injured on a play at the plate and had to leave the game in the 10th inning. With the Giants out of position players, Feliz moved to catcher, Randy Winn
moved from center field
to third, Dan Ortmeier
moved from right field
to center, and pitcher Noah Lowry
came into the game in right. After the season, Feliz was honored with a Fielding Bible Award
as the best fielding third baseman in MLB in 2007.
He was seeking a 3-year contract extension with the Giants following the conclusion of his contract after the 2007 season, but the Giants decided against such an offer. Feliz declined salary arbitration and filed for free agency.
. The Giants offered Feliz more guaranteed money, but Feliz felt alienated by the Giants' demeanor during negotiations. In 2008, struggling with an inflamed lower back, Feliz's power declined from previous seasons, but he delivered one of the most important base hits in Phillies' history when he batted in Eric Bruntlett
to score the winning run for the team in its Game 5 World Series clinching win over the Tampa Bay Rays
.
On November 8, 2009, Philadelphia management declined Feliz' option for the 2010 season.
.
in the independent leagues on May 13, 2011.
and was assigned to the Triple-A Tucson Padres.
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...
minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
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...
for the 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...
of 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...
. Feliz has hit 20 or more 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 in four of his first five seasons as a 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...
and is an above average fielder at third base. He spent the first eight years of his major league career with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(2000 through 2007) before signing a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 2008.
Minor League career
Feliz was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent on February 7, 1994. He spent parts of seven seasons in the San Francisco Giants' farm system before being called up to the Giants when the rosterRoster
A roster is a list of names of people involved with an organization of some kind.A roster can be a list of people and the times when they are required to work or a list of students in a classroom....
s expanded in September 2000.
San Francisco Giants
Feliz played for the Giants from to , and was their only homegrown position player from through 2007. After a few seasons coming off the bench and starting occasionally, a number of injuries on the Giants gave Feliz the opportunity to become a regular player in . He filled in for regular Edgardo AlfonzoEdgardo Alfonzo
Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo a.k.a. "Fonzie" is a former Major League Baseball infielder who most recently played for the Yomiuri Giants. He bats and throws right-handed, and is tall and weighs...
for 51 games at third base, played 70 games for the injured J. T. Snow
J. T. Snow
Jack Thomas "J. T." Snow, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. He played all but two games in his career as a first baseman, and played nine of his 13½ seasons with the San Francisco Giants...
at first base
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, appeared in 20 at 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...
and four in the 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...
. With the bat, Feliz posted career highs in ((batting average)) (.276), ((home runs)) (22), ((RBI)) (84), ((at bats)) (603), and ((games played)) (144).
Feliz has been moved around defensively throughout, especially during the Giants' injury-riddled season. By 2007, he had settled into the role of the Giants' starting third baseman.
Although Feliz is a decent power hitter, his career batting average prior to the season was only .255, and he draws few walks, having never posted an on-base percentage above .305 or an OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
above .793. He has often been criticized for his lack of patience at the plate. In , he struck out a career-high 112 times.
On June 8, 2007, in a game against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, Feliz played 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...
for the first time in his major league career. During that game, the Giants' starting catcher Bengie Molina
Bengie Molina
Benjamin José "Bengie" Molina , nicknamed "Big Money", is a former Major League Baseball catcher.He is the older brother of major league catchers José Molina and Yadier Molina....
left on a double switch. Their backup catcher, Eliézer Alfonzo
Eliézer Alfonzo
Eliézer Jesús Alfonzo is a professional baseball catcher who is currently with the Colorado Rockies. He has played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball, most recently in 2011 with the Colorado Rockies. He bats and throws right-handed. Eliézer is the second cousin of former MLB star...
, was injured on a play at the plate and had to leave the game in the 10th inning. With the Giants out of position players, Feliz moved to catcher, Randy Winn
Randy Winn
Dwight Randolph Winn is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Winn was a switch hitter, and threw right-handed. He played college baseball at Santa Clara University and made his Major League debut in 1998 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
moved from center field
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...
to third, Dan Ortmeier
Dan Ortmeier
Daniel David Ortmeier is a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman who is currently a Free Agent. He made his major league debut on September 5, , with the San Francisco Giants.-High school:...
moved from right field
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
to center, and pitcher Noah Lowry
Noah Lowry
Noah Ryan Lowry is a free agent left-handed starting pitcher formerly of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.-College and the MLB Draft:...
came into the game in right. After the season, Feliz was honored with a Fielding Bible Award
Fielding Bible Award
A Fielding Bible Award recognizes the best defensive player for each fielding position in Major League Baseball based on statistical analysis. John Dewan and Baseball Info Solutions conduct the annual selection process...
as the best fielding third baseman in MLB in 2007.
He was seeking a 3-year contract extension with the Giants following the conclusion of his contract after the 2007 season, but the Giants decided against such an offer. Feliz declined salary arbitration and filed for free agency.
Philadelphia Phillies
On January 31, 2008, Feliz signed a two year deal with the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. The Giants offered Feliz more guaranteed money, but Feliz felt alienated by the Giants' demeanor during negotiations. In 2008, struggling with an inflamed lower back, Feliz's power declined from previous seasons, but he delivered one of the most important base hits in Phillies' history when he batted in Eric Bruntlett
Eric Bruntlett
Eric Kevin Bruntlett is a retired Major League Baseball utility player who last played in the New York Yankees organization. He was known for his defensive versatility; he usually played second base or shortstop, but has also played left field. Bruntlett played every position except for catcher...
to score the winning run for the team in its Game 5 World Series clinching win over the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa 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...
.
On November 8, 2009, Philadelphia management declined Feliz' option for the 2010 season.
Houston Astros
On December 10, 2009, Feliz signed a $4 million 1-year deal with the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
St. Louis Cardinals
On August 19, 2010, Feliz was traded to the Cardinals in exchange for cash considerations and minor league pitcher David Carpenter.Kansas City Royals
On February 3, 2011, Feliz was signed to a minor league deal by the Kansas City Royals, with an invitation to Spring Training. On March 28, Feliz was released.Camden Riversharks
Feliz signed with the Camden RiversharksCamden Riversharks
The Camden Riversharks is an American professional baseball team based in Camden, New Jersey. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
in the independent leagues on May 13, 2011.
San Diego Padres
On August 10, 2011, Feliz signed a minor league contract with the San Diego PadresSan 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...
and was assigned to the Triple-A Tucson Padres.