Eli Marrero

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**Eli Marrero**

Free Agent — No.
Utility player
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
September 3, 1997 for the St. Louis Cardinals
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006)
AVG	.243
RBI	261
HR	66
Former teams
St. Louis Cardinals (1997-2003) Atlanta Braves (2004) Baltimore Orioles (2005) Kansas City Royals (2005) Colorado Rockies (2006) New York Mets (2006)

Elieser Marrero (born November 17, 1973 in Havana, Cuba), is a Major League Baseball player who most recently played for the St. Louis Cardinals. Marrero started his career as a catcher but now mostly plays the outfield, where he is capable of playing all three positions. He has also spent time playing first base.

Marrero was selected in the 3rd round of the June 1993 draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He missed much of the 2000 season due to thyroid cancer. During that time he lost his job as the starting catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, so when he returned he started logging time in the outfield and at first, in addition to occasional duty behind the plate. On July 2, 2006, Marrero saw his first major league action at third base, playing two innings there for the Mets.

The Cardinals traded Marrero to the Atlanta Braves in December 2003 as part of a package for pitcher Jason Marquis, where he hit .415 against left-handed pitchers as a platoon outfielder. Following the 2004 season, the Braves dealt him to the Kansas City Royals, who were in need of a power-hitting corner outfielder, in exchange for minor-league pitcher Jorge Vasquez. He saw action at all three outfield positions and first base but hit only .159 in 32 games. The Royals designated him for assignment May 31, 2005, giving them 10 days to trade or release him. On June 8, the Royals traded him to the Orioles for minor-league infielder Pete Maestrales.

On June 9, 2006, he was traded to the New York Mets for much-maligned infielder Kaz Matsui. On August 8 2006, he was designated for assignment by the Mets.

On November 28, 2006, Marrero was signed to a minor league deal by the St. Louis Cardinals.

On May 21, 2007, Marrero was released by the Memphis Redbirds, the Cardinals' AAA affiliate, after one game.

Marrero's nephew Chris Marrero is a minor league outfielder for the Washington Nationals.

Perhaps his best game was against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Mothers' Day 2003. Through four innings he had two home runs and five RBI. Unfortunately the game was called because of heavy rain, nullifying his performance. Marrero also injured himself in this game, and missed 100 games, and ironically returned the day this game was made up