Is the son of Cuban Serie Nacional star, Lourdes Gurriel, who managed Yuli during his career in Cuba...is the brother of Yunieski Gurriel and Toronto Blue Jays infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who both also played in the Serie Nacional... Internationally, played for the Cuban National Team, which won the gold medal in the 2004 Olympics and the silver in the 2008 Olympics...also represented Cuba in the 2006, 2009 and 2013 World Baseball Classics...was named to the 2006 World Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team...also played with the Cuban National Team in the Baseball World Cup, International Cup, Pan American Games and Central American and Caribbean Games... Defected from Cuba, along with his brother Lourdes Jr., in February of 2016 after the conclusion of the 2016 Caribbean Series, which was held in the Dominican Republic...established residency in Haiti, where he first met future teammate Yordan Alvarez, who was also working to establish his residency in the country...eventually declared a free agent by MLB on June 13, 2016...after seeing him in an open workout in Miami, the Astros signed Gurriel to a five-year contract on July 16, 2016... Was one of nine Cuban players signed or acquired by the Astros from 2015-16, joining OF Yordan Alvarez, RHP Rogelio Armenteros, OF Norberto Castellanos, CF Alejandro Garcia, LHP Cionel Pérez, RHP Yoanys Quiala, SS Anibal Sierra and RHP Carlos Sierra... When he debuted in 2016, became the eighth Cuban-born player (fourth position player) to play in the Majors with Houston...is now the club's all-time leader in games played by a Cuban player, immediately ahead of Yordan Alvarez... Played under his original five-year contract from 2016-20...signed to a one-year contract extension for the 2021 season that included a club option for 2022 on Sept. 29, 2020, the day the Astros opened the 2021 postseason...had his option for the 2022 season exercised on Nov. 7, 2021...is eligible for free agency following the 2022 season.
2021
Had a career season, finishing the year with a .319 batting average (169x530) with 83 runs, 31 doubles, 15 home runs, 81 RBI, career-high 59 walks and a .846 OPS (.462 SLG./.383 OBP.) in 143 games... Ranked first in the Majors in three-plus hit games with 18...in the AL, ranked first in batting average, second in OBP (.383) and third in PA/SO ratio (8.90), tied for fifth in multi-hit games (49) and tied for fifth in hits (169)... Finished the season as the American League batting title champion with a .319 average (169x530)...became the second player in Astros history to win the batting title (also, Jose Altuve, (2014, 2016-17)...became the second Cuban-born player to win a batting title, joining Tony Oliva (1964-65, 1971)... Also was the first player 37 years or older to win a batting title since Barry Bonds won the NL title at age 40 in 2004...is the eighth-oldest player in MLB history to win a batting title, with only Barry Bonds (2002, 2004), Ted Williams (1957-58), Honus Wagner (1911), Tony Gwynn (1997) and George Brett (1990) accomplishing the feat at an older age than Gurriel...lastly, he’s the first primary first baseman to win a batting title since Miguel Cabrera in 2015... Became the second Astros first basemen to win a Gold Glove, joining Jeff Bagwell in 1994...also became the oldest player to win a Gold Glove at first base...led AL first basemen in zone rating (.874) and assists (86)...ranked tied for second in Defensive Runs Saved (5), third in total chances (1147), fourth in fielding percentage (.995) and fifth in double plays (95)... Made his fourth career OPENING DAY roster and start, missing only the 2018 opener since joining the Astros for the full 2017 season... In the POSTSEASON, he batted .311 (19x61) with a double, home run, 10 RBI, five walks and a .741 OPS (.377 SLG / .364 OBP) in 16 games played... After 16 games played this postseason, now has the most postseason starts at first base in Astros franchise history (72g)...also ranks third in MLB history behind only Albert Pujols (74g) and Tino Martinez (98g)... He’s recorded six three-plus RBI games since his postseason debut in 2017, which are tied for most in MLB during that stretch with teammate Carlos Correa (6)... Gurriel, along with 2B Jose Altuve, 3B Alex Bregman and SS Carlos Correa have now started more postseason games together than any four teammates in MLB history (73 games)...in Game 2 of the World Series, the Astros group surpassed the quintet of Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez and Paul O’Neill, which started 68 postseason games for the Yankees (1996-2001)... Now has 70 career postseason hits, which ranks fourth in MLB history by a first baseman, trailing only Albert Pujols (87), Tino Martinez (83) and Steve Garvey (75)...Gurriel also leads all Cuban-born players in career postseason hits, RBI and games.
