Jimmy Santiago Paredes Terrero (born November 25, 1988 in Bajos de Haina

Bajos de Haina

Bajos de Haina, also known simply as Haina , is a town and municipality in the San Cristóbal , of the Dominican Republic. In 1993 the population was estimated at 68,261, but recent estimates in 2005 claimed the population was as high as 140,175...

, Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...

) is an 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...

 with the Houston Astros

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...

.

Minor league career

Paredes was signed as an amateur free agent with the New York Yankees

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

. He made his professional debut in 2007 with the Dominican Summer Yankees 1

Dominican Summer Yankees 1

The Dominican Summer Yankees 1 are a minor league baseball team in the Dominican Summer League. The team plays in the Boca Chica South division and is affiliated with the New York Yankees.-External links:*...

. He came to America for the 2008 season and played with the Gulf Coast League Yankees. He played 2009 with Short-Season Staten Island

Staten Island Yankees

The Staten Island Yankees are a minor league baseball team, located in the New York City borough of Staten Island. Nicknamed the "Baby Bombers," the Yankees are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the New York Yankees and play in the New York - Penn League at Richmond County Bank Ballpark...

 where he was an All-Star, batting .302 with 23 steals in 54 games. He started 2010 with Single-A Charleston

Charleston RiverDogs

The Charleston RiverDogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Charleston, South Carolina. They play in the class A South Atlantic League and are an affiliate of the New York Yankees. Their home stadium is at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park...

 but was traded with Mark Melancon

Mark Melancon

Mark David Melancon is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Houston Astros.-Early years:...

 to the Astros for Lance Berkman

Lance Berkman

William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....

. He was assigned to Single-A Lexington

Lexington Legends

The Lexington Legends are a minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League , and the Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Lexington, Kentucky, and play their home games at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, located in an industrial area on the northeast side of the city just...

. After the season, the Astros added Paredes to the 40 man roster to protect him from 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...

. He signed a one-year, $414,000 deal before the season started. He started 2011 with Double-A Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Hooks

The Corpus Christi Hooks are a minor league baseball team of the Texas League, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan...

 where he was an All-Star, splitting time at second

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...

 and third

Third baseman

A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...

, batting .271 with 29 steals and 41 RBI.

Major league career

On August 1, 2011, Paredes was called up to play third base, replacing the struggling Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson (baseball)

Christopher Dalton Johnson is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Houston Astros.-Professional career:Johnson was drafted in the 37th round by the Red Sox in June 2003 but instead opted for college...

. In his first major league at bat, Paredes hit a two-run triple, becoming the first player in franchise history to triple in his first major league plate appearance.

External links