2000 All-Star has been solid contributor since signing with Giants prior to 2003, combining for .275 avg. with 68 2Bs, 26 HRs and 201 RBI...1999 NL Silver Slugger has produced in clutch over career to tune of .313 lifetime mark with RISP (416-for-1,329)...excellent and versatile gloveman has finished 2nd in Gold Glove balloting on 3 occasions (1997 at 3B, 1999 and 2001 at 2B), 3rd once (1999 at 3B) and 4th once (2004 at 3B)...signed by New York as non-drafted free agent Feb. 19, 1991, broke in with Mets in 1995...still ranks 3rd in Mets franchise history with 1,136 hits and 5th with 538 RBI.
Graduated from Cecilio Acosto High School in his native Venezuela...after returning home following 1995 season, was honored by townspeople in St. Teresa, VZ for making majors...has 2 brothers with Mets connections, as Robert was infielder in New York farm system from 1993-1994 and now works as scout in Venezuela...Edgar is coach with Mets' Binghamton double-A club in Eastern League...received Good Guy Award from New York Press Photographer's Association Jan. 26, 2002...married (Delia)...has 2 sons, Eduardo Luis (July 21, 1996) and Daniel Antonio (July 2, 1999).
Postseason:
Has made 3 trips to post season, including 2000 NL championship with Mets...advanced to NLCS in 1999 and World Series in 2000 with Mets, while helping Giants to NL West title in 2003...has enjoyed success on October stage, batting .299 (35-for-117) with 12 2Bs, 4 HRs and 22 RBI in 28 career playoff games...established Giants' LDS records with .529 avg., 9 hits and 4 2Bs over 4 contests vs. Florida in 2003...finished series with 5 RBI, going 5-for-8 (.625) with RISP...in fact, is lifetime .364 post season hitter (12-for-33) with RISP...strung together 13-game October hitting streak over 4 series (Game 6 of 1999 NLCS through Game 3 of 2000 WS), matching Benny Agbayani for longest in Mets' post season history...had remarkable playoff debut Oct. 5, 1999 at Arizona (Game 1 of NLDS), belting 9th-inning grand slam off Bobby Chouinard to become 1st player in ML history to club bases-loaded HR in 1st career post season game...earlier in contest, had become just 3rd NL player to homer in 1st career playoff at-bat when he drilled solo shot off Diamondbacks' Randy Johnson...grand slam was 1st in Mets post season history, while 5 RBI tied both franchise single-game playoff record and NLDS mark (ATL's Fred McGriff in 1995)...is lifetime .311 hitter (14-for-45) in 11 NLCS contests.
A Giant in the Community:
Served as spokesperson for Mission Neighborhood Center Child Immunization Initiative, taping PSA and attending media conference in 2004...has visited with critically ill children at Children's Hospital in Oakland...participated in Olympian Night at SBC Park with 2004 US Olympians.
2005
Was en route to perhaps most productive SF season, before landing on DL June 13-July 21 due to left quad strain (suffered June 12 vs. Cleveland)...still finished 2nd among SF hitters in batting with RISP (.327), which tied for 14th-best mark in NL...did not go 2 consecutive starts without hit all year...however, his 2 HRs and 20 extra-base hits overall (17 2Bs, 1 3B) represented lowest power numbers since 1996 season with Mets (4 HRs, 21 extra-base hits)...was hitting .306 (63-for-206) in 58 games before injury, but batted only .241 (39-for-162) in 51 contests following return from DL...logged fewest games since appearing in 101 as rookie in 1995, playing in 109 contests overall (94 starts, 92 at 3B, 2 at 2B)...reached base safely via hit or walk in 80 games (26 multi-hit efforts)... got off to blistering start, batting .516 (16-for-31) with both HRs over his 1st 8 games...in fact, swung hot bat throughout April, going 28-for-78 (.359) with 8 2Bs, 2 HR and 15 RBI...spent 4-game rehab assignment with triple-A Fresno July 18-21, going 7-for-15 (.467)...made 1st appearance of season at 2B Sept. 7 in LA, starting at position in place of ailing Ray Durham...also started at 2B Sept. 30 vs. Arizona, handing 8 chances flawlessly...in fact, was errorless in 58 of his last 61 ML games in field, while committing just 4 miscues in his last 74 defensive contests (after April 29)...stole home Sept. 30 vs. Arizona, successfully swiping plate on back end of double-steal.