2020
Posted a .232 batting average and a .658 OPS in 57 games in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign...OPENING DAY: Started at first base on Opening Day for the third time in his career (also 2017 and 2019)...Posted his best month of the season in August, batting .305 (29x95) with 10 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 11 RBI and a .904 OPS (.346 OBP /.558 SLG) in 25 games...Became the first Cuban-born player in Astros history to reach 300 career RBI, which he accomplished on Sept 12. at LAD...became the 25th Cuban-born player in MLB history to reach this mark...POSTSEASON: Recorded a .114 batting average (5x44) in the postseason...Signed a one-year contract extension with a club option for the 2022 season on Sept. 29.
2019
35-year-old had a career-year in what was his fourth Major League season...set career highs in games (144), at-bats (564), runs (85), hits (168), homers (31), RBI (104), walks (37), on-base percentage (.343), slugging percentage (.541) and OPS (.884)...at 35 years old, became the oldest player in club history to have a season with40+ doubles, 30+ HR and 100+ RBI, besting Jeff Bagwell's age-33 season in 2001...became the third-oldest player in MLB history with a season like this, behind David Ortiz' age-40 season in 2016 and Vinny Castilla's age-36 season in 2004...became the fifth Cuban-born player in MLB history to reach 40 doubles, 30 HR and 100 RBI in a season...joined Jose Abreu (2017), Yoenis Cespedes (2015), Kendrys Morales (2009), Rafael Palmeiro (1993, 1996)...showed his versatility, playing multiple positions around the diamond...played in 110 games at first base (104 starts), 42 games at third base (36 starts) and four games at second base (2 starts)...among AL players, ranked tied for fifth in doubles and ninth in RBI...posted a career-best 86.3% contact rate, the eighth-best mark in the AL...recorded a 10.6% strikeout rate, the fourth-lowest mark in the AL...batted .438 (7x16) with two grand slams with the bases loaded...received an AL Player of the Month award (July) and an AL Player of the Week award (July 1-7)...was batting .258 with a .681 OPS entering June 23...from June 23 through the end of the season, hit .338 (95x281) with 22 doubles, 26 homers, 72 RBI and a 1.087 OPS (.393 OBP/.694 SLG) over his final 73 games...in that span, ranked fifth in the Majors in homers, third in OPS, third in batting average, tied for second in RBI and second in slugging percentage...made his second-career Opening Day roster and started on Opening Day at first base (2x4), his second-career Opening Day start...exited the game on Sept. 6 with left hamstring discomfort...returned to action on Sept. 14...on April 6 vs. OAK, night...tied the Minute Maid Park record for doubles in a game (3), last reached by Alex Bregman on Sept. 4, 2018...set a new career-high for doubles in a game...fell a triple shy of the cycle on April 12 at SEA, going 3x5 with a double and agrand slam...was his fourth-career grand slam (last, Sept. 21, 2018 vs. LAA)....went 41 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout from May 31-June 11...recorded his first career walkoff home run and second career walkoff hit on June28 vs. SEA...hit a walkoff double on June 29 vs. SEA, his second-straight game with a walkoff hit...became the first Astros player with walkoff hits in consecutive games since Geoff Blum (walkoff singles from June 10-11, 2009 vs. CHC)...on July 2 at COL, went 3x5 with two home runs, a double and four RBI...hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the 7th inning...was his second-career multi-HR game (also Sept. 21, 2018 vs. LAA)...homered in five consecutive games from July 2-7, becoming the