| Ángel Pagán | |
|---|---|
| San Francisco Giants – No. 16 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: July 2, 1981 Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico |
|
| Bats: Switch | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 3, 2006 for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Career statistics (through 2011) |
|
| Batting average | .279 |
| Home runs | 33 |
| Runs batted in | 209 |
| Runs | 263 |
| Stolen Bases | 95 |
| Teams | |
|
|
Ángel Anthony Pagán (born July 2, 1981 in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. Pagan's original contract in Major League Baseball was with the New York Mets, but he was transferred to the Chicago Cubs when they bought his contract. Pagan was subsequently traded back to the Mets prior to the 2008 season. Pagán was given the nickname "El Caballo Loco" or "Crazy Horse" by his Mets teammates.[1]
Contents |
On January 25, 2006, the Cubs purchased Pagán's contract from the Mets. Pagán made his major league debut with the Cubs on April 3, 2006, but was injured early in the season and missed two and a half months. On July 2, 2006, his 25th birthday, Pagán hit his first and second career home runs in a game against the crosstown rival Chicago White Sox. Pagán is the first person in Major League history to hit his first two career home runs on his birthday.
Pagán returned in May 2007, being recalled in place of Matt Murton, who had struggled somewhat and was not getting regular at-bats. Pagán then became a regular outfielder and enjoyed modest success until his season was cut short due to a bout with colitis.
Pagan had lost a considerable amount of weight and strength due to illness. Chicago general manager Jim Hendry was afraid Pagan would not be ready to start the 2008 season on time, thus prompting the trade to New York.
On January 5, 2008, Pagán returned to the Mets in a trade for two minor-league players. He began the year as the starting left fielder for the Mets because Moisés Alou was injured and on the disabled list.[2] When Alou returned from the DL in May, he took over the starting job in left field from Pagán.
On May 7, 2008, Pagán made a spectacular catch in foul territory, falling into the stands, in Los Angeles against the Dodgers while playing left field. Although he originally stayed in the game, Pagán was later removed with left shoulder pain. The injury eventually caused Pagán to be placed on the disabled list. Pagán was undergoing rehabilitation in the GCL and was expected to be on the active roster after the All-Star break. However, he left a rehab start with the Brooklyn Cyclones feeling pain when batting from the right side. Pagán had season-ending surgery on his shoulder on July 29, 2008.[3]
A year later, on May 7, 2009, Pagán was arrested in Port St. Lucie for traffic violations. It was reported that Pagan, who was driving with a suspended license, was originally stopped for speeding, but after a license check, troopers learned Pagan has several warrants out for his arrest for failure to pay traffic fines.[4]
On June 1, 2009, Ángel was placed on the 15-Day DL with a right groin strain. The next day, the Mets activated 2B Alex Cora to fill Pagan's spot on the roster. On August 1, 2009 Pagan hit a grand slam for his first home run since mid 2007 and first for the New York Mets, leading to the win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. On August 5, 2009, he went 3-for4 against the Cardinals, with a home run, triple, and single, missing the cycle by just a double. On August 23, 2009, he hit 2 home runs (one of which was inside the park) against Pedro Martinez and the Philadelphia Phillies.
On October 4, 2009, Ángel went four for four against the Houston Astros, falling just a homer shy of a cycle.
Pagán was not the 2010 Opening Day center fielder (the nod went to newly acquired Gary Matthews, Jr.), despite making a strong case in 2009. Due to Matthew's poor performance, Pagan shortly found himself back in the starting lineup and quickly established himself as a quality everyday player.
On May 19, 2010 Pagán started a triple play from center field in the 5th inning against the Washington Nationals on a ball hit by Cristian Guzman. He hit an inside-the-park home run in the same game, the first in Nationals Park history. On June 22. 2010, Pagán fell one home run short of a cycle.
With the return of Carlos Beltran as the starting center fielder on July 15, 2010, Pagán became the starting right fielder for the Mets, replacing Jeff Francoeur. He finished the year batting .290, with 11 home runs and 69 RBI. He had 168 base hits in 579 at bats on the season. He hit 31 doubles, 7 triples and stole 37 bases. His first career hit by a pitch came on September 4, 2010 against the Chicago Cubs. All facets of Pagan's game improved in 2010, most notably his ability to make smart decisions while running the bases.
With the uncertainty of Beltran's health as well as his range, the speedy Pagan was inserted into the starting center fielder position for the 2011 season. Beltran was moved over to right field by manager Terry Collins.
He was placed on the DL on April 21,2011 due to a rib injury. On May 27, 2011 he came back from the DL as the club sent down Fernando Martínez and DFA'd Pat Misch and they brought up Dale Thayer. For the season, on defense he led all major league center fielders in errors, with 10, and had the lowest fielding percentage, at .968.[5]
On December 7, 2011, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Andrés Torres and Ramón Ramírez.[6]