2004
Played major role in SF offense that ranked 2nd in NL with 850 runs scored...tied for 3rd on club with 38 multi-hit games, and ranked 3rd with 21 multi-RBI efforts...with glove, ranked 6th among NL 3rd basemen with .965 fielding pct. at position (12 errors in 346 total chances)...opened season slowly, batting just .163 (7-for-43) over his 1st 12 games...however, in his last 127 contests, hit at even .300 clip (143-for-476)...finished campaign with .289 avg. and 77 RBI, both 5th-best marks of 10-year ML was at his best after Aug. 1, hitting .331 (55-for-166) with 4 HRs and 25 RBI over 45 games...as he has throughout career, raised game with RISP, batting .293 (44-for-1150) with 59 RBI in such spots...campaign took off in late May, tying for 4th in NL with 33 RBI from May 27 to All-Star Break...belted game-winning homers on consecutive days to give SF series victory over Boston in mid June...drilled 2-run pinch shot, 1st of career, in 8th inning (off Alan Embree) that propelled Giants to 6-4 victory June 19, then snapped scoreless duel with 7th-inning grand slam June 20 (off Mike Timlin) as SF won 4-0...collected career-high 6 RBI June 22 vs. LA, going 2-for-5 with 2B...was triple shy of cycle Sept. 3 vs. Diamondbacks, finishing 5-for-6 with 2B, HR and 2 RBI.
2003
Was among NL's best run producers in 2nd half, collecting 48 RBI after All-Star Break to finish with 81 overall, 2nd-highest total on club...in fact, hit at .306 clip (75-for-245) with 31 runs scored, 16 2Bs, 8 HRs, 54 RBI and 31 walks over his last 71 games (beginning June 28), hitting safely in 52 contests...lifted season avg. .43 points over span, from .216 to season-ending .259 mark...excelled in clutch after All-Star Break, going 23-for-66 (.348) with RISP in 2nd half...drove in 24 runs during Sept., tied for 2nd-most in NL...was 4th toughest to strike out in NL, averaging 14.3 plate appearances for every strikeout (FLA's Juan Pierre paced league at 21.3)...slugged 2nd grand slam of campaign (3rd career) Sept. 23 at Houston, capping SF's 10-run 2nd inning with clout off Astros' Ricky Stone...previous slam came July 30 at Cubs, blast off Kerry Wood that propelled Giants to 6-3 victory...started at 2nd base 6 games Aug. 10-17, marking his 1st appearance at position since Oct. 6, 2001 with Mets...played strictly 3rd base otherwise...was Giants' top performer during post season, hitting .529 (9-for-17) with 3 runs, 4 2Bs and 5 RBI in 4 NLDS contests vs. Florida...his .529 mark established SF record for single LDS, while also setting mark for hits and 2Bs...had multi-hit efforts in each of 1st 3 games of series vs. Marlins, including 4-for-5 effort with 2B, RBI and run scored in Game 3...4-hit effort tied Giants post season mark, 11th player to do so.