fifth Astros player in club history to homer in five straight games, joining Jose Altuve (2019), Morgan Ensberg (2006), Carlos Beltrán (2004), and Cliff Johnson (1975)...recorded an RBI in seven straight games from June 28-July 7, the longest RBI streak by an Astros player since Marwin Gonzalez's eight-game streak from July 2-14, 2017...had an 11-game hitting streak from June 23-July 7, in which he hit .400 (18x45) with three doubles, nine home runs and 15 RBI...per the Elias Sports Bureau...became the third player in club history to hit nine homers in an 11-game span, joining Jeff Bagwell (2000) and Glenn Davis (1990)...hit 11 homers in a 15-game span from June 23-July 14, joining Richard Hidalgo(Sept. 2000) as the only players in club history to accomplish this (Elias Sports)... was named the AL Player of the Week for the week of July 1-7...was his second-career weekly award (also Sept. 17-23, 2018)... hit .429 (9x21) with sixbhomers and 13 RBI in five games during the week...homered in five-straight games at Minute Maid Park from July 5-20, which tied the longest streak in the venue's history with Morgan Ensberg (April 10-21, 2005)...posted an extra-base hit in 10 straight home games from June 28-July 23, which marked a franchise record, previously held by Carlos Lee (9 games in 2011)...set a club record for homers in a single July with 12...fell one homer shy of the record for homers in any single month, which was set by Jeff Bagwell in June of 1994...posted 31 RBI in July, tied for the second-most in franchise history for a single July with Bagwell and Derek Bell, who both reached 31 in July of 1995...posted a career-long 18-game hitting streak from July 12-31...was named the AL Player of the Month for July, his first-career monthly award...during the month, ranked tied for first among AL players in hits (39), second inbbatting (.398), second in HR (12), second in RBI (31), second in SLG (.837), second in OPS (.1.264) and fifth in OBP (.427)...posted his third-career multi-homer game on Aug. 7 vs. COL...on Aug. 8 vs. COL went 2x4 with a three-run double, three-run homer and a career-high 8 RBI...tied the Astros franchise record for RBI in a single game, set by J.R. Towles on Sept. 20, 2007...set a Minute Maid Park record for RBI in a game, topping Gurriel's previous record of seven RBI that he set on Sept. 21, 2018 vs. LAA...tied a Major League record for RBI by a Cuban-born player in a single game, joining Yasmani Grandal (May 7, 2015 at MIL) and Jose Canseco (June 13, 1994 vs. SEA)...joined Jeff Bagwell as the only Astros players ever to have multiple games with at least seven RBI...tied a Major League record for RBI during a two-game series (11) during the Colorado series (Aug. 7-8), also reached by Vladimir Guerrero (June 2004 vs. BOS), Travis Hafner (July 2004 at ANA) and Cal Ripken Jr. (May 1996 at SEA)...tied the franchise record for RBI in a single series of any length, matching Jeff Bagwell's record of 11 RBI set during a 3-game series at KC in July of 2001...on Aug. 8, had his fifth-straight game with a homer against the Rockies... hit seven total homers across those five games, which was the longest streak by a Major Leaguer vs. Colorado since Giancarlo Stanton's five-game streak with a homer from 2016-17...batted .250 (18x72) with a team-best 13 RBI and five strikeouts in the postseason...marked the fifth-most RBI by an Astro in a single postseason...posted his 12th-career postseason double in Game 2 of the World Series, giving him the second-most doubles in Astros franchise history behind George Springer's 14...homered in Game 7 of the World Series, his eighth-career extra-base hit in the WS, the most in MLB history by a Cuban-born player.
