Vital Statistics:
Born: October 10, 1975
Hometown: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Height: 5-10
Weight: 195
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Family: Wife, Lily; daughter Aide Rose; son Ishmael
Primary position: Second baseman
Before The Bigs:
- Drafted in the 49th round in 1993 draft by the Chicago White Sox, but did not sign, staying at Miami-Dade College.
- Drafted again in the 19th round in 1994 by the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Hit just six minor-league home runs in six seasons and never hit better than .291.
Career Highlights:
- Made his major-league debut in 1998, but was not a full-time player until 2001, when he started at third base for the Cardinals.
- Was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on July 29, 2002 in the trade that brought Scott Rolen to St. Louis.
- Moving to second base in Philadelphia, he hit .289 with 14 home runs in 2003, then .298 with 17 home runs in 2004.
- Was traded to the Detroit Tigers on June 8, 2005 for pitcher Ugueth Urbina and infielder Ramon Martinez. He hit .338 in 86 games in Detroit in 2005.
- Hit .295 and helped lead the Tigers to the American League pennant in 2006. He was named MVP of the AL Championship Series.
