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Marco Scutaro

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Marco Scutaro
Scutaro during the 2012 San Francisco Giants World Champions Homecoming Parade
Infielder
Born: (1975-10-30) October 30, 1975 (age 49)
San Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 27, 2002, for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
July 24, 2014, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average.277
Hits1,355
Home runs77
Runs batted in509
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Marcos Scutaro, better known as Marco Scutaro,[1] (/ˈskuːtəroʊ/; born October 30, 1975) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball infielder. He bats and throws right-handed. Scutaro made his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 2002. Since then, he has also played for the Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants. Scutaro was named the most valuable player of the 2012 National League Championship Series while with the Giants.

Scutaro was one of the primary subjects of the 2005 documentary "A Player to be Named Later."[2]

Early life

Scutaro was born in San Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela.[1] He is of Italian descent.[3] He began playing baseball at age six.[4]

Professional career

Cleveland Indians

Scutaro originally signed with the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent on July 26, 1994. As a teenager, Scutaro considered fellow Venezuelan Omar Vizquel his favorite player and would often watch Vizquel at spring training.[4][5]

Milwaukee Brewers

Scutaro was traded by the Indians to the Milwaukee Brewers on August 30, 2000, as the "player to be named later" in a trade that had sent Kane Davis, Paul Rigdon and Richie Sexson to the Brewers for Jason Bere, Bob Wickman and Steve Woodard on July 28. Scutaro was in the 2005 documentary film "A Player To Be Named Later" which followed various players from Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, for one season. He was waived at the start of the 2002 season by the Brewers who needed to make room for Nelson Figueroa on its roster.[6]

New York Mets (2002–2003)

Scutaro was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets on April 5, 2002. He batted .336 with 20 doubles, 7 home runs, 25 runs batted in (RBI) and 39 runs scored in 79 games with the Tides. He was also selected to the International League squad for the Triple-A All-Star Game that summer.[6]

Scutaro's first promotion to the majors came on July 19 when the Mets recalled him from the Norfolk Tides to replace the injured Joe McEwing. Scutaro introduced himself to Mets manager Bobby Valentine that afternoon while the latter was eating lunch at the hotel in Cincinnati where the team was staying. Valentine reciprocated the greeting without knowing who Scutaro was. After completing his meal, Valentine inquired about why Scutaro was lingering. "I just got called up", Scutaro responded.[6]

Scutaro batting for the Athletics in 2005

Oakland Athletics (2004–2007)

Scutaro was again selected off waivers, this time by the Oakland Athletics, on October 9, 2003.[7]

Scutaro landed a starting second baseman position after Mark Ellis had a season-ending shoulder injury during 2004 spring training.

In 2004, Scutaro reached career highs in batting average (.273), runs batted in (43), runs (50), hits (124), doubles (32), at bats (455) and games played (137). He played multiple positions, including second base, shortstop, third base, and left field.

World Baseball Classic

Because of his Italian heritage,[8] Scutaro was given the option of playing for either Italy or Venezuela in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He chose to play for Venezuela as a utility infielder. He again represented Venezuela in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and 2013 World Baseball Classic. Venezuela won the bronze medal in 2009, but in 2013 earned an early exit after a loss to Puerto Rico 6–3. However, Venezuela won against newcomers Spain to earn a direct qualification for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Toronto Blue Jays (2008–2009)

Scutaro with the Blue Jays in 2009

On November 18, 2007, Scutaro was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league pitchers Kristian Bell and Graham Godfrey.[9]

Scutaro was the Jays' third baseman for at least a month, after teammate Scott Rolen injured a finger, and then Scutaro returned to a starter's role after teammate David Eckstein injured his right hip flexor on May 6. Shortly after Eckstein's return, Eckstein and Blue Jays teammate Aaron Hill collided trying to catch a fly ball. Hill suffered from concussion-like symptoms, and Scutaro filled in at second base.

Scutaro was the starting shortstop for the Blue Jays in 2009, and had his best season to date, achieving career highs in almost every offensive category: 12 home runs, 60 runs batted in, 35 doubles, 235 total bases, 162 hits, 100 runs, 14 stolen bases, and 90 walks in 574 at-bats.

Boston Red Sox (2010–2011)

Scutaro with the Red Sox in 2011

On December 3, 2009, Scutaro agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. The deal also included a third-year mutual option.[10] On April 12, 2010, Scutaro recorded the first hit in Target Field history on a single up the middle in the first inning off Minnesota Twins starter Carl Pavano. Soon after, Scutaro was caught stealing second base, making him the first out recorded at the Twins' new ballpark. In his first season with the team, Scutaro set a number of career highs, including games (150), at-bats (632), hits (174) and doubles (38) while suffering for much of the season with a right shoulder injury which forced him out of practice.[11]

Colorado Rockies (2012)

Scutaro fielding for the Rockies in 2012

Prior to the 2012 season, the Red Sox and Scutaro agreed to exercise their mutual contract option. Then, on January 21, 2012, Scutaro was traded to the Colorado Rockies for pitcher Clayton Mortensen.[12]