2018
Set career highs in runs (70), walks (23) and RBI (85) in what was his second full Major League season...was named AL Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 16-23...showed his versatility, playing multiple positions around the diamond...played in 109 games at first base (99 starts), 21 games at third base (13 starts), 15 games at second base (11 starts) and two games at shortstop (1 start)...batted .403 (56x139) with runners in scoring position, the second-best mark in the Majors behind Joe Mauer (.407, 22x81)...set a new club record for batting average w/RISP in a single season, besting Jose Cruz and his .389 (49x126) mark set in the 1986 season... underwent successful left hand surgery to remove the hook of the hamate bone on March 28...the procedure was performed by Dr. Thomas Mehlhoff at Texas Orthopedic Hospital...began the season on the Restricted List and served a five-game suspension...placed on the 10-day DL on April 3...activated from the DL on April 13... placed on the Paternity List on June 28 and was activated on July 1...went 4x5 with a double and two RBI on May 4 at ARI, tying his single-game career-high for hits...posted a 12-game hitting streak from May 24-June 6...matched his single-game career high in hits on June 10 at TEX, going 4x5 with a homer and two RBI...hit his second-career grand slam on June 24 vs. KC...led off the 2nd inning with a double before hitting a grand slam later in the inning, becoming the first Astros player with two hits, including a grand slam, in the same inning since George Springer on June 24, 2016 at KC...batted .330 (31x94) with three homers and 21 RBI in June, ranking tied for sixth in the AL in RBI during the month...recorded his first-career walkoff hit on July 5 vs. CWS, an RBI-single in the bottom of the 9th inning...posted a career-long 13-game hitting streak from July 3-20...hit his 80th career double on Sept. 17 vs. SEA in what was his 300th career game in the Majors...the 80 doubles marked the most by a Cuban-born player within his first 300 career games in the Major Leagues... went 3x4 with two homers and seven RBI on Sept. 21 vs. LAA... was his first-career multi-homer game...hit his third-career grand slam, and second of the season...set a career-high in RBI, which were also a new Minute Maid Park record...marked the most RBI by an Astro since J.R. Towles recorded a club-record eight RBI on Sept. 20, 2007 at STL...also tied a club record for RBI by a first baseman, a mark Jeff Bagwell reached twice (July 7, 2001 at KC, Aug. 13, 2000 at PHI)...his 81 RBI are a new career-high...on Sept. 21, he and his brother Lourdes Gurriel Jr. became the first set of brothers to record multiple homers on the same day in MLB history (Elias Sports Bureau)...became the fourth pair of brothers ever to combine for four homers on the same day (STATS, Inc.)...also Cal Ripken Jr. (3HR) and Billy Ripken (1HR) on May 28, 1996, Dom DiMaggio (1HR) and Joe DiMaggio (3HR) on June 20, 1948, and Bob Meusel (1HR) and Irish Meusel (3HR) on July 1, 1925...was named AL Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 16-23...during the week, hit .433 (13x30) with three doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and a 1.267 OPS (.433 OBP/.833 SLG) in seven games, five of which were Astros victories... among American League players during the week, ranked first in RBI, tied for first in hits and tied for second in both runs scored (8) and total bases (25)...was his first-career weekly award...finished the three-game series against the Angels from Sept. 21-23 with 10 RBI, falling one RBI short of the franchise record for RBI in a single three-game series... played in five games on a rehab assignment with Double A Corpus Christi in April, batting .429 (9x21) with four doubles and three RBI...posted his second 13-game hitting streak of the season from Sept. 14-29...the 13-game streaks were the longest by an Astros player in 2018...recorded multiple hits in six straight games from Sept. 19-25...hit .226 (7x31) with two doubles, one homer and three RBI in eight postseason games...hit a three-run homer in Game 1 of the ALCS at BOS...doubled in Game 5 of the ALCS vs. BOS...was his 13th-career extra-base hit in the postseason, surpassing Hall of Famer Tony Perez for the most by a Cuban-born player in MLB history... was his ninth-career postseason double, tying Craig Biggio for the second-most in club history behind George Springer (11)...played in five games with Double A Corpus Christi on an injury rehab assignment (April 5-10), batting .429 (9x21) with four doubles .and three RBI.
