Originally signed by Seattle as a 16-year old amateur free agent out of Venezuela on July 2, 2000 ... signed by Mariners scouts Jose Moreno and Jesus Salazaar. Acquired by Houston this offseason in exchange for IF Ryan Jackson...Jackson was claimed off waivers earlier in the offseason on Nov. 20. Was arbitration eligible for the first time in his career this offseason...agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Houston, avoiding the arbitration process, on Jan. 17, 2014.
2013
Played in a career-high 126 games in 2013, making 63 starts including 33 at 1B, 25 in LF, three in RF and two at 3B...tied his career-highs in home runs (nine, also 2012) and runs scored (33, also 2011)...in 53 pinchhit appearances, hit .250 (12x48) with three doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI, leading all Major Leaguers in RBI and ranking tied among all Major Leaguers with the second-most pinch-hit doubles, tied for the thirdmost hits (also, Mark Kotsay-SD and Juan Pierre-MIA) and tied for third with three pinch-hit homers…his 53 pinch-hit appearances were the second-most by a Padre and ranked tied for fifth-most in all of baseball ... in 64 games on the road, hit .279 (43x154) with all nine of his home runs while batting .164 (22x134) in 62 games at home...had a game-tying, pinch-hit grand slam on May 11 vs. TB before the Padres fell by a score of 8-7 to the Rays…was the Padres first pinch-hit slam since Josh Barfield on Aug. 17, 2006 vs. SF and first on the road since Melvin Nieves on Aug. 26, 1995 at NYM...had a game-ending RBI-single in the 17th inning on May 31 vs. TOR, his first career walk-off hit…the RBI was the 100th of his career, becoming the first Padre since Jerry Turner on July 22, 1978 to record his 100th career RBI in walk-off fashion (per ELIAS) ... his three pinch hit home runs were tied for third-most in franchise history and were the most since Matt Stairs had four in 2010...enjoyed his best month of the season in July, hitting .273 (18x66) with seven doubles, four home runs, 13 RBI and nine runs scored.
2012
In his first full Major League season, set career-highs in several offensive categories including games
played (120), home runs (nine), RBI (48) and walks (29).
Made his first career Opening Day roster for the Padres.
Started a career-high 65 games, including 43 in LF, 14 at 1B, seven in RF and one as the DH.
Hit .303 (37-for-122) with six home runs against left-handed pitching, while hitting .206 (34-for-165) with three
homers off right-handers.
Over 27 games in May he hit .292 (19-for-65).
In the pinch, he hit .256 (11-for-43) with three doubles and two home runs on 6/1 vs.ARI and 7/3 at ARI.
Had his first career multi-homer game on 7/25 at SF.
2011
Had his contract selected from Triple-A Tucson on 6/16 and spent the remainder of the season in the Big Leagues, seeing his first significant stretch of time in the Majors...led the team in doubles and RBI while ranking second in hits and batting average from the time of his call-up through the end of the campaign...Made 62 starts for San Diego, including 52 at first base, six in left field and four as designated hitter...His .312 batting average ranked as the 13th-best in the National League from 6/16 through the end of the season (min. 250 PA)...Hit .346 (37-for-107) at home, .373 (41-for-110) with runners on base, .431 (28-for-65) with runners in scoring position and .444 (12-for-27) with RISP and two outs...average with RISP led all qualifying NL hitters over his stretch in the Majors...Hit his first Big League homer 6/24 vs. ATL as a pinch-hitter...Collected two four-RBI games (7/16 vs. SF; 7/20 at FLA) and three three-hit games (7/20 at FLA; 8/31 at LAD; 9/4 vs. COL)...Prior to joining the Padres, hit safely in 51 of his 63 games with Tucson...tallied multiple hits in 24 of those games and recorded an extra-base hit in 26 games.
2010
Played entire campaign at Triple-A Fresno, batting .321 (143-for-445) with 28 doubles, one triple,
18 homers and 72 RBI in 125 games.
... Played first base, third, left field, right and served as designated hitter.
... Hit .352 (69-for-196) with 20 doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 39 RBI the second half of the season.
... Batted .357 (25-for-70) in June, .342 (25-for-73) in July and .336 (39-for-116) in August...drove in 23 runs in August.
... Finished the season by batting .448 (30-for-67) over his final 17 games, hitting safely in 16 contests.
... Had 39 multi-hit games...had season-high four hits twice, 8/30 at Salt Lake and 9/6 vs. Tacoma.
... Hit .321 (45-for-140) with runners in scoring position.
