Oscar Azócar
| Oscar Azócar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Left fielder | |
| Born: February 21, 1965 Soro, Venezuela | |
| Died: June 14, 2010 (aged 45) Valencia, Venezuela | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 17, 1990, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 4, 1992, for the San Diego Padres | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .226 |
| Home runs | 5 |
| Runs batted in | 36 |
| Teams | |
| Member of the Caribbean | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2010 |
Oscar Gregorio Azócar (February 21, 1965 – June 14, 2010) was a Venezuelan left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees (1990) and San Diego Padres (1991-'92). Listed at 6' 1", 170 lb., Azócar batted and threw left-handed. In 202 career games, Azócar recorded a batting average of .226 and accumulated 10 stolen bases, and 36 runs batted in (RBI).
Career
[edit]Azócar was born in Soro, Sucre, Venezuela. After attending high school in Venezuela, he was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent on November 22, 1983.[1]
Until 1987 Azócar posted a record of 14–5 with a 2.30 earned run average as a professional pitcher, but then switched to the outfield. Azócar was a classic example of the impatient hitter who would swing at almost anything and usually put it in play. It took him 100 Major League at-bats to draw his first walk. He normally obliged the pitchers by hitting whatever they threw, and his batting average dropped accordingly.[1]
In a three-season career, Azócar was a .226 hitter (99-for-439) with five home runs and 36 runs batted in in 202 games, including 38 runs scored, 16 doubles, 10 stolen bases and 12 base on balls. Despite his free-swinging style, he had only 36 strikeouts in 439 at-bats (one every 12 at-bats). Azócar also used his speed selectively and never was caught stealing.[1]
Azócar died in 2010 in Valencia, Carabobo, at the age of 45[2] of a heart attack.[3] The same year, he was inducted in the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame for his notable contributions in the Caribbean Series.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Oscar Azocar Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
- ^ Espn – MLB Headlines
- ^ "Obituary". Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Retrosheet
- Venezuelan Professional Baseball League statistics
- 1965 births
- 2010 deaths
- Albany-Colonie Yankees players
- Baseball pitchers
- Caribes de Oriente players
- Charros de Jalisco players
- Columbus Clippers players
- Fort Lauderdale Yankees players
- Guerreros de Oaxaca players
- Gulf Coast Yankees players
- Las Vegas Stars (baseball) players
- Leones de Yucatán players
- Leones del Caracas players
- Major League Baseball left fielders
- Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
- Mayas de Chetumal players
- Mexican League baseball first basemen
- Mexican League baseball left fielders
- Mexican League baseball right fielders
- Navegantes del Magallanes players
- New York Yankees players
- Oneonta Yankees players
- Sportspeople from Sucre (state)
- Petroleros de Poza Rica players
- Rojos del Águila de Veracruz players
- San Diego Padres players
- Tiburones de La Guaira players
- Tigres de Aragua players
- Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Mexico
- Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States