Yurendell de Caster

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**Yurendell de Caster**

Washington Nationals — No. 71
Third baseman
Born: September 26, 1979 (1979-09-26) (age 28)
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
May 21, 2006 for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006)
Batting average	.000
Home runs	0
Runs batted in	0
Teams
Pittsburgh Pirates (2006)

Yurendell Eithel de Caster (born September 26, 1979 in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles) is an infielder/outfielder who is currently playing for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball.

Originally signed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as a free agent in 1996, De Caster was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates from Tampa Bay in the 2000 Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft.

De Caster was one of just three players to hit three home runs in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, while playing for the Netherlands team.

De Caster spent entire 2005 season with Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, where he made 28 appearances at third base, 25 at first base, 13 at second base and 58 in the outfield. He posted a .280 batting average with 11 home runs and 61 RBI, and also led his club in games played (122) and doubles (31). He also had a productive 2005-06 season playing for the Caribes de Anzoátegui of the Venezuelan Winter League, after hitting .325 (68-for-209) with 17 home runs and 47 RBI in just 60 games. His 17 home runs tied him with Tom Evans for the league-leading.

In 2006, De Caster again began the season with Indianapolis, with whom he spent most of the season. In 119 games with the Indians, he batted .273 with 11 home runs and 51 RBI. He was called up to the Pirates twice, from May 21-24 and June 5-13, and appeared in 3 games. He struck out in both of his at-bats in the majors.

He was released on December 9, 2006, but came back to Pittsburgh in 2007 and spent the whole season in the minor leagues with them.

On November 27, 2007, De Caster signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals that included an invitation to spring training. He was assigned to the Class AA Harrisburg Senators of the Eastern League to begin the 2008 season.