2002
Ranked 10th in NL with .308 batting avg., marking 4th time in last 6 seasons he has hit .300-or-better...finished 4th in senior circuit with .335 road avg., 4th with .364 avg. against left-handed pitchers and 6th with .315 avg. in night games...was also 3rd-hardest hitter in NL to double-up, grounding into double play once every 98.0 at-bats...scored 76 runs and had 26 2Bs, 16 HRs and 56 RBI in 135 games...was Mets' primary 3rd baseman after spending previous 3 seasons as main 2nd baseman...in fact, prior to Opening Day start at hot corner, had not started contest at 3rd base since Sept. 27, 1998 at Atlanta...despite layoff from position, ranked 5th among all NL 3rd basemen with .969 fielding pct., committing just 12 errors...continued penchant for clutch hitting, batting .330 (34-for-103) with 2 HRs and 33 RBI with RISP...collected 1,000th career hit April 13 vs. Montreal, single off T.J. Tucker...became just 6th Met in franchise history to register 1,000 hits...produced 1,100th career hit with single off Houston's Kirk Saarloos July 30...drove in 522nd run as Met Aug. 3 vs. Arizona (Game 1) to move past Cleon Jones and into sole possession of 4th place on New York's all-time RBI list...was on 15-day Disabled List Aug. 4-24 with left oblique strain...moved past Mookie Wilson and into 3rd place on Mets all-time hit list with his 1,113rd career safety Aug. 30 vs. Philadelphia...finished season on strong note, hitting .318 (63-for-198) with 11 2Bs, 12 HRs and 31 RBI over his final 53 games.
2001
Was slowed due to back ailment, hitting career-low .243 in 124 games...still managed to record 22 2Bs, 17 HRs and 49 RBI...tied franchise record by homering in 4-straight games April 23-26, becoming 6th Met to accomplish feat...placed on Disabled List June 15-July 3 with lower back strain (torn annulus)...belted 100th career roundtripper Aug. 18 at LA, connecting off James Baldwin...put together season-high 15-game hitting streak Aug. 28-Sept. 23, hitting at .306 clip (19-for-62) over stretch...had 4th career multi-HR game Sept. 30 at Atlanta...hit 2-run shot in 1st inning and solo clout in 3rd, both off Braves' Kevin Millwood.
2000
Had perhaps finest all-around season, shining at plate and in field for National League champions...finished 2nd to Cincinnati's Pokey Reese in Gold Glove balloting for NL 2nd basemen...tied for 10th in NL with career-high .324 batting avg. while ranking 5th in league with .425 on-base pct., 6th with .343 avg. on road and 6th with .343 mark at night...also tied for 7th in league by hitting .341 with RISP, going 46-for-135 with 5 HRs and 63 RBI...had 40 2Bs, 25 HR and 94 RBI overall while garnering All-Star honors for 1st time...had more walks (95) then strikeouts (70) for 2nd time in career...put together pair of 4-hit games in consecutive starts April 29-30 at Colorado, becoming 1st Met to do so since Jose Vizcaino in 1996...was outstanding during Mets' drive to NL Wild Card berth, batting .339 (62-for-183) with 39 runs, 12 2Bs, 12 HRs and 34 RBI over his final 52 contests...compiled 11-game post season hitting streak stretching from Game 1 of NLDS through Game 2 of World Series...led Mets with 5 RBI in 4-game NLDS victory over SF...hit robust .444 in NLCS vs. St. Louis, going 8-for-18 with 2B, 3B and 4 RBI...was just 3-for-21 (.143) in 5-game World Series loss to Yankees...went 0-for-4 in Game 3 to snap 11-game post season hitting streak that October and 13-game binge dating to back to 1999 NLCS, tied with Benny Agbayani for longest playoff binge in club history.
1999
Captured NL Silver Slugger award at 2nd base after hitting .304 and establishing Mets single-season records for 2nd baseman with 27 HRs and 108 RBI...also excelled with glove, leading all NL 2nd basemen with .993 fielding pct. (5 errors in 712 total chances)...finished 9th in NL with 191 hits, tied for 7th with 56 multi-hit games, 4th with 123 runs scored (Mets franchise record) and 9th with 41 2Bs...set career highs in games (158), at-bats (628), runs, hits, 2Bs, HRs, RBI and sacrifice flies (9)...two-bagger total tied with Gregg Jefferies (1990) for 3rd on New York's single-season list...tied pesonal best with 5 RBI Aug. 11 vs. San Diego, finishing contest 2-for-4 with 3 runs scored and HR...went 6-for-6 with 6 runs, 2B, 3 HRs and 5 RBI in 17-1 victory Aug. 30 at Houston...set Mets' single-game records for hits, total bases (16) and runs scored while matching club mark for homers...finished Aug. with 26 RBI in 26 games as New York made push for NL Wild Card spot...had remarkable post season debut, drilling solo HR off Randy Johnson in 1st career playoff at-bat (Game 1 of NLDS at Arizona), becoming just 3rd NL player to do so...in 9th inning of that game, hit grand slam off Bobby Chouinard to become 1st player in ML history to club bases-loaded HR in 1st post season game...also marked 1st grand slam in Mets post season history, while his 5 RBI tied both club's single-game playoff record (Rusty Staub, Game 4 of 1973 World Series) and NLDS mark (Atlanta's Fred McGriff in 1995)...also hit solo HR in NY's decisive Game 5 victory...had 4 2Bs in 6-game NLCS vs. Atlanta, finishing 6-for-27 (.222) overall.
