Yuniesky Betancourt
Encyclopedia
Yuniesky Betancourt (born January 31, 1982, in Santa Clara, Cuba
) is a Major League Baseball
shortstop
. He resides in Boca Raton, Florida
.
, including Villa Clara of the Serie Nacional
. He was considered the fastest second baseman
in the Cuban leagues and the star of the Villa Clara team. In the finals against the Industriales in , he got a hit
in nearly every at bat
, though the Industriales won, 4 games to 0. He left Cuba on a speedboat in December 2003 and ended up in Mexico, where he played for a while before signing with Seattle Mariners scouts Bob Engle and Patrick Guerrero on January 26, 2005. He made his major league debut on July 28, .
Betancourt's calling card had been his fielding. In his first few seasons, he began being considered one of the best fielders in the game, combining excellent range, quickness, soft hands, hand-eye coordination, and his strong, accurate throwing arm. He was named one of the top fielders in baseball in a online fan's poll. In 2007, he made many good fielding plays. However, he suffered through spells of throwing wildness that season. Bad throws accounted for most of his 18 errors
in the first half of , almost as many as his total of 20. He turned things around and made only 5 errors in the second half of 2007. His defense suffered in , with several fielding metrics calling him one of the worst shortstops in baseball.
Betancourt has been a hitter with some gap power who rarely strikes out or walks. He has been criticized for his lack of plate discipline and inability to bunt. In 2006, he walked
only 3.0% of the time, the second-worst percentage in Major League Baseball. However, he only struck out
9.7% of the time, one of the top 20 percentages.
Betancourt was among the league leaders in batting with runners in scoring position and game-winning RBI
in 2007. In a late season game in 2007, former Mariner Mike Blowers
referred to Betancourt as being "unreal" when batting with runners on in close late games-a result at odds with his career statistics. He hit his first grand slam
in a 7–6 win against the Chicago White Sox
on August 11, 2007.
In 2008, he again walked
only 3.0% of the time, the worst percentage in Major League Baseball.
His strikeout
rate dropped to 7.5%. He also saw the fewest pitches per plate appearance of all major leaguers, 3.15.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-pitches-batting.shtml
along with a portion of his salary for Minor League pitchers Derrick Saito and Dan Cortes.
In 2009, he had the lowest on base percentage of any starter in the major leagues, at .274, and the lowest slugging percentage in the American League with .351.
In 2010, he hit an opening day home run off Detroit Tigers
pitcher Justin Verlander
, and went on to finish the season with a career-high 16 home runs. Many of his other statistics, including his batting average, on base percentage, and fielding percentage, increased slightly from his 2009 numbers.
along with teammate Zack Greinke
and USD$
2,000,000, reportedly to offset the buyout of Betancourt's club option in 2012, for Alcides Escobar
, Lorenzo Cain
, Jeremy Jeffress
, and Jake Odorizzi
.
In 2011 he batted .252 with a .271 on base percentage, and led the NL in sacrifice flies, with 10. He saw the fewest pitches per plate appearance of all major league ballplayers with 512 or more plate appearances, at 3.16.
Betancourt hit his first career postseason home run on October 9th, 2011 in a 9-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in game one of the NLCS.
Santa Clara, Cuba
Santa Clara is the capital city of the Cuban province of Villa Clara. It is located in the most central region of the province and almost in the most central region of the country.- History :Santa Clara was founded by 175 people on July 15th, 1689...
) 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...
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...
. He resides in Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
.
Cuban leagues
His early career was spent in the Cuban leaguesBaseball in Cuba
Baseball is the official sport of Cuba.-The Early years :Baseball was introduced to Cuba in the 1860s by Cuban students returning from colleges in the United States and American sailors who ported in the country...
, including Villa Clara of the Serie Nacional
Cuban National Series
The Cuban National Series is the primary domestic amateur baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban national baseball system.-League structure:...
. He was considered the fastest 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...
in the Cuban leagues and the star of the Villa Clara team. In the finals against the Industriales in , he got 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 nearly every at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, though the Industriales won, 4 games to 0. He left Cuba on a speedboat in December 2003 and ended up in Mexico, where he played for a while before signing with Seattle Mariners scouts Bob Engle and Patrick Guerrero on January 26, 2005. He made his major league debut on July 28, .
Seattle Mariners (2005-09)
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in the first half of , almost as many as his total of 20. He turned things around and made only 5 errors in the second half of 2007. His defense suffered in , with several fielding metrics calling him one of the worst shortstops in baseball.
Betancourt has been a hitter with some gap power who rarely strikes out or walks. He has been criticized for his lack of plate discipline and inability to bunt. In 2006, he walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
only 3.0% of the time, the second-worst percentage in Major League Baseball. However, he only struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
9.7% of the time, one of the top 20 percentages.
Betancourt was among the league leaders in batting with runners in scoring position and game-winning 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...
in 2007. In a late season game in 2007, former Mariner Mike Blowers
Mike Blowers
Michael Roy Blowers is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and first baseman. He is an alumnus of Bethel High School in Spanaway, Washington, Tacoma Community College and the University of Washington...
referred to Betancourt as being "unreal" when batting with runners on in close late games-a result at odds with his career statistics. He hit his first grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
in a 7–6 win against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
on August 11, 2007.
In 2008, he again walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
only 3.0% of the time, the worst percentage in Major League Baseball.
His strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
rate dropped to 7.5%. He also saw the fewest pitches per plate appearance of all major leaguers, 3.15.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-pitches-batting.shtml
Kansas City Royals (2009-10)
On July 10, 2009, he was acquired by the Kansas City RoyalsKansas 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...
along with a portion of his salary for Minor League pitchers Derrick Saito and Dan Cortes.
In 2009, he had the lowest on base percentage of any starter in the major leagues, at .274, and the lowest slugging percentage in the American League with .351.
In 2010, he hit an opening day home run off Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
pitcher Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander
Justin Brooks Verlander is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball....
, and went on to finish the season with a career-high 16 home runs. Many of his other statistics, including his batting average, on base percentage, and fielding percentage, increased slightly from his 2009 numbers.
Milwaukee Brewers (2011)
On December 19, 2010, Betancourt was traded to the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
along with teammate Zack Greinke
Zack Greinke
Donald Zackary "Zack" Greinke is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. Greinke won the American League Cy Young Award in 2009 with the Kansas City Royals.-High school & minor leagues:Greinke was born in Orlando, Florida...
and USD$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2,000,000, reportedly to offset the buyout of Betancourt's club option in 2012, for Alcides Escobar
Alcides Escobar
Alcides Escobar is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Kansas City Royals. He was considered the best-fielding infielder in the Brewers' organization and was previously one of the top prospects in the organization...
, Lorenzo Cain
Lorenzo Cain
Lorenzo Lamar Cain is an outfielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball.-Minor leagues:...
, Jeremy Jeffress
Jeremy Jeffress
Jeremy Ross Jeffress is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball.-Milwaukee Brewers:...
, and Jake Odorizzi
Jake Odorizzi
Jacob Odorizzi is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization.-Amateur career:Odorizzi attended Highland High School, where he led the Highland Bulldogs to the state championship....
.
In 2011 he batted .252 with a .271 on base percentage, and led the NL in sacrifice flies, with 10. He saw the fewest pitches per plate appearance of all major league ballplayers with 512 or more plate appearances, at 3.16.
Betancourt hit his first career postseason home run on October 9th, 2011 in a 9-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in game one of the NLCS.