Jorge Toca

Jorge Luis Toca...makes his off-season home in Miami, FL with his wife Livinia and son Ainivil...played for the Cuban National Team in 1994 and 1995, and was teammates of Livan Hernandez, Orlando Hernandez and Rolando Arrojo...his Villa Clara club won three consecutive Cuban National Championships from 1993-95...defected to the Bahamas in March of 1998...took a 16-foot boat over 17 hours to make the journey...played youth baseball with Rey Ordonez.

2006

Signed minor-league contract with STL, Aug. 4...was assigned to Memphis of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League...got the job after playing well with Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League...hit .329 with 10 doubles, 2 homers and 10 RBI in 22 PCL contests...following the season, played for Estrellas in the Dominican Winter League.

2005

In his lone year in CWS' chain, batted .302 with 24 homers and 77 RBI in 115 games with Charlotte of the Triple-A International League...led the club in RBI, hits (137) and slugging percentage (.518)...posted a season-best 18-game hitting streak, May 8-June 19...was ruled in violation of the minor league drug testing program.

2004

Signed by Montreal on April 29 after being released by PIT in Spring Training and appearing in 16 games with Cancun of the Mexican League...assigned to Edmonton of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League...hit .337 in his first 24 games...hit .268 in his next 31 games, and was released on August 5...signed a minor-league deal with DET 4 days later.

2003

Batted .274 with 7 homers and 52 RBI in 115 games with Norfolk of the Triple-A International League before contract was sold to PIT, Aug. 22...was assigned to Nashville of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League...notched 10 RBI in 10 games.

2002

In injury plagued season, appeared in just 54 games with Triple-A Norfolk...on left leg, sustained a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula during a home plate collision on July 2 vs. Richmond...underwent surgery that night at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, VA, and missed the remainder of the season...also was on the DL, April 16-May 5, with a strained rib cage muscle and May 22-May 28 with a strained right hamstring.

2001

Spent the majority of the year with Triple-A Norfolk...enjoyed a pair of stints with NYM, appearing in a career-best 13 games from April 9-15...performance earned September promotion...played in 13 games for the Mets.

2000

Batted .272 with 25 doubles, 11 homers and 70 RBI in 120 games with Norfolk...played in 8 games with NYM as a September call-up, collecting his first big league extra-base hit (a 3-run double in the bottom of the 8th on September 30 vs. MON that gave NYM a 4-2 lead and the win) and RBI (September 19 at ATL).

1999

In his first year of pro ball in the United States, made his big league debut with NYM...spent majority of season with Binghamton of the Double-A Eastern League and Norfolk of the Triple-A International League...earned NYM Minor League Player of the Year after hitting a combined .319 with 27 doubles, 25 homers and 96 RBI in 124 games with Binghamton and Norfolk...went a combined 0-for-7 in his first 2 games with Binghamton April 9-10, and then went 13-for-23 (.565) with 3 doubles, 6 homers and 14 RBI in his next 6 games, April 13-19...hit a pair of homers on both April 13 vs. Portland and April 19 at Portland...was promoted to Norfolk on July 5...then had contract purchased by NYM on September 1...made his big league debut September 12 at LAD, pinch hitting in the top of the 9th...laced a single into right field off Jeff Williams...had been recalled to NYM on July 28, but was optioned back a day later without playing.