2009
Reached the Majors for the first time after being invited to Major League Spring Training for the
first time in his career.
... Batted .250 (5-for-20) in 12 games for SF, making three starts (two at first base and one as DH)...went 3-for-9 (.333) as
pinch-hitter.
... Had his contract purchased from Fresno 5/21 and made his major league debut that night in SD, going 0-for-1 as pinchhitter,
then remaining in the game at first base.
... Made his first Major League start next day in SEA as designated hitter.
... Recorded his first Big League hit 5/23 at SEA with single off Miguel Batista in seventh inning...appeared in just one more
game before being optioned to Triple-A 5/26.
... Was recalled for second time 7/27 and appeared in just three games, going 1-for-5, before being sent back down to
Fresno.
... Made third and final stint with Big League club when rosters expanded in September and had three pinch-hits in five
at-bats.
... Spent majority of season at Triple-A where he batted .321 (145-for-452) with 26 doubles, five triples, 16 HR and 71 RBI
in 115 games for Grizzlies...his .321 average was fifth-best in PCL.
... Minor league's hottest hitter in month of May, hitting safely in 19 of 21 games at .472 (42-for-89) with three HR and 22
RBI in 21 games....472 clip was highest among all minor league players.
... Collected season-high five hits 5/11 at Reno, finishing game 5-for-6 with a double and three RBI.
... Recorded six-straight multi-hit games from 5/8-13 and had 43 overall...hit .400 (38-for-95) in 23 July contests.
... Reeled off season and team-high 27-game hitting streak from 6/28-8/5...batted .384 (43-for-112) with three HR and 13
RBI during stretch.
2008
Combined to hit .349 (145-for-415) with 17 HR and 88 RBI in 100 games between Rookie-level A's,
Double-A Midland and Triple-A Sacramento in his second season with Oakland's organization.
... Spent majority of year with Midland, hitting .364 (124-for-341) with 14 HRs and 76 RBI in 80 contests.
... Led Texas League with .364 average, although did not record enough plate appearances to qualify for leadership...
however, was recognized based on guidelines of Rule 10.22(a)...was named Texas League mid-season All-Star, third
time being named to minor league All-Star squad.
... Earned Texas League Player of Week honors twice for weeks ending 4/13 and 4/27.
... Reached base safely in 23-straight games 6/6-9/1 and collected season-high 13-game hitting streak 6/14-8/30.
... Following season, played for Caracas of Venezuelan Winter League and was named MVP of league, earning 42 of 45
first place votes...broke 35-year-old VWL record with 67 RBI and established most RBI by Venezuelan-born hitter when
he surpassed Bo Diaz's record of 57 RBI in 1978.
... Ranked fifth in league with a .349 batting average and third with 13 HR in 61 games...also led league with 81 hits, 48
runs and 143 total bases.
2007
Named to California League postseason All-Star team after batting .301 (156-for-518) with
professional highs in runs (102), 2B (38), 3B (5), HR (25) and RBI (112).
... Among CL leaders, finished second in HR, RBI, extra base hits (68) and total bases (279), third in 2B, fourth in hits and
fifth in runs and at-bats.
... Was overall minor league leader in RBI, extra base hits and runs scored...named Cal League Player of Week for 8/27...
reached base in 36 consecutive games 5/14-6/26 for sixth-longest on-base streak in league.
2006
Spent second season with Double-A San Antonio, appearing in 115 games and batting just .257
(105-for-408).
... Recorded season-high eight-game hit streak 4/26-5/4, hitting .464 (13-for-28).
... Had 30 multi-hit contests, including season-best three hits on three occasions...hit five of his nine HR and had 30 of his
55 RBI combined in May and June,
... Played for Lara in Venezuelan Winter League, batting .095 (2-for-21) in 15 games.
2005
Named member of Texas League mid-season All-Star team.
... Hit .258 (117-for-453) in 119 games in his first season at Double-A level.
... Recorded three hit streaks of nine or more games, including season-best 13-game hit streak 4/28-5/13.
2004
Batted .310 (137-for-442) for Single-A Inland Empire.
... Finished ninth in California League in average...played for Lara in Venezuelan Winter League.
2003
Hit .359 (74-for-206) with 25 multi-hit games in 56 contests with VSL Aguirre.
... Named Aguirre's Most Valuable Player by Seattle organization...participated in Mariners' Arizona Instructional League...
played for Lara in VWL.
2002
Hit .280 (63-for-225) in his second season with Aguirre of Venezuelan Summer League.
2001
Spent first professional season with Aguirre of VSL.
