Roberto Petagine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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|---|---|
| LG Twins — No. 29 | |
| First base | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| April 4, 1994 for the Houston Astros | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through 2007) |
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| Hits | 83 |
| Home runs | 12 |
| Batting average | .227 |
| Former teams | |
Roberto Antonio Petagine /petɑːˈgɪneɪ/ (born June 7, 1971 in Nueva Esparta, Venezuela) is a left-handed first baseman. His major-league career includes brief stints with the Houston Astros (1994), San Diego Padres (1995), New York Mets (1996 and 1997), Cincinnati Reds (1998), Boston Red Sox (2005), and Seattle Mariners (2006), but he is best known for his success in the Japanese Central League between 1999 and 2004 where, as a member of the Yakult Swallows (1999-2002) and Yomiuri Giants (2003-2004), he was among that country's premier offensive players.
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[edit] Minor-League Career
Petagine entered professional baseball on February 13, 1990, at the age of 18, when Houston signed him as an undrafted amateur free agent. Later that year, he played his first pro season with the rookie-level GCL Astros of the Gulf Coast League. His production there, and the following year with A-level Burlington, was solid (if unspectacular). Petagine would go on to substantial minor-league success in his early to mid 20's, but even his early stats hinted at the trends that would define -- and perhaps curse -- his career in American baseball: an above-average OBP, but relatively little home run power, by the standards historically applied to first basemen.
A solid contact hitter who used the whole field with occasional pull power, the young Petagine was indeed most noteworthy for his control of the strike zone, and more specifically for the exceptional rate at which he drew walks. His breakout years were in 1992 through 1994, as he moved through the minors to Class AAA, cumulatively averaging an OBP above .400 and a .500+ slugging percentage.
Baseball America twice ranked him among the Astros' top ten prospects (in 1992 and 1994[1]); he was a three-time All-Star (1996-1998) in Class AAA; and he won the International League's MVP Award in back-to-back years: 1997 as a member of the Mets' AAA affiliate in Norfolk and 1998 as a member of the Reds' AAA affiliate in Indianapolis. Despite his early successes, though, Petagine would never become a regular in the majors, nor receive much chance to play his way into the role; he was traded three times between December, 1994 and February, 1998, and in December of 1998 the Reds sold his contract to the Yakult Swallows.
[edit] Petagine in Japan
A new home helped revitalize Petagine's career. Let go by the Reds in 1998, he proved a welcome addition in the Japanese Central League, as he won three Gold Gloves, two home run titles and one Central League MVP award while playing for the Yakult Swallows (1999-2002) and Yomiuri Giants (2003-04).
In 2003-04 Petagine became the highest paid baseball player in Japan. The Giants acquired him to take the place of departed Hideki Matsui who came to the United States to play for the New York Yankees. For Yakult and Yomiuri, Petagine hit .317 with 223 home runs and 594 RBI in 756 games.
[edit] Return to North American Baseball
Before the 2005 season, the Boston Red Sox agreed to a minor-league contract with Petagine. He underwent knee surgery in Spring Training, preventing him from making the 25-man roster. In August, first baseman John Olerud was placed on the 15-day disabled list and his roster spot was filled by Petagine, who'd had a productive Triple-A season (including a .327 batting average with 20 home runs and 69 RBI in 74 games at Pawtucket). In 18 games with Boston, he hit .281 (9-for-34) with one home run and nine RBI.
The Red Sox declined to sign Petagine for the 2006 season. He signed a minor-league contract with the Seattle Mariners, and was invited to Spring Training. After a productive spring, he made the Major League team as a backup to Richie Sexson. On July 9, 2006, he was designated for assignment by the Mariners.
For the 2008 season, Petagine is the starting first baseman of the Diablos Rojos of La Liga Mexicana de Beisbol.
[edit] Korean Baseball
In May 12, 2008, LG Twins announced that he will join the team, in substitution for starting pitcher Jamie Brown. The contract is worth $250,000 throughout the year of 2008.
[edit] Historical Significance in the Post-Moneyball Era
What made him the subject of some discussion among baseball writers and statisticians is that Petagine's particular strengths as a minor leaguer largely reflected those that would, a few years later, spark vast changes in the perception of value within the baseball community, as documented in (and subsequently fueled by) Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.
That Petagine might have been overlooked is, historically speaking, not remarkable. When compared, though, with the high value now placed on a player like Kevin Youkilis -- a corner infielder whose minor-league career was marked by similarly outstanding OBP and little home-run power, albeit seven years later -- Petagine's case serves to illustrate the rapid nature of baseball's modern statistical revolution.
