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'''Yuliesky Gourriel Castillo''' (born June 9, 1984), also known as '''Yulieski Gurriel''', is a [[Cuba]]n professional [[baseball]] [[first baseman]] for the [[Houston Astros]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). He previously played for [[Sancti Spíritus (baseball)|Sancti Spiritus]] in the [[Cuban National Series|Cuban league]]. A former member of [[Cuba national baseball team|Cuba's national team]],<ref name="mlb1">{{cite web |title=Unsung heroes bound to emerge: Lesser-knowns players will share Classic spotlight with stars |work=[[Major League Baseball]] |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060209&content_id=1309478&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |accessdate=July 4, 2006}}</ref> Gurriel is primarily a [[first baseman]], though he has also played other positions, such as [[shortstop]], [[second baseman|second base]] and [[third baseman|third base]]. The son of former Cuban player [[Lourdes Gurriel]], Yulieski was regarded as the best player in Cuba in 2006.<ref name="ba1">{{cite web |title=World Baseball Classic: Cuba's Yuliesky Gurriel |work=[[Baseball America]] |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/060302wbccuba3b.html |accessdate=July 4, 2006}}</ref> At the [[2006 World Baseball Classic|World Baseball Classic]] in 2006, [[Major League Baseball]] scouts projected that Gurriel would be a first-round draft pick if he were eligible for the draft.<ref name="ba1" />
'''Yuliesky Gourriel Castillo''' (born June 9, 1984), also known as '''Yulieski or "Yuli" Gurriel''', is a [[Cuba]]n professional [[baseball]] [[first baseman]] for the [[Houston Astros]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). He previously played for [[Sancti Spíritus (baseball)|Sancti Spiritus]] in the [[Cuban National Series|Cuban league]]. A former member of [[Cuba national baseball team|Cuba's national team]],<ref name="mlb1">{{cite web |title=Unsung heroes bound to emerge: Lesser-knowns players will share Classic spotlight with stars |work=[[Major League Baseball]] |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060209&content_id=1309478&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |accessdate=July 4, 2006}}</ref> Gurriel is primarily a [[first baseman]], though he has also played other positions, such as [[shortstop]], [[second baseman|second base]] and [[third baseman|third base]]. The son of former Cuban player [[Lourdes Gurriel]], Yulieski was regarded as the best player in Cuba in 2006.<ref name="ba1">{{cite web |title=World Baseball Classic: Cuba's Yuliesky Gurriel |work=[[Baseball America]] |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/060302wbccuba3b.html |accessdate=July 4, 2006}}</ref> At the [[2006 World Baseball Classic|World Baseball Classic]] in 2006, [[Major League Baseball]] scouts projected that Gurriel would be a first-round draft pick if he were eligible for the draft.<ref name="ba1" />


==Cuban Career==
==Cuban Career==

Revision as of 13:56, 22 May 2017

Template:Spanish name

Yulieski Gurriel
Gurriel with the Houston Astros in 2016
Houston Astros – No. 10
First baseman/Third baseman
Born: (1984-06-09) June 9, 1984 (age 40)
Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: June 8, 2014, for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
MLB: August 21, 2016, for the Houston Astros
NPB statistics
Batting average.305
Hits73
Home runs11
Runs batted in30
MLB statistics
(through May 16, 2017)
Batting average.277
Hits70
Home runs6
Runs batted in29
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Cuba
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens Team
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing Team
Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2003 Havana Team
Gold medal – first place 2005 Rotterdam Team
Silver medal – second place 2007 Taipei Team
Silver medal – second place 2009 Nettuno Team
Intercontinental Cup
Gold medal – first place 2002 Havana Team
Gold medal – first place 2006 Taichung Team
Gold medal – first place 2010 Taichung Team
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2003 Santo Domingo Team
Gold medal – first place 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Guadalajara Team
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place 2006 Cartagena Team

Yuliesky Gourriel Castillo (born June 9, 1984), also known as Yulieski or "Yuli" Gurriel, is a Cuban professional baseball first baseman for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for Sancti Spiritus in the Cuban league. A former member of Cuba's national team,[1] Gurriel is primarily a first baseman, though he has also played other positions, such as shortstop, second base and third base. The son of former Cuban player Lourdes Gurriel, Yulieski was regarded as the best player in Cuba in 2006.[2] At the World Baseball Classic in 2006, Major League Baseball scouts projected that Gurriel would be a first-round draft pick if he were eligible for the draft.[2]

Cuban Career

Gurriel had a solid season during the 2004–05 Cuban National Series, leading the league in hits and runs. However, he truly dominated in 2005–06, leading the series in RBIs, runs and triples.[3] His 27 home runs, which also led the league, were one short of the record of 28.[4] Gourriel's batting average was .327 and his slugging percentage was .676. He played his entire Cuban career with Sancti Spíritus of the Cuban National Series.

