Vital Statistics:
Born: Oct. 17, 1985
Hometown: Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela
Height: 6-1
Weight: 210
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Primary position: Outfielder
Before The Bigs:
- Originally signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002.
- Spent three years in the low minors and broke through as a prospect in 2005, when he hit .307 with 18 HR and 92 RBI with Single-A South Bend.
- Hit 21 homers for high Single-A Lancaster in 2006 and was selected to the All-Star Futures Game.
- Spent most of 2007 with Double-A Mobile (.286, 16 HR), then was traded to the Oakland A's as part of a deal for pitcher Dan Haren.
- Started the 2008 season in Triple-A Sacramento before being called up to the A's, and also played in Triple-A Colorado Springs (Rockies) in 2009, hitting .339 with 10 HR in 48 games.
Career Highlights:
- Made his big-league debut with Oakland on May 30, 2008 and hit two doubles. His first seven hits were all for extra bases.
- Traded to the Rockies in November 2008 as part of the deal that sent Matt Holliday to Oakland.
- Split the 2009 season between Colorado and Triple-A Colorado Springs. He hit .284 with 13 homers in Colorado and .339 with 10 homers in 48 games in Colorado Springs.
- Tied a the franchise record for the most hits in an National League Division Series with 10 in the Rockies' loss to Philadelphia. Hit .588 in the four-game series.
- Broke out as a National League MVP candidate in the second half of the 2010 season, ranking in the top three in the league in batting average, home runs and RBI as of early September.
