Héctor Luna
Encyclopedia
Héctor R. Luna is a Dominican professional baseball
infielder
. He is primarily an infielder, but has played every position at the major league level except pitcher
and catcher
.
He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Indians
in 1999 and played from 2000-2003 with the Indians farm system, reaching as high as AA with the Akron Aeros
in 2003.
He made his major league debut on April 8, , with the St. Louis Cardinals
after being drafted from the Cleveland Indians
in the Rule 5 Draft
in December . He hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat, against Milwaukee Brewers
pitcher Chris Capuano
leading off the bottom of the third inning
In the 2004 World Series
against the Boston Red Sox
, Luna appeared in one game. In the eighth inning of the fourth game, he pinch hit
for Tony Womack
and struck out.
On July 30, , Luna was traded by the Cardinals to the Cleveland Indians
for second baseman
Ronnie Belliard
. He split second base duties with Joe Inglett
for the remainder of the season.
After the 2006 season, the Indians acquired Josh Barfield
from the San Diego Padres
to be the team's everyday second baseman, leaving Luna to fight for a utility infield role with three other candidates during the team's spring training
. He performed poorly during spring training, committing eight errors
and batting
just .012 in 28 spring games. The Indians kept Mike Rouse
as their utility infielder and Luna began 2007 with AAA Buffalo. On August 3, the Toronto Blue Jays
claimed Luna off waivers and he played in 22 games in 2007 and two in 2008 with Toronto.
He became a free agent after the season and signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
Luna was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
for the 2009 season. He had a great year for the Isotopes, hitting .351 with 17 homers and 51 RBI. He spent 2010 in the Florida Marlins
system and appeared in 27 games for the Marlins late in the season, hitting .138.
On January 3, 2011, Luna signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.
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...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. He is primarily an infielder, but has played every position at the major league level except pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
.
He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in 1999 and played from 2000-2003 with the Indians farm system, reaching as high as AA with the Akron Aeros
Akron Aeros
The Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...
in 2003.
He made his major league debut on April 8, , with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
after being drafted from the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
in December . He hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat, against 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...
pitcher Chris Capuano
Chris Capuano
Christopher "Chris" Frank Capuano is an American professional baseball player.-Early life:Capuano graduated from St. Thomas School in West Springfield in 8th grade...
leading off the bottom of the third inning
In the 2004 World Series
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, Luna appeared in one game. In the eighth inning of the fourth game, he pinch hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
for Tony Womack
Tony Womack
Anthony Darrell Womack is a former second baseman and shortstop in Major League Baseball who played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks, then with several other teams during his last four years...
and struck out.
On July 30, , Luna was traded by the Cardinals to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Ronnie Belliard
Ronnie Belliard
Ronald "Ronnie" Belliard is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman of Dominican descent.-Early life:Belliard attended Central High School in Miami, Florida...
. He split second base duties with Joe Inglett
Joe Inglett
Joseph Steven Inglett is an American professional baseball utility player who is a free agent.-Cleveland Indians:He made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians on June 21, ....
for the remainder of the season.
After the 2006 season, the Indians acquired Josh Barfield
Josh Barfield
Joshua LaRoy Barfield is a second baseman who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He is the son of former major league outfielder Jesse Barfield. Barfield was born in Venezuela during his mother's two-week winterball visit with his father...
from the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
to be the team's everyday second baseman, leaving Luna to fight for a utility infield role with three other candidates during the team's spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He performed poorly during spring training, committing eight errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
and batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
just .012 in 28 spring games. The Indians kept Mike Rouse
Mike Rouse
Michael Gregory Rouse is an infielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He bats left-handed, although he throws right-handed....
as their utility infielder and Luna began 2007 with AAA Buffalo. On August 3, the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
claimed Luna off waivers and he played in 22 games in 2007 and two in 2008 with Toronto.
He became a free agent after the season and signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
Luna was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
for the 2009 season. He had a great year for the Isotopes, hitting .351 with 17 homers and 51 RBI. He spent 2010 in the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
system and appeared in 27 games for the Marlins late in the season, hitting .138.
On January 3, 2011, Luna signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.