1998
Started 140 games at 3rd base for Mets, posting .278 avg. with 28 2Bs, 17 HRs and 78 RBI in 144 contests...appeared in lead-off position for just 2nd time in career April 2 vs. Philadelphia...went on to hit 1st 27 times during season, but batted just .226 (24-for-102) in role...was on Disabled List May 4-19 with strained right rotator cuff...played SS in 9th inning of 4-3 victory at LA Aug. 29.
1997
Finished 13th in NL MVP voting and was 2nd to Padres' Ken Caminiti in Gold Glove voting for NL 3rd basemen...finished 8th in NL with .315 batting avg...drew 63 walks while striking out only 56 times...hit remarkable .417 (48-for-115) with 4 HRs and 60 RBI with RISP...started 127 games at 3B, 4 games at SS and 1 game at 2B (April 3 at San Diego)...tied ML record May 14 vs. Houston by participating in 4 double plays as 3B...became 8th 3rd sacker to accomplish feat, and 1st since Angels' Jack Howell May 17, 1989...last time it had been done in NL was May 8, 1988 by Houston's Denny Walling...had career-high 20-game hitting streak June 10-July 10...during streak, batted .395 (32-for-81) with 12 runs scored, 7 2Bs, 3 HRs and 16 RBI...clubbed 1st ML grand slam Aug. 14 at St. Louis, connecting off Donovan Osborne.
1996
Made 85 starts at 3 different positions, logging 56 starts at 2B, 21 at 3B and 8 at SS...hit .261 with 15 2Bs, 4 HRs and 40 RBI...finished season strong, hitting at .352 clip (25-for-71) with 2 HRs and 9 RBI over 22 games in Sept.
1995
Made ML debut and was with Mets for entire campaign, playing in 101 games and batting .278 with 13 2Bs, career-high 5 3Bs, 4 HRs and 41 RBI...made big league debut April 26 at Colorado and had 1st start, at 2B, April 30 vs. St. Louis...became 100th 3rd baseman in team history when he started at hot corner May 2 at Montreal, while collecting 1st ML hit and RBI...1st ML homer was inside-the-park shot off Matt Grott May 6 at Cincinnati...was placed on Disabled List Aug. 18-Sept. 1 with herniated disc.
1994
Saw 1st action at double-A level, logging 127 games with Binghamton...hit .293 with 34 2Bs, 15 HRs and 75 RBI...began campaign at SS, but switched to 2nd base July 9 with arrival of Rey Ordonez...named winner of Webster Award, giving annually since 1983 in remembrance of Mets' minor league pitcher Richard Webster, who lost his life in an attempt to save lives of friends in danger.
1993
Selected as SS on Florida State League All-Star squad, while setting class-A St. Lucie club fielding record at position with .954 mark...had stellar offensive season, batting .294 with 18 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 11 HRs and 86 RBI...drew 57 walks against only 51 strikeouts.
1992
Played 4 games with St. Lucie, but logged 74 contests with short-season A Pittsfield club, proving to be one of league's top offensive players...led New York-Penn League in batting with .356 mark and was named to circuit's All-Star team as SS.
1991
Picked as Gulf Coast League's All-Star 2nd baseman and won Doubleday Award as team MVP of Mets' rookie league squad...after signing as non-drafted free agent Feb. 19, batted .331 in 1st professional action.