2017
Had a spectacular first full season in the Major Leagues as a 33-year-old rookie...was still considered a rookie because he recorded 130 at-bats in 2016, falling one at-bat shy of exceeding the MLB rookie threshold... set franchise rookie records for doubles (43), total bases (257), extra-base hits (62) and slugging percentage (.485)...broke the record for extra-base hits and doubles set by Hunter Pence (56 XBH, 30 doubles) in 2007, the record for total bases set by Joe Morgan (251) in 1965 and the record for slugging percentage set by Jeff Bagwell (.437) in 1991...led the Astros and all Major League rookies with 43 doubles, which also ranked tied for seventh in the AL...tied for the ninth-most doubles by a rookie in AL history, and the most by an AL rookie since Nomar Garciaparra hit 44 in 1997...led all Major League rookies in batting average, ranking second among AL rookies in extra-base hits (62) and hits (158), and third in runs (69) and OPS (.817)...finished seven RBI shy of the franchise rookie record set by Jeff Bagwell (82) in 1991...marked the second-most RBI ever hit by a rookie in club history...his .817 OPS was also the second-best mark by a rookie in club history behind Bagwell's 1991 season (.824)...struck out just 62 times in 564 plate appearances, giving him the fifth-lowest strikeout rate in the Majors (11%), and the third-lowest in the AL...was the lowest strikeout rate by an Astros rookie since Bill Doran posted a 10.7% mark in 1983...saw just 3.42 pitches per plate appearance, the lowest mark in the Major Leagues...per Statcast, had 204 batted balls reach an exit velocity above 95 miles per hour, the ninth-most in the Majors and the sixth-most in the AL behind Manny Machado (250), Jose Abreu (230), Robinson Canó (223), Mookie Betts (209) and Nelson Cruz (204)...hit above .300 in all but one month this year (May)...hit .329 in April, .309 in June, .304 in July, .323 in August and .319 in September...made 130 starts at first base and four starts at third base...hit 39 doubles as a first baseman, the fourth-highest single season total by a first baseman in club history...marked the most since Lance Berkman hit 46 doubles as a first baseman in 2008...made his first career Opening Day roster and start...started at first base on April 3 vs. SEA...at 32 years, 298 days old, became the oldest rookie in club history to make an Opening Day start...recorded a career-high three hits on April 11 at SEA...hit the first grand slam of his career in a 2x4 performance on May 15 at MIA...set a career-high with four RBI...marked the first time in club history that the Astros hit grand slams in consecutive games...posted an 11- game hitting streak from May 28-June 11, the longest streak of his career and the longest by an Astros rookie since George Springer had an 11-game streak in 2014...recorded 24 doubles prior to the All-Star Break, the most in club history by a rookie...the last rookies to record 24 doubles prior to the All-Star Break were Geovany Soto and Daniel Murphy in 2008...recorded three hits in three straight games from July 1-4...also recorded multiple extra-base hits and multiple RBI in each of those three games, becoming the first player in club history with a three-game streak of multiple extra-base hits and multiple RBI...hit a two-run, two-out go-ahead double off his fellow countryman LHP Aroldis Chapman on July 1 vs. NYY that propelled Houston to a 7-6 win...set a career-high for hits on July 21 at BAL, going 4x5 with a homer and two RBI...per Elias, became the oldest player to record his first four-hit game in the Majors since John Jaso hit for the cycle on Sept. 28, 2016 at 33 years old...was named the AL Rookie of the Month for July after batting .304 with nine doubles, five homers, 20 RBI and an .899 OPS...led all AL rookies in hits (28), doubles, RBI, slugging percentage (.565) and OPS...tied Lance Berkman (2000) for the franchise record for doubles in a single month of July by a rookie...hit .304 (21x69) with seven doubles, one triple, two homers, eight RBI and an .864 OPS in 18 postseason games...21 hits marked the second-most in Major League history for a rookie in a single postseason...fell one hit shy of the MLB record set by Derek Jeter in 1996...set a Major League record for extra-base hits by a rookie in a single postseason with 10...surpassed Evan Longoria, who posted nine extra-base hits in 2008...set an MLB record for doubles by a rookie in a single postseason with 7, topping Dustin Pedroia (2007)...set a franchise record