Carlos Gómez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carlos Gómez |
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Gómez with the Texas Rangers in 2017
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: December 4, 1985 Santiago, Dominican Republic |
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| debut | |||
| May 13, 2007, for the New York Mets | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 29, 2019, for the New York Mets | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .252 | ||
| Home runs | 145 | ||
| Runs batted in | 546 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Carlos Argelis Gómez Peña, also known as Go-Go, is a former professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic. He was born on December 4, 1985. Carlos played as an outfielder for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB).
He played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, and Tampa Bay Rays. Carlos Gómez was chosen for the MLB All-Star Game twice. He also won a Gold Glove Award for his amazing defense.
Contents
Carlos Gómez's Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Carlos Gómez began his baseball career very young. He signed with the New York Mets when he was just 16 years old in 2002. People thought he was a very promising player. He was known for being a five-tool prospect, meaning he was good at hitting for power, hitting for average, running, throwing, and fielding.
One of his teammates, José Reyes, who was also very fast, even said that Carlos was faster than him! In 2006, Carlos played for the Double-A Binghamton Mets. He was second in his league with 41 stolen bases. He also hit .281, which is a good batting average.
In 2007, Carlos started playing for the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs. He led his league with 17 stolen bases early in the season. He was hitting .286 before moving up to the major leagues.
Playing for the New York Mets
Carlos Gómez made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on May 13, 2007. He was only 21 years old, making him the youngest player in the National League at that time. In his first game, he got two hits and stole a base.
On June 10, he hit his first home run in the major leagues. It was a three-run home run against the Detroit Tigers. In his first season, Carlos played in 58 games. He hit .232 with two home runs.
Moving to the Minnesota Twins
In 2008, Carlos Gómez was traded to the Minnesota Twins. He became the team's starting center fielder. His manager, Ron Gardenhire, gave him the nickname "Go-Go" because of his last name and his incredible speed.
On May 7, 2008, Carlos achieved something special. He hit for the cycle against the Chicago White Sox. This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game! He was one of the youngest players ever to do this.
Carlos finished the 2008 season hitting .258. He had seven home runs and 33 stolen bases. He was also very good at getting bunt hits, leading the league with 30. In 2009, he helped the Twins win their division. He even played in his first postseason games.
Time with the Milwaukee Brewers
In 2009, Carlos was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. He continued to be a strong defensive player. In 2011, he led all National League outfielders in how well they covered the field. He also had a perfect fielding percentage, meaning he didn't make any errors.
In 2012, Carlos had one of his best seasons. He hit .260 with 19 home runs and 37 stolen bases. Before the 2013 season, he signed a new contract with the Brewers.
The 2013 season was a standout year for Carlos. He was named the National League Player of the Week. He was also chosen for his first All-Star team. Carlos had career highs in many areas, including a .284 batting average, 24 home runs, and 40 stolen bases.
He was also an amazing defensive player. He won the Gold Glove Award for center field. This award goes to the best defensive player at each position. He was the first Brewer to win this award since 1982.
In 2014, Carlos had another strong season. He hit .284 with 23 home runs and 34 stolen bases. He was a key player for the Brewers.
Playing for the Houston Astros
In July 2015, Carlos Gómez was traded to the Houston Astros. He quickly made an impact. On October 6, he hit a home run in the AL Wild Card Game. This helped the Astros win and move on in the playoffs.
In 2016, Carlos played 85 games for the Astros. He hit .210 with five home runs. He was later released by the team in August.
Joining the Texas Rangers
Carlos Gómez signed with the Texas Rangers in August 2016. He made his debut with the Rangers on August 25 and hit a home run in his very first at-bat! He finished the 2016 season with a .231 batting average and 13 home runs.
In 2017, Carlos re-signed with the Rangers. On April 29, he hit for the cycle for the second time in his career! This is a rare achievement in baseball. He played in 105 games, hitting .255 with 17 home runs.
Time with the Tampa Bay Rays
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In 2018, Carlos Gómez signed with the Tampa Bay Rays. On April 22, he hit his first career walk-off home run. This means his home run won the game for his team in the final inning. He played in 118 games for the Rays.
Returning to the New York Mets
In March 2019, Carlos Gómez signed a minor league contract to return to the New York Mets. He was called up to the major league team in May. On May 23, he hit a three-run home run that helped the Mets win a game. This was his first home run as a Met in 12 years! He played 34 games before being released in June 2019.
Retirement from Baseball
In January 2020, Carlos Gómez announced that he was retiring from professional baseball. On September 24, 2021, he was honored by the Milwaukee Brewers. He was inducted into the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor, officially retiring as a Brewer.
See also
In Spanish: Carlos Gómez (beisbolista) para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
