Angel Echevarria
Encyclopedia
Angel Santos Echevarria (born May 25, 1971 in Bridgeport, Connecticut
) is a retired American professional baseball
player who played outfield
in the Major Leagues from 1996-2002. He also played in the Japanese Pacific League
, from 2003-2004.
in 1992
. He spent four years in the minors before making his major league debut in June, 1996. He went back and forth between the majors and the minors from 1997–1998, but played in 102 games in 1999, hitting 11 home runs with a .293 batting average.
Echevarria was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
in July, 2000, and he played a full season with the Brewers in 2001. Most of his appearances came as a pinch hitter, and he occasionally started in the outfield or at first base.
He signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs
in 2002, and continued his role as a pinch hitter, playing in 50 games with 3 home runs and a .306 batting average. The Cubs released Echevarria at the end of the season, and he signed with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
of the Japanese Professional Leagues.
Echevarria's height and batting stance made it difficult for him to hit pitches in the Japanese Professional Leagues, and he was often seen flailing wildly at low breaking pitches during pre-season games. However, he managed to make adjustments, and ended 2003 with 31 home runs, 81 RBIs, with a .275 batting average. He was also hit by 12 pitches in 2003; the most in the league. Echevarria's 31 home runs were the most on the team, (tied with Michihiro Ogasawara
) prompting the Fighters to sign him for the next season.
In 2004, the Fighters signed two more non-Japanese position players; Fernando Seguignol
and Sherman Obando
, and Echevarria was dropped lower in the batting order as Seguignol became the team's leading power hitter, and Obando re-emerged as a reliable hitter. Echevarria was unable to hit left-handed pitching in 2004, and was cut at the end of the season when it was clear opposing teams had already figured him out. Echevarria returned to the Chicago Cubs
in 2005, but was released in May of the same year.
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
) is a retired American professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player who played outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
in the Major Leagues from 1996-2002. He also played in the Japanese Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
, from 2003-2004.
Biography
Echevarria was drafted by the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in 1992
1992 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1992 Major League Baseball draft.-Other notable players:*Raúl Ibáñez, 36th round, Seattle Mariners...
. He spent four years in the minors before making his major league debut in June, 1996. He went back and forth between the majors and the minors from 1997–1998, but played in 102 games in 1999, hitting 11 home runs with a .293 batting average.
Echevarria was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in July, 2000, and he played a full season with the Brewers in 2001. Most of his appearances came as a pinch hitter, and he occasionally started in the outfield or at first base.
He signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in 2002, and continued his role as a pinch hitter, playing in 50 games with 3 home runs and a .306 batting average. The Cubs released Echevarria at the end of the season, and he signed with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters
The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters also host a select number of regional home games in cities across Hokkaidō,...
of the Japanese Professional Leagues.
Echevarria's height and batting stance made it difficult for him to hit pitches in the Japanese Professional Leagues, and he was often seen flailing wildly at low breaking pitches during pre-season games. However, he managed to make adjustments, and ended 2003 with 31 home runs, 81 RBIs, with a .275 batting average. He was also hit by 12 pitches in 2003; the most in the league. Echevarria's 31 home runs were the most on the team, (tied with Michihiro Ogasawara
Michihiro Ogasawara
Michihiro Ogasawara is a Japanese professional baseball player. He currently plays first base for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Central League . He played with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters from to .-Career:Ogasawara is one of the most consistent hitters in Japanese baseball...
) prompting the Fighters to sign him for the next season.
In 2004, the Fighters signed two more non-Japanese position players; Fernando Seguignol
Fernando Seguignol
Fernando Alfredo Seguignol is a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who is currently a free agent. In 2010 he played for the Orix Buffaloes in the Japanese Pacific League, where he had previously played in 2002, After playing for the Newark Bears...
and Sherman Obando
Sherman Obando
Sherman Omar Obando Gainor is a former major league baseball player who played for the Baltimore Orioles and Montreal Expos. His main position was outfield, but often played as a first baseman or designated hitter...
, and Echevarria was dropped lower in the batting order as Seguignol became the team's leading power hitter, and Obando re-emerged as a reliable hitter. Echevarria was unable to hit left-handed pitching in 2004, and was cut at the end of the season when it was clear opposing teams had already figured him out. Echevarria returned to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in 2005, but was released in May of the same year.