Joel Guzmán

Joel Guzmán

Guzmán as a non-roster invitee of the Washington Nationals in 2009 spring training.
York Revolution – No. 28
Infielder
Born: (1984-11-24) November 24, 1984
Quisqueya, Dominican Republic
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 1, 2006, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
Batting average .232
Home runs 0
Runs batted in 7
Teams

Irvin Joel Vigo Guzmán (born November 24, 1984) is a Dominican professional baseball player. He currently plays for the York Revolution of the Atlantic League. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons.

Career

Los Angeles Dodgers

Guzmán signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent on July 2, 2001.[1][2] He was signed for $2.25 million, a franchise record signing bonus.[3] Guzmán worked his way through the minor leagues, becoming a top prospect.[4] He was named the Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year in 2004 and was elected to the Florida State League All-Star Game.[5][6] In 2005, he was named a Southern League All-Star,[7] and ranked the fifth-best overall prospect by Baseball America.[8] Guzmán also played in the All-Star Futures Game twice, in 2004 and 2006.[9] With a jump to the Major League level predicted for the 2006 season, Dodgers manager Grady Little converted Guzmán to left field during spring training. With Rafael Furcal, César Izturis, and Oscar Robles already playing shortstops on the Dodgers major league roster, the position change was made in an attempt to give Guzmán increased opportunity to play with the Dodgers in 2006.[10] He made his major league debut on June 1 of that year, as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Guzmán grounded into a double play in his first at-bat in the bottom half of the inning.[11]

Tampa Bay Rays

Guzmán was traded on July 31, 2006, to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays with Sergio Pedroza for Julio Lugo.[12] He spent most of the 2007 season with the Triple-A Durham Bulls, but made his Devil Rays debut on August 19 against the Cleveland Indians. Guzmán recorded his first major league hit, a walk-off single off of Rafael Pérez, that day.[13][14]

Minor league journeyman

He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals on December 13, 2008.[15] On February 4, 2010, the Baltimore Orioles signed Guzmán to a minor league deal, and he completed the 2010 season at the AA level playing for the Bowie Baysox.[16] In December 2010 it was announced that he signed a deal to play in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons in 2011.[17] He signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds for the 2012 season, and was released in June.[18]

Guzmán played in the Mexican League in 2012 and 2013 and after not playing in 2014, he signed with the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for 2015.

Guzmán signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball for the 2016 season.

References

  1. ↑ "Transactions". New York Times. July 3, 2001. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  2. ↑ Reid, Jason (July 2, 2001). "Dodgers Are Set to Make Record Offer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  3. ↑ Ratliff, Jason (October 28, 2005). "Suns shine bright in Los Angeles system". MILB.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  4. ↑ Crowe, Jerry (March 8, 2006). "Guzman Makes Graceful Shift to Left". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Where Are They Now: Joel Guzman". MILB.com. January 22, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  6. ↑ Gurnick, Ken (June 1, 2004). "Vero Beach All-Stars". MLB.com.
  7. ↑ Elliot, Jeff (June 30, 2005). "Suns have five All-Stars". Florida Times Union. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  8. ↑ Schoenfield, David (January 30, 2015). "Looking back: Top prospects of 2005". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Ivan De Jesus, Jr. Named to 2008 Futures Game World Roster". MILB.com. June 30, 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  10. ↑ Gurnick, Ken (February 25, 2006). "Notes: Guzman to switch positions". MLB.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Dodgers dump Phils for seventh straight home win". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 2, 2006. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  12. ↑ Chastain, Bill (July 31, 2006). "Dodgers send Guzman, Pedroza to Devil Rays". MILB.com. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  13. ↑ "New guy delivers welcome walkoff". St. Petersburg Times. August 20, 2007. pp. 1C and 6C. Retrieved February 13, 2016 – via Google News.
  14. ↑ "Guzman's single in 12th ends Tribe's three-game win streak". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 19, 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  15. ↑ Ladson, Bill (December 13, 2008). "Nationals sign 13 to Minors deals". MLB.com. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  16. ↑ Connolly, Dan (February 4, 2010). "O's sign Joel Guzman to minor league deal". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  17. ↑ Melewski, Steve (December 14, 2010). "Guzman heads for Japan, Reimold a comeback candidate". MASN Sports. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  18. ↑ Eddy, Matt (June 28, 2012). "Minor League Transactions: June 19-24". Baseball America. Retrieved February 13, 2016.

External links

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