San Francisco Giants (2012–2015)

On July 27, 2012, Scutaro was traded, along with cash considerations, to the San Francisco Giants for infielder Charlie Culberson.[13] In a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on August 8, 2012, Scutaro drove in a career high seven runs including a grand slam.[14] He hit .306 for the regular season, including .362 as a Giant, helping the Giants win the National League West title. He was awarded the NLCS MVP after tying the NLCS record with 14 hits and also batting .500 (14 for 28) with six runs scored and four runs batted in during the seven game series against the Cardinals.[15] On October 28, in the tenth inning of Game 4 of the 2012 World Series, Scutaro drove in Ryan Theriot for the winning run, as the Giants swept the Detroit Tigers.[16]

After the 2012 season, Scutaro and the Giants agreed to a 3-year, $20 million contract which became official on December 7, 2012.[17] In 2013, Scutaro was the starting second baseman, with Tony Abreu and Nick Noonan as his main backups. In 81 games in the first half, Scutaro hit .316/.367/.400 with 2 HR, 22 RBI and 37 R, and he was named to the 2013 MLB All-Star Game. Scutaro played his last game of 2013 on September 15, and was officially shut down on September 24.[18] He underwent surgery on September 27 that inserted a pin in his left pinkie correcting his mallet finger, an injury he suffered on June 11 against the Pirates when he was hit by Tony Watson.[19] In 127 games in 2013, he hit .297/.357/.369 with 2 HR, 31 RBI and 57 R.

Scutaro started the 2014 season on the disabled list with back problems. He played in five games in July before his back issues forced him to return to the disabled list for the remainder of the season.[20] On December 19, 2014, Scutaro underwent back surgery that some reports indicated could end his career.[21][22] The Giants designated him for assignment on January 21, 2015, and he was removed from the 40-man roster.[23][24] On January 28, 2015, Scutaro was released by the Giants.[25] The Giants re-signed Scutaro to a major league contract on June 17 and placed him on the 60-day disabled list. He continued to rehabilitate his injury with the Giants, not with the intention of playing, but "in hopes of maintaining a quality of life and be pain-free with his family," according to the Giants.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b "Marco Scutaro". MLB. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  2. ^ Gloria, Justin (December 24, 2014). "MLB News: Marco Scutaro Has Back Surgery, Baseball Career Still Up In The Air". International Business Times. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  3. ^ Edes, Gordon (March 22, 2010). "He'd take a ring over a starring role". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Kroichick, Ron (October 10, 2006). "Vizquel provided inspiration for young Scutaro". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  5. ^ Schulman, Henry (August 27, 2012). "Marco Scutaro gives SF Giants a lift". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c Mulrenin, Patrick (July 19, 2002). "Mets make roster moves"". Newyork.mets.mlb.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  7. ^ "A's claim infielder Scutaro and outfielder Watson off waivers". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 9, 2003. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  8. ^ Boston's Marco Scutaro would take a ring over a starring role ESPN
  9. ^ "ESPN – Oakland trades Scutaro to Toronto to free up playing time for Murphy – MLB". Sports.espn.go.com. November 18, 2007. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  10. ^ Scutaro joins Red Sox with two-year pact MLB.com
  11. ^ Red Sox Journal: Scutaro back to form Providence Journal, March 16, 2011
  12. ^ "Rockies fill infield hole with Marco Scutaro | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  13. ^ "GIANTS ACQUIRE SCUTARO FROM ROCKIES FOR CULBERSON". Associated Press. July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
  14. ^ "Marco Scutaro hits slam, drives in 7 as Giants clobber Cards" ESPN, August 8, 2012.
  15. ^ "Record-setting effort nets Scutaro NLCS MVP" MLB.com, October 22, 2012.
  16. ^ Les Carpenter (October 29, 2012). "Giants sweep Tigers for World Series title on Marco Scutaro's winning hit – Yahoo! Sports". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
  17. ^ "Pagan and Scutaro finalize deals with Giants". TSN.ca. December 7, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  18. ^ Pavlovic, Alex (September 24, 2013). "San Francisco Giants shut down Madison Bumgarner, Marco Scutaro for season". San Jose Mercury News.
  19. ^ Baggarly, Andrew (September 24, 2013). "Scutaro to have surgery Friday, labels Giants' season 'a mess'". CSN Bay Area.
  20. ^ Hood, Ryan (August 25, 2014). "Scutaro won't return to Giants this season". MLB.com. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  21. ^ "Giants' Scutaro has back surgery, may end career". Sportsnet. December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  22. ^ Schulman, Henry (December 22, 2014). "SF Giants' Marco Scutaro has back surgery; Sergio Romo discusses return". sfgate.com. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  23. ^ "2B Marco Scutaro designated for assignment by Giants". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  24. ^ "Giants reportedly DFA veteran infielder Scutaro". MLB.com. January 21, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  25. ^ "Giants re-sign injured Marco Scutaro to end career with club". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  26. ^ Shea, John (June 17, 2015). "Marco Scutaro re-signs with Giants — not to play, though". San Francisco Chroncle. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
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