for doubles in a single postseason...only three players in MLB history recorded more doubles in a single postseason: David Freese (8 in 2011), Albert Pujols (8 in 2011) and Ben Zobrist (8 in 2015)...his 21 hits marked the most in Major League history by a Cuban-born player in a single postseason...batted .529 (9x17) in the ALDS vs. BOS...his nine hits in the ALDS marked the second-most hits by a rookie in a single Division Series in MLB history, behind only Ichiro Suzuki, who had 12 hits in the 2001 ALDS...became the first player in franchise history to record a hit in each of his first six postseason games...went 4x4 in Game 3 of the ALDS at BOS, tying a franchise record for hits in a postseason game...went 3x5 with a double and a triple in Game 4 of the ALDS at BOS...recorded a hit in six consecutive at-bats over Games 3-4 of the ALDS, setting a MLB postseason rookie record (Elias)...became the second player in club history to record at least three hits in consecutive postseason games, joining Craig Biggio (2004)...became the first player in club history with a double and a triple in a postseason game when he did so in Game 4 of the ALDS at BOS...became the fifth player in MLB history to record a double and a triple in a postseason game where his team clinched a series victory, joining A.J. Pollock (2017), Andre Ethier (2009), Frankie Crosetti (1938) and Lou Gehrig (1937)...hit a three-run bases-loaded double in Game 4 of the ALCS at NYY...was the first three-run double in the ALCS since Tulowitzki's in Game 5 of the 2015 ALCS...homered in Game 3 of the World Series, becoming the first rookie in club history to homer in a World Series game...was his first career postseason homer...became the second rookie in MLB history to hit a homer and a double in a World Series game, joining Tom Tresh (1962 WS Game 5)...received a five-game suspension from MLB following Game 3 of the World Series...will serve the suspension to start the 2018 season...hit a game-tying, three-run homer off LHP Clayton Kershaw in Game 5 of the World Series...joined Tony Perez (1975) as the only Cubanborn players to have multiple homers in a single World Series...became the eighth rookie in MLB history to hit multiple homers in a single World Series, joining Charlie Keller (1939), Michael Conforto (2015), Andruw Jones (1996), Willie McGee (1982), Reggie Smith (1967), Tony Kubek (1957) and Jim Gilliam (1953).
2016
Made his debut in the Majors after a long and successful career in Cuba's Serie Nacional...recorded 34 hits in 36 games with seven doubles, three homers and 15 RBI...made 20 starts at third base, seven starts at designated hitter, four starts at first base and one start in left field...after signing with the Astros on July 16, made four stops in the Astros minor league system: Gulf Coast League, Lancaster (A), Corpus Christi (AA) and Fresno (AAA), respectively...was recalled to the Major League club on Aug. 21, where he remained through the season...made his Major League debut on Aug. 21 at BAL, going 1x2 with a walk as DH... at 32 years and 73 days, became the third-oldest position player to make his Major League debut with the Astros, behind Pidge Browne (33.023) and Alan Zinter (34.030)...joined Dae-ho Lee as the only players in the Majors this season to debut at 32-or-older (Lee was 33.288 y/o with Seattle)...went 2x3 with two doubles and two RBI on Aug. 27 vs. TB...were his first career extra-base hits and RBI...became the first Astros player to record a game with at least two doubles and two RBI within his first five Major League games...hit his first career homer on Sept. 7 at CLE...also homered the following day on Sept. 8 at CLE...was batting .344 over his first 19 games in the Majors (through Sept. 12)...was the highest by an Astro over his first 19 games in the Majors (with an AB) since Hunter Pence hit .356 (26x73) in 2007...had a nine-game hitting streak from Sept. 4-12...batted .361 (13x36) with a double, three homers and six RBI in that span...in 15 overall games during his minor league stint (all four levels combined), hit .250 (14x56) with four doubles, two HR and 14 RBI with starts at third base, left field, and designated hitter.
2015
In his final foreign season, recorded an incredible .500 (87x174) batting average with 20 doubles, 15 homers, 51 RBI and a 1.463 OPS (.589 OBP/.874 SLG) in 49 games for Industriales in Cuba's Series Nacional...led the league in batting average, on-base and slugging, while ranking in the top 10 in doubles, runs scored and home runs.
