Jorge Velandia #13

Married Rhonda ... has one daughter: Lauren ... graduated from Colegio Claret High School in Venezuela ... played on the Venezuelan National Team from age 10-15 ... is the godfather of current White Sox Minor League infield instructor Manny Trillo's daughter, Sophia.

2007

Thirty-two year old veteran infielder selected from AAA Durham Sep 10 when Brendan Harris suffered a strained left latisimus dorsi muscle ... Started 14 of the Rays' final 16 games (10-2B, 4-SS) his first major league action since 2003 with the Mets ... hit safely in 11 of those games, including his first 6 ... Batted .320 (16-50) with 4 2B, 2 HR and 11 RBI ... was a career .151 hitter in 150 major league games over parts of six seasons with San Diego, Oakland and the New York Mets (1997-2001, 2003) ... had never hit a major league home run, and had 12 career RBI entering the season ... Both of his home runs, the first of his ML career, came in a span of 13 AB ... First HR was grand slam Sep 25 at Tropicana Field off NYY Brian Bruney ... became the 170th player in major league history to hit a grand slam for his first major league home run, the 7th player to do it against the Yankees, joining Detroit pitcher Zeb Eaton (July 15, 1945 at Yankee Stadium); Washington pitcher Camilio Pascual (Aug. 14, 1960 at NY); Detroit OF Rick Peters (May 27, 1980 at NY); Detroit pitcher Saul Rogovin (July 23, 1950 at NY); Philadelphia catcher Billy Shantz (May 9, 1954 at NY); and Detroit catcher Al Unser (May 31, 1944 at Tiger Stadium) ... Gave him a career-high 4 RBI. HR #2 was Sep 28 at Toronto off Dustin McGowan ... Had gone homerless in 208 big league AB spread out over parts of 6 major league seasons over the previous 11 years ... Enjoyed the first 3-hit game of his career Sep 18 at Los Angeles ... Hit .249 with 5 homers and 32 RBI in 120 games with Durham ... Played 9 games at 2B, 16 at 3B and 83 at SS, committing 9 total errors ... Started all three playoff games of the first round at shortstop for the Bulls.

1997

Appeared in 14 games over two stints with San Diego ... started four games at shortstop, two at second base and one at third ... made his major-league debut on 6/20 vs. Colorado, going 0-2 ... went 2-3 with a double in his first start the following day at Coors Field ... doubled off the Rockies' Bryan Rekar for his first hit.

1998

Had two stints with Oakland ... was recalled from Edmonton on 4/5 and appeared in five games before being optioned back to the Trappers on 4/16 ... was recalled for the second time on 9/8 ... hit .287 with La Guaira of the Venezuelan Winter League.

1999

Appeared in a career-high 63 games with Oakland, making nine starts ... made five starts at second base and four at shortstop ... recorded his first major-league RBI on 5/5 at Toronto ... stole his first base on 6/6 at San Francisco ... was placed on the 15-day disabled list on 8/7 with a subluxed tendon in his right ankle and missed the remainder of the season.

2000

Made his third straight Opening Day roster Oakland ... was optioned to Class AAA Sacramento on 5/21 ... was traded by Oakland to the Mets in exchange for outfielder Nelson Cruz on 8/30 ... was recalled from Norfolk on 9/4 ... made his Mets' debut as a defensive replacement on 9/6 at Cincinnati.

2001

His contract was purchased from Norfolk on 6/15 ... was limited to nine at-bats with the Mets due to a strained left oblique ... was placed on the 15-day disabled list on 7/3 ... was recalled from his rehabilitation assignment on 9/8 ... suffered a fractured right hand in the Venezuelan Winter League ... underwent surgery on 11/30 to repair the third metacarpal of his right hand (middle knuckle).

2002

Played the entire season at Norfolk ... appeared in 100 games at shortstop, nine games at second base and eight games at third ... was on the disabled list twice (4/4-15 with a strained left rib cage and 5/14-22 with a fractured right middle finger) ... hit safely in nine straight games from 4/16-26 (.343, 12-35) ... collected a season- high four hits and four RBI on 7/30 vs. Louisville.

2003

Appeared in 23 games with the Mets ... was recalled from Class AAA Norfolk on 9/2 ... went 6-17 (.353) in his first six games, and 5-41 (.122) over his last 17 ... was 2-3 with a double, triple and three RBI in his season debut on 9/3 vs. Atlanta.

2004

Spent the entire season at Class AAA Richmond of the Atlanta organization, hitting .212 with six home runs and 25 RBI ... played in 126 games at shortstop and five at second base ... fell a triple shy of the cycle on 6/27 at Pawtucket ... went 0-16 from 6/29-7/5 and 0-20 from 8/24-30 ... batted .198 (17-86) in his final 32 games.

2005

Hit .277 (91-328) with 22 doubles, three home runs and 39 RBI with Class AAA Indianapolis, his first season in the Pittsburgh organization ... made 82 appearances at shortstop, 22 at second base and one in left field ... posted a .977 fielding percentage at shortstop (8 E) and a 1.000 mark at second (90 TC) ... hit .339 (57-168) with all three home runs at home, compared to .213 (34-160) on the road ... went 74-246 (.301) vs. right-handers and 17-82 (.207) vs. lefties ... batted .400 (10-25) with eight RBI in his first eight games ... hit .310 in May, .219 in June and .351 in July ... went 4-4 with three doubles, three runs scored and one RBI on 7/19 vs. Syracuse ... homered in back-to-back games on 8/18 vs. Durham and 8/19 at Scranton-Wilkes Barre ... average was .290 on 8/22, but then was 4-28 (.143) over his final nine contests.