Yuniesky Betancourt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yuniesky Betancourt |
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Betancourt with the Kansas City Royals in 2009
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| Shortstop | |||
| Born: January 31, 1982 Santa Clara, Cuba |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: July 28, 2005, for the Seattle Mariners | |||
| NPB: March 28, 2014, for the Orix Buffaloes | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: September 29, 2013, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| NPB: May 14, 2014, for the Orix Buffaloes | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .261 | ||
| Home runs | 80 | ||
| Runs batted in | 457 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .141 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 4 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Yuniesky Betancourt Pérez (born on January 31, 1982) is a former professional baseball player from Cuba. He was a shortstop, which is a key defensive position in baseball. Betancourt played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for teams like the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, and Kansas City Royals.
Before playing in the MLB, he was a star in the Cuban National Series for a team called Villa Clara. He later became the first former MLB player to return to the Cuban national baseball system after leaving the country. In Cuba, he is known by his nickname "Riquimbili".
Contents
- Early Baseball Days in Cuba
- Professional Baseball Career
- Playing for the Seattle Mariners (2005–2009)
- Time with the Kansas City Royals (2009–2010)
- Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers (2011)
- Back with the Kansas City Royals (2012)
- Short Time with the Philadelphia Phillies (2013)
- Another Return to Milwaukee (2013)
- Playing in Japan with Orix Buffaloes
- Playing in Mexico
- Return to Cuba
- See also
Early Baseball Days in Cuba
Yuniesky Betancourt started his baseball journey in the Cuban leagues. He played for Villa Clara in the Serie Nacional. People thought he was the fastest second baseman in the Cuban leagues. He was a very important player for the Villa Clara team.
In the 2002 finals, he played very well, getting a hit almost every time he was at bat. Even though his team played hard, the Industriales won the championship. In December 2003, Betancourt left Cuba. He played in Mexico for a short time. Then, on January 26, 2005, he signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners. He made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on July 28, 2005.
Professional Baseball Career
Playing for the Seattle Mariners (2005–2009)
When Yuniesky Betancourt first started, he was known for his amazing fielding skills. Many thought he was one of the best fielders in baseball. He was very quick and had great range, meaning he could cover a lot of ground to catch balls. He also had soft hands, good hand-eye coordination, and a strong, accurate arm for throwing.
In 2006, fans even voted him one of the top fielders in baseball. However, in 2007, he sometimes struggled with throwing the ball accurately. He made more errors that year, but he improved a lot in the second half of the season. By 2008, some defensive measurements showed his fielding had declined.
As a hitter, Betancourt could hit the ball hard into the gaps between outfielders. He usually did not strike out often, but he also did not often get a walk. He was sometimes criticized for not being patient enough at the plate.
In 2007, he was one of the best hitters in the league when there were runners on base. He also hit many game-winning RBIs. On August 11, 2007, he hit his first grand slam, which is a home run with all bases loaded. This helped his team win a close game against the Chicago White Sox.
Time with the Kansas City Royals (2009–2010)
On July 10, 2009, Yuniesky Betancourt joined the Kansas City Royals. He was traded to them along with some of his salary. In return, the Mariners received two minor league pitchers.
In 2009, his on-base percentage was one of the lowest among starting players in the major leagues. This means he didn't get on base very often. In 2010, he started the season strong by hitting a home run on opening day. He finished that season with a career-high 16 home runs. His batting average and fielding also improved a little from the previous year.
Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers (2011)
On December 19, 2010, Betancourt was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. He went to the Brewers along with teammate Zack Greinke. In return, the Royals received several players, including Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain.
In 2011, he had a batting average of .252. He also led the National League in sacrifice flies, which are hits that allow a runner on third base to score. Even though his on-base percentage was low for a shortstop, he played in most of the Brewers' games.
On October 9, 2011, Betancourt hit his first home run in the postseason. This happened in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals during the National League Championship Series. He also made a very impressive defensive play against the Padres on May 9, 2011. He turned a hit up the middle into a double play with a running, behind-the-back toss.
Back with the Kansas City Royals (2012)
On December 20, 2011, Betancourt signed a one-year contract to return to the Kansas City Royals. He played in 57 games for them that season. However, he was released by the Royals on August 14, 2012, becoming a free agent.
Short Time with the Philadelphia Phillies (2013)
On January 28, 2013, Betancourt signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. This meant he would try out for the team during spring training. However, the Phillies released him on March 24, 2013.
Another Return to Milwaukee (2013)
Just two days later, on March 26, 2013, Betancourt signed a one-year deal to return to the Milwaukee Brewers. In the first few weeks of the season, he was actually leading Major League Baseball in home runs. He played in 137 games that year. His batting average and on-base percentage were the lowest of his career. After 2013, he did not play in Major League Baseball again.
Throughout his career in Major League Baseball, Yuniesky Betancourt earned about $16 million.
Playing in Japan with Orix Buffaloes
On January 28, 2014, Betancourt signed a one-year contract to play for the Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. He was released from the team on July 22, 2014, due to an injury.
Playing in Mexico
On April 21, 2015, Betancourt signed with the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican Baseball League. He played 21 games before being released on April 29, 2015. He hit one home run and had nine RBIs during this time.
On April 10, 2017, Betancourt signed with the Leones de Yucatán. He played 50 games for them, hitting one home run and having 24 RBIs.
On March 11, 2018, Betancourt was traded to the Guerreros de Oaxaca. In 56 games, he had a very good batting average of .406, with four home runs and 49 RBIs. He also stole five bases.
Return to Cuba
In March 2019, it was reported that Yuniesky Betancourt had returned to Cuba. He joined the Santa Clara team in the Villa Clara Provincial League. This made him the first Cuban former MLB player to return to the Cuban national baseball system. He had expressed a wish to finish his career playing for his hometown team, Villa Clara.
See also
- List of baseball players who defected from Cuba
