Juan Lagares facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Juan Lagares |
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Lagares with the Mets in 2019
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: March 17, 1989 Constanza, Dominican Republic |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: April 23, 2013, for the New York Mets | |||
| KBO: July 12, 2022, for the SSG Landers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: June 22, 2022, for the Los Angeles Angels | |||
| KBO: September 30, 2022, for the SSG Landers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .250 | ||
| Home runs | 31 | ||
| Runs batted in | 217 | ||
| KBO statistics | |||
| Batting average | .315 | ||
| Home runs | 6 | ||
| Runs batted in | 32 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Juan Osvaldo Lagares (born March 17, 1989) is a former professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic. He was a center fielder. Juan played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for teams like the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels. He also played in the KBO League for the SSG Landers. Juan was famous for his amazing defense. He even won a special award called the Gold Glove Award in 2014 for being the best defensive center fielder in the National League.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Juan Lagares grew up in a cool, mountainous area. This was in Constanza, Dominican Republic. There were not many baseball fields or teams there. So, Juan played a lot of softball when he was young. He said that throwing the bigger, heavier softball helped make his arm strong.
Juan did not start playing baseball until he was a teenager. After only about seven or eight months of practice, he was signed by the New York Mets. He started as a shortstop for them.
Juan Lagares' Professional Baseball Journey
Starting with the New York Mets
The New York Mets signed Juan Lagares on May 5, 2006. He was a non-drafted free agent. In 2009, Juan moved from playing shortstop to playing in the outfield.
He started playing for the Dominican Summer League Mets in 2006. In 57 games, he hit for a .255 batting average. He also had 33 runs batted in and stole 12 bases.
In 2007, Juan moved up to Single-A Savannah. He played 83 games there. In 2008, he played 65 games for Savannah and the Low-A Brooklyn. He hit 3 home runs that year.
In 2009, a wrist injury stopped most of his season. He came back in September. After the 2009 season, he played in the Dominican League for Águilas Cibaeñas.
In 2010, Juan started with Savannah again. He hit .300 with 5 home runs and 39 runs batted in. He was then promoted to High-A St. Lucie. But a fractured ankle ended his season in July.
In 2011, Juan began in St. Lucie. He then moved up to Double-A Binghamton. In 120 games, he hit .349 with 9 home runs and 71 runs batted in. The Mets added him to their main roster on November 18, 2011. He played in the Dominican League again after the 2011 season.
In 2012, Juan was back in Binghamton. He played 130 games. He hit .283 with 4 home runs and 48 runs batted in. He also stole 21 bases.
Making His MLB Debut in 2013
In 2013, Juan Lagares started the season with Triple-A Las Vegas. He was their center fielder. After 17 games, he was called up to the New York Mets. Juan made his Major League Baseball debut on April 23, 2013. This was against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He got his first MLB hit in the seventh inning.
On May 19, he hit his first MLB home run. This was against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. For the week of July 15–21, 2013, Juan won the NL Player of the Week Award. He hit an amazing .700 that week.
In 121 games for the Mets, he hit .242. Juan was known for his excellent defense. He led all center fielders in assists with 14. He also led in defensive runs saved with 26. He set a Mets rookie record with 15 outfield assists. He was named the Mets' best defensive player for 2013.
After the 2013 season, he played for Cibaeñas in the Dominican League. He won the Rookie of the Year award there. He hit .342 with one home run.
Winning the Gold Glove in 2014
In 2014, Juan Lagares made the Mets' team for Opening Day. On April 14, he got injured during a game. He pulled his right hamstring. He was placed on the disabled list. He was hitting .314 at the time. He came back on May 1.
Mets fans were upset when their manager kept Juan on the bench. Fans started a campaign called #FreeLagares. They wanted him to play more because of his great defense. On June 2, he went back on the disabled list with a rib injury. He returned on June 26. On September 23, his season ended early due to a sprained elbow.
Juan improved his hitting in 2014. His batting average went up to .281. On November 4, he won his first Gold Glove Award. He was only the third Mets outfielder to win this award. He also won the Fielding Bible Award. This award recognized him as the best defensive center fielder in the National League based on statistics.
Later Years with the Mets
On April 2, 2015, Juan and the Mets agreed to a four-year contract extension. He started the 2015 season as the main center fielder. In July, the Mets traded for Yoenis Céspedes. Juan then became a backup outfielder. He often came into games late for his defense.
In 2015, he played 143 games and hit .259. He played well in the playoffs. In the 2015 National League Division Series, he hit .429. In the 2015 National League Championship Series, he hit .333. He also played in the 2015 World Series. After the 2015 season, he played for Cibaeñas again.
In 2016, Juan was a backup outfielder for the Mets. He had two stints on the disabled list due to a sprained left thumb. He had surgery on his thumb in August. For the season, he hit .239.
In 2017, Juan dealt with more injuries. He played 58 games and hit .250.
On May 17, 2018, Juan tore a ligament in his toe. This injury needed surgery. He missed the rest of the 2018 season. He played for Cibaeñas again after the 2018 season.
Juan became a free agent on November 1, 2019. The Mets decided not to keep him for the 2020 season. He played for Cibaeñas again after the 2019 season.
Time with Other Teams
On February 10, 2020, Juan signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres. He became a free agent in July 2020.
He signed another minor league deal with the New York Mets on July 22, 2020. He was added to the main roster in August. However, he was later removed from the roster. After the 2020 season, he played for Cibaeñas again. He also played for the Dominican Republic in the 2021 Caribbean Series.
On February 7, 2021, Juan signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He made their main roster on March 31. In 2021, he played 112 games and hit .236. On May 8, 2022, he returned to the Angels on a minor league contract. He was called up to the main team on May 26. He played 20 games before being removed from the roster on June 24. He then chose to become a free agent.
Playing in Korea: SSG Landers
On July 8, 2022, Juan Lagares signed with the SSG Landers in the KBO League in South Korea. He signed a one-year contract for $495,000. In 49 games for the team, he hit .315. He also had six home runs and 32 runs batted in. The SSG Landers won the Korean Series championship in 2022. Juan became a free agent after that season.
Images for kids
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Lagares with the Mets in 2019
See also
In Spanish: Juan Lagares para niños
