Jesús Flores

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For other uses, see Jesús Flores (disambiguation).

**Jesús Flores**

Washington Nationals — No. 3
Catcher
Born: October 26, 1984 (1984-10-26) (age 23)
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
April 4, 2007 for the Washington Nationals
Selected MLB statistics (through April 16, 2007)
Batting average	.251
Home runs	5
Runs batted in	28
Teams
Washington Nationals (2007-present)

Jesús Miguel Flores (born October 26, 1984 in Sucre, Venezuela) is a catcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Washington Nationals. He bats and throws right handed.

In parts of three minor league seasons, Flores hit .257 (230-for-895) with 33 home runs and 140 RBI in 250 games played. In 2004 he made the Gulf Coast League All-Star team.

In 2006 he had a terrific minor league season with the Mets' A+ team, St. Lucie. By the end of the season, he was rated by Baseball America as the New York Mets top catching prospect after hitting .266 with a .335 on base percentage and a .487 slugging average. He also hit 32 doubles and tied for the Florida State League lead with 21 home runs, making the Florida State League Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star teams.

[edit] 2007 Season

Flores, never having played above A-ball, was obtained by the Washington Nationals in the 2006 Rule 5 draft on December 7, 2006, and signed to a one year contract on the following January 16. As a Rule 5 player he must be on the major league roster the following year. The Mets apparently left him unprotected because they didn't think another major league team would think he was ready -- but the Nationals were in a major rebuilding phase and didn't have a deep roster.

His major league debut with Washington was on April 4, 2007, and his first start on April 19. Three days later, on April 22, he made his second start, and collected his first hits: he went 2-for-3 with a walk, two doubles and two RBIs.

On September 4, 2007, Flores hit a 2 RBI, walk-off single to beat the Florida Marlins.

During the 2007-08 offseason, Flores played for Navegantes del Magallanes in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.