Juan Centeno #8

Centeno (pronounced sen-TEN-oh) is a 28-year-old backstop entering his first season in the Texas organization after being acquired in a waiver claim in November…the lefthanded batter has seen major league action in each of the last 5 seasons with New York-NL (2013-14), Milwaukee (2015), Minnesota (2016), and Houston (2017)…he was a member of the postseason roster for all 3 rounds in the Astros' World Series championship run last year…set career highs in most categories with the Twins in 2016, when he played in a careerbest 55 games…owns career .283 batting average and .675 OPS in the minor leagues…originally selected by New York-NL in the 2007 June draft, he was a Mets top 30 prospect prior to 2013 (Baseball America) and was tabbed by same publication as best defensive catcher in the Pacific Coast League in 2014…the Puerto Rico native is entering his 12th professional campaign.

2017

Batted .231 over 22 games/15 starts spanning 3 stints in lone season with Houston: 5/21-25, 8/5-22, 8/31-end of season…made 2 starts during the May stint, hitting HR both 5/23 vs. DET (Jordan Zimmermann) and 5/25 vs. DET (Justin Verlander), 1st player in franchise history to hit HR in each of his 1st 2 games with the club…was 7-for-16 (.438) over his 1st 4 G/ GS for Astros spanning 1st 2 stints…hit walk-off RBI single on 8/6 vs. TOR (Roberto Osuna)…would bat .139 (5-36) over final 18 contests…served as 3rd catcher on postseason roster for all 3 rounds, but saw his only playoff action in Game 3 of the ALDS at Boston…caught 9th inning in that game, the Astros' lone loss in that series, and did not have a plate appearance…spent bulk of season at Triple-A Fresno, posting a .311/.354/.383/.737 slash line over 65 games…hit .343 (23-67) with RISP at Triple-A… through 7/27, had .385 BA and .811 OPS for Fresno, but was 5-for-38 in final 10 G…threw out 14 of 52 (26.9%) attempted base stealers, and his 12 passed balls were most in PCL.

2016

Set career highs in almost every offensive category, in what was his busiest season in the Majors, as the Twins backup catcher...played in 55 games, and batted .261 (46x176) with 12 doubles, a triple, three homers and 25 RBI...was an invite to Twins spring training after signing as a minor league free agent, was reassigned to minor league camp March 26 and began season with Triple A Rochester...played in 15 games for the Red Wings...was hitting .245 (12x49) and had his contract selected by Minnesota on May 6 (John Ryan Murphy optioned)...hit his first career home run on May 14 at CLE, a two-run shot off RHP Corey Kluber...set career-high with three hits and three RBI on July 24 at Boston, two of the three hits being doubles...hit his first career triple on Aug. 8 vs. Houston, off RHP Collin McHugh...hit .270 (44x163) with 12 doubles, three home runs and 24 RBI in 47 starts (all at catcher)...caught 53 games (47 starts), second most on the club (Suzuki 99 games).

2015

Made 10 appearances with the Brewers, in what was his third season in the Majors, and first outside of the Mets organization...recorded one hit (double) in his lone stint with the club...started the season with Triple A Colorado Springs ...played in eight games for the Sky Sox before being recalled by Milwaukee on April 21...played 10 games for the Brewers, going 1x21 and was optioned back to Colorado Springs on June 1...hit safely in season-high in 11 straight for Sky Sox from Aug. 9-25, hitting .459 (17x37) with three doubles, one triple and 11 RBI during the span...hit .304 (38x125) against right-handed pitching for Colorado Springs, and .275 (14x51) against left-handed pitching...declared for free agency on Nov. 6 and was signed by Minnesota as minor league free agent on Nov. 30.

2014

Batted .200 with 0 HR and two RBI in 10 games with New York-NL...Made eight starts, all at catcher...Had two stints with the Mets (5/15-5/28 and 9/1-end)...The team posted a 3.86 ERA when he caught (70ip, 30er)...Threw out 1 of 6 runners attempting to steal (16.7%)..Both of his RBI for the Mets came on 5/18 at Washington in a 6-3 loss...Batted .289 with 1 HR and 25 RBI in 74 games between Triple-A Las Vegas and Double-A Binghamton...Was claimed off waivers by Milwaukee on 10/31...Following the season played for San Juan in the Puerto Rican Winter League

2013

Spent the majority of the season with Las Vegas (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League, hitting .305 (65-213) in 67 games before a September call-up to the major leagues...Also appeared in six games with Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League. The Mets selected his contract from Las Vegas on September 9... Made his major league debut on September 18 vs. San Francisco...Had two hits and an RBI. Made three starts behind the plate for the Mets...Threw out one of five potential base stealers. Hit .333 (29-87) at Triple-A in the second half of the season...Batted .310 (9-29) against lefthanders and .304 (56-184) against righties for the 51s. Went 21-61 (.344) with one extra-base hit with runners in scoring position for Las Vegas. Hit .280 (21-75) in 28 games with Carolina of the Puerto Rican Winter League.

2012

Played the entire season with Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League...Hit over .300 in July (.311) and in August (.302)...In 13 July games, he went 14-45 with two doubles and seven RBI...In15 contests in August, he was 16-53 with 12 RBI...Compiled a .311 (28-90) mark after the All-Star break...Fashioned a .307 (23-75) batting average vs. lefthanded pitching...For the year, he had 15 games with two hits and six games with three hits...Put together back-to back three hit games,August 12 at Harrisburg and August 15 at New Hampshire...Knocked in a season-high four runs, without a hit, August 7 vs. New Britain...His last two RBI came in the bottom ofthe ninth on a groundout for the game winner...Threw out 29 of 70 (41%) runners attempting to steal.

2011

Compiled a .346 average in eight games in May (9-26), a 333 (8-24) average in seven games in June and a .389 (14-36)average in 13 games in August.

2010

Played in 32 games for Brooklyn (A) of the New York-Penn League, 11 games for St. Lucie (A) of the Florida StateLeague and one game for Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League...At Brooklyn, he compiled a 394 (28-71) average in 27 games in July, August and September.

2009

Spent the entire year with Brooklyn (A) of the New York-Penn League.