Roberto Petagine
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Roberto Antonio Petagine [pay-tah-GEE-nay] (born June 7, 1971 in Nueva Esparta State, Venezuela) is a first baseman who has played in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros (1994), San Diego Padres (1995), New York Mets (1996-97) and Cincinnati Reds (1999). He bats and throws left-handed.
Petagine was a tremendous minor-league hitter. Many feel that he didn't get enough of a chance to show what he could do at the Major League level. A solid line-drive, contact hitter, that uses whole field with occasional pull power, he drew a significant number of walks, obviously helping his teams in the process, but became, at the same time, too much of a defensive hitter. In Triple-A, Petagine was a 3-time All-Star (1996-98) and was named the International League MVP during the 1997 season.
In parts of five major-league seasons, Petagine hit .225 with 10 homeruns and 43 RBI in 193 games.
A new home has helped revitalize Petagine's career. Let go by the Reds in 1998, he proved a welcome addition in the Japanese Central League. Petagine 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 was 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 and is currently playing for the Yankees.
In Japan, Petagine hit .317 with 223 homers and 594 RBI in 756 games.
On February 8, 2005, the Boston Red Sox agreed to a minor-league contract with Petagine. The Red Sox invited him to spring training. He would get a one-year, $750,000 contract if he is added to the major league roster.
See also
External links
- Roberto Petagine at:
- Baseball Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/petagro01.shtml)
- Japanese Baseball (http://japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=1154)ja:ロベルト・ペタジーニ