Defection from Cuba

In February 2016, Gurriel and his 22-year-old brother, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., defected after competing in the Caribbean World Series in the Dominican Republic.[5] In June, Major League Baseball declared Gurriel eligible to be signed by a major league team as a free agent.[6]

Nearly ten years prior, ESPN.com had erroneously reported that Gurriel and another Cuban national player, Eduardo Paret, had defected from Cuba and into Colombia.[7] Gurriel refuted this claim on August 1, 2006, stating that he returned to his home in Cuba immediately after the conclusion of the tournament the Cuban national team had been playing in.[8]

International play

Gurriel's contributions helped the national team win a gold medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics and World Cup of Baseball championships in 2003 and 2005. During the 2005 World Cup, he led all batters with eight home runs.

Gurriel played second base for the Cuban national baseball team in the 2006 World Baseball Classic,[1] making the final out for Cuba in their championship game loss to Japan. He batted .273 in the tournament, with a .342 on-base percentage and a .515 slugging percentage. Later in the finals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Tournament, he again made the final out by grounding out into a double play against South Korea. [9]

Gurriel played for Cuba again in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, as their third baseman. He batted for .333 in the tournament with two home runs and 6 RBIs.

On May 11, 2014, Gurriel signed a one-year contract with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.[10] He joined the team at midseason, and batted .305 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs in 62 games.[11]

Major League Baseball

On July 16, 2016, Gurriel signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract with the Houston Astros.[12][13] He made his American debut in July with the Gulf Coast Astros of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, playing in two games. He was then promoted to the Lancaster JetHawks of the Class A-Advanced California League. After playing in four games for Lancaster, the Astros promoted Gurriel to the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Class AA Texas League.[14] He batted 2-for-17 (.118) in five games for Corpus Christi, and was promoted to the Fresno Grizzlies of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.[15] He was recalled from Fresno to the major league roster on August 21. In his first 19 games with the Astros, he batted .344 with three home runs and eight runs batted in, playing mostly first and third base defensively.[16] On May 1, he performed a dynamic "swim slide" into second base to help defeat the Texas Rangers.

Personal life

His brother, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also played in Cuba before defecting. Gurriel Jr. has since signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Unsung heroes bound to emerge: Lesser-knowns players will share Classic spotlight with stars". Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 4, 2006.
  2. ^ a b "World Baseball Classic: Cuba's Yuliesky Gurriel". Baseball America. Retrieved July 4, 2006.
  3. ^ "XLV Serie Nacional de Béisbol: Lideres de Bateo" (in Spanish). INDER. Retrieved October 21, 2006.
  4. ^ "Cuba scrambles to shine in baseball's Classic". Cubanet. Retrieved July 4, 2006.
  5. ^ Strauss, Ben. "Star Brothers Are Apparently the Latest to Defect From Cuba". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  6. ^ Adams, Steve. "Yulieski Gurriel Declared Free Agent". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  7. ^ "Report: Cuban baseball players defect in Colombia". ESPN.com news services. Retrieved July 28, 2006.
  8. ^ Rojas, Enrique. "Cuban star Gurriel has no interest in deserting". ESPNdeportes.com. Retrieved August 1, 2006.
  9. ^ "World Baseball Classic: Statistics (Batting Leaders)". Retrieved July 4, 2006.
  10. ^ "Slugger becomes third legal Cuban baseball export". Associated Press. ESPN.com. May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  11. ^ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/07/30/baseball/former-baystars-infielder-gurriel-gets-opportunity-pursue-dream-astros/
  12. ^ Sanchez, Jesse (July 16, 2016). "Astros ink deal with Cuban star Y. Gurriel". MLB.com. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  13. ^ "Source: Astros agree to $47.5 million deal with Yulieski Gurriel". espn.go.com. July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  14. ^ Rajan, Greg (August 8, 2016). "Astros' Yulieski Gurriel heading to Class AA Corpus Christi". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  15. ^ McTaggert, Brian. "Astros promoting Cuban INF Gurriel to Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  16. ^ "Yulieski Gurriel". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yulieski Gurriel.
Preceded by Cuban National Series MVP
2004–05 		Succeeded by
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