2014
Was given a rare permission to play abroad by Cuban authorities and joined the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan's Central League...hit a solid .305 (73x239) with 22 doubles and 11 homers in 62 games for Yokohama but after only one season in Japan, he returned to Cuba to recuperate from an injury...in what was his first time playing in a league outside of Cuba, ranked fifth in Japan in slugging (.536)...would join Industriales in Cuba for 49 games and hit .343 (60x175) with 18 doubles, seven home runs and 35 RBI...finished fourth in the league in OPS (1.009) and fifth in slugging (.577).
2013
After playing 12 seasons for Sancti Spiritus, joined Industriales, playing 81 games, while hitting .313 (93x297) with 21 doubles, 16 home runs and 69 RBI... led the league in home runs and slugging (.566), while ranking tied for first in RBI, second in runs (63), third in OPS (.991), seventh in doubles and eighth in hits and walks (54).
2012
Played his 12th and final season with Sancti Spiritus and hit .325 (91x280) with 18 doubles and 52 RBI in 79 games.
2011
Ranked sixth in the league in slugging (.586) and seventh in OPS (1.020)...two of the five players that finished ahead of him in slugging became Major Leaguers in Jose Abreu (.837) and Hector Olivera (.626).
2010
Finished tied for sixth in the Series Nacional in RBI, trailing current Big Leaguers Yoenis Cespedes (99) and Jose Abrea (93).
2009
Rotated between second base and third base in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, when Cuba failed to make the finals in a global baseball event for the first time in 58 years...hit .333 with two homers, five runs and six RBI in a solid six games... in regular season play, led Sancti Spiritus to a division title and had one of his best professional seasons, hitting .363 (125x344) with career highs in home runs (30) and RBI (105)...led the league in RBI and finished tied for second in homers.
2008
Hit .229 in the 2008 Olympics as Cuba won the Silver medal...in regular season play, hit .399 with 22 home runs, 90 RBI and 77 runs in 84 games...ranked among the league leaders in hits (131, 2nd), triples (7, tied for 4th), homers (7th), total bases (233, 2nd), RBI (90, 2nd), average (2nd) and slugging (.710, 2nd)...was named the League's All-Star third baseman and shared Gold Glove honors.
2007
Hit .278 as Cuba's No. 3 hitter and third baseman in the 2007 Pan-American Games...hit one of the three homers for the Gold Medal winners...batted .275 in the 2007 Baseball World Cup as Cuba won the Silver Medal...in regular season play, hit .302, with 68 runs scored and 71 RBI in 79 games...ranked tied for 5th in the league in home runs (22), tied for 6th in RBI and was second in sacrifice flies (7)...was named to the Serie Nacional All-Star team at third base.
2006
Was the star of the Cuban National Team which lost in the final of the 2006 World Baseball Classic... also played in the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games, in which he hit .300 and led the tourney with nine runs in seven games while driving in seven...hit .389 in the 2006 Intercontinental Cup with 10 runs and eight RBI in nine games...in the 2006 qualifiers for the 2008 Olympics, hit .314 with four HR and 12 RBI in nine games...earned his second consecutive Serie Nacional MVP Award after hitting .345 (120x348) with 28 doubles, 13 homers and 46 RBI in 88 games.
2005
Led the 2005 Baseball World Cup with eight homers and was second with 19 RBI en route to being named to the All-Tournament Team...hit .319 with 12 runs in 11 games...outpaced Joey Votto, who finished second in home runs, three behind Gurriel...won his first Serie Nacional MVP Award after hitting .291 (95x326) with 13 doubles, nine home runs and 60 RBI in 89 games as a 21-year-old.
2004
Was a member of the Gold Medal Winning Cuban team at the 2004 Olympics.
2003
In the 2003 Baseball World Cup, Gurriel hit .358 with five doubles, three homers, nine runs and 13 RBI in nine games to help Cuba win the title...was error-free in 23 chances at second base...in regular-season play, hit .358 (77x215) with 42 RBI...finished second in the league in slugging (.614) and seventh in batting average.
2002
Played for Cuba in the 2002 Intercontinental Cup and 0x3 with a run...was just beginning his career in Cuba, as he played his regular season at the age of 18.
2001
Debuted for Sancti Spiritus at the age of 17 and hit .300 (106x353) with 26 doubles and 50 RBI.
