Wilmer Flores facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wilmer Flores |
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Flores with the New York Mets in 2016
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| San Francisco Giants – No. 41 | |||
| Infielder | |||
| Born: August 6, 1991 Valencia, Venezuela |
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| debut | |||
| August 6, 2013, for the New York Mets | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .260 | ||
| Home runs | 153 | ||
| Runs batted in | 532 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Wilmer Alejandro Flores Garcia (born August 6, 1991), known as "Catire", is a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He plays as an infielder for the San Francisco Giants in Major League Baseball (MLB). Flores signed with the New York Mets on his 16th birthday in 2007. He made his first appearance in the major leagues with the Mets in 2013. He has also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Wilmer Flores was born on August 6, 1991, in Valencia, Venezuela. His parents are Soledy García and Wilmer Flores. He started playing baseball at age 6 in Valencia. He taught himself how to swing a bat. When he was 13, an agent noticed his powerful hitting. The agent sent him to the Agua Linda Academy. There, Flores received his first formal baseball training.
Wilmer has two brothers, both also named Wilmer Flores. One of them is a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.
Journey Through Professional Baseball
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Wilmer Flores signed with the New York Mets on his 16th birthday, August 6, 2007. He was an international free agent. He received a $750,000 signing bonus. With this money, he bought his mother a new car.
Flores was considered one of the Top 100 prospects by Baseball America. He was ranked #47 in 2009, #88 in 2010, and #59 in 2011.
He played second base for the World team in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game. He also earned several awards in the minor leagues. In 2011, the Mets moved Flores from shortstop to third base. In 2012, he was named MVP of the Florida State League All-Star Game. He also played in the All-Star Futures Game again.
Flores played for the Binghamton Mets in 2012. He hit .311 with eight home runs and 33 RBIs. In 2013, he played for the Las Vegas 51s. He hit .321 with 15 home runs and 86 RBIs.
Playing for the New York Mets (2013–2018)
Major League Debut in 2013
Flores joined the Mets' major league team on his 22nd birthday, August 6, 2013. He made his first MLB appearance that day. He played against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. He did not get a hit in that game.
On August 7, he got his first major league hit. It was a single off Rockies pitcher Jhoulys Chacín. Later, he hit a double that brought in three runs, his first major league RBIs. The Mets won that game 5–0. On August 11, he hit his first career home run. It was a solo home run against Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Heath Bell. Flores played in 27 games in 2013. He had a batting average of .211.
Key Moments in 2014
Flores started the 2014 season in AAA. He was called up to the Mets in April. On June 2, Flores had a great game. He drove in a career-high 6 RBIs. He also hit his first career grand slam against the Philadelphia Phillies. This grand slam came in the ninth inning. Flores played in 78 games in 2014. He finished with a .251 batting average.
The Emotional 2015 Season
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Flores was on the Mets' team for Opening Day in 2015. He hit his second career grand slam on May 16. It was against the Milwaukee Brewers. On May 26, he hit his first career walk-off single. This means his hit won the game in the final inning.
On July 29, 2015, a rumor spread during a game. People thought Flores had been traded to another team. Flores became very emotional on the field. Fans gave him a standing ovation. After the game, the Mets announced that no trade had happened. Flores was very happy to stay with the team.
Two days later, on July 31, Flores hit his first career walk-off home run. This home run won an important game for the Mets in the 12th inning. He tugged at his uniform logo, showing his love for the team. This moment made him a fan favorite. Flores played in 137 games in 2015. He hit 16 home runs and had 59 RBIs.
In the playoffs, Flores played shortstop. He helped the Mets reach the 2015 World Series. He was the last out of the World Series. The Kansas City Royals won the series.
Injuries and Achievements in 2016
In 2016, Flores had some injuries. He was on the disabled list in May with a hamstring injury. On July 3, Flores made history. He became only the second Mets player to get six hits in one game. This raised his batting average significantly.
Later in September, Flores injured his wrist. He needed surgery and missed the rest of the season. In 2016, he batted .267.
2017 and 2018 Seasons
In 2017, Flores dealt with a knee infection. He also broke his nose in September, ending his season early. He finished 2017 with 18 home runs and 52 RBIs.
On April 15, 2018, Flores hit another walk-off home run. This was his third career walk-off home run. On July 9, he hit a pinch-hit walk-off home run. This broke the Mets' record for most walk-off RBIs. He passed David Wright. Flores batted .267 in 2018. After the season, he became a free agent.
Time with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2019)
On January 21, 2019, Flores signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played in 89 games for them. He hit .317 with 9 home runs and 37 RBIs. On September 9, Flores hit a home run against his former teammate Jacob deGrom. This happened when he returned to Citi Field. Fans cheered for him, and the Mets showed a video welcoming him back.
Joining the San Francisco Giants (2020–Present)
Starting Strong in 2020
On February 4, 2020, Flores signed a contract with the San Francisco Giants. In the 2020 season, which was shorter due to COVID-19, Flores led the Giants in home runs with 12. He also had 32 RBIs and batted .268. He played at first, second, and third base.
Consistent Performance in 2021
In 2021, Flores continued to play well. He batted .262 with a career-high 18 home runs and 53 RBIs. He played many games at third base, first base, and second base.
2022 Season and Award
In 2022, Flores hit 19 home runs and had 71 RBI. He signed a new contract extension with the Giants in September. On September 30, Flores received the Willie Mac Award. This award is voted on by his teammates, coaches, and fans. It recognizes his performance on and off the field.
Career High in Home Runs in 2023
Flores played in 126 games for the Giants in 2023. He had a great year, hitting a career-high 23 home runs. He also had 60 RBIs and batted .284.
2024 Season and Injury
In 2024, Flores played in 71 games. He batted .206 with four home runs. On August 6, 2024, it was announced that Flores would miss the rest of the season. He needed a procedure for knee pain. In November 2024, Flores decided to stay with the Giants for another year.
More About Wilmer Flores
- List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
Images for kids
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Flores with the New York Mets in 2016
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Flores with the New York Mets in 2013
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Flores sliding in a run against the Baltimore Orioles on August 18, 2015.
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Flores during spring training in 2016
