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Carlos Gómez

For other people named Carlos Gómez, see Carlos Gómez (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Gómez and the second or maternal family name is Peña.

Carlos Argelis Gómez Peña, nicknamed Go-Go,[1] (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkaɾlos ˈɡomes]; born December 4, 1985) is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. He played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays. Gómez is a two-time MLB All-Star and a Gold Glove Award winner.

Carlos Gómez
Gómez with the Texas Rangers in 2017
Center fielder
Born: (1985-12-04) December 4, 1985 (age 38)
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 13, 2007, for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
June 29, 2019, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Batting average.252
Home runs145
Runs batted in546
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Professional career

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Minor leagues

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At just 16 years of age, Gómez signed with the New York Mets as an international free agent on July 27, 2002. Along with Fernando Martínez, Gómez was considered one of their top outfield prospects, and was considered to be a five-tool prospect. While they were teammates, Mets shortstop José Reyes, who led the National League in stolen bases and triples for multiple seasons, said that Gómez was faster than he was.[2] In fact, while he and Gómez were teammates with the Mets, Gómez routinely beat him in foot races during spring training.[3]

In 2006, Gómez played for the Double-A Binghamton Mets of the Eastern League and was the co-winner of the Sterling Award. He finished second in the league with 41 stolen bases and fifth in the league with eight triples. He batted .281 (121-for-430) with 53 runs scored, 24 doubles, seven home runs and 48 runs batted in (RBI) in 120 games.[4]

Gómez started the 2007 season with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs. Playing every day, he led the Pacific Coast League (PCL) with 17 stolen bases by the second week of May. In 36 games, Gómez hit .286 (40-for-140) with 24 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples, and two home runs and 13 RBI.[4][5]

 
Gómez with the New York Mets in 2007 spring training

New York Mets

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Gómez made his major league debut with the Mets on May 13, 2007. At 21 years and 205 days old, he became the youngest player in the National League.[6] Gómez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base, helping the Mets to a 9–1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.[7] On June 10, he hit his first major league home run, a three-run home run off Detroit Tigers pitcher Jason Grilli.[8] In his first MLB season, Gómez played in 58 games and hit .232 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 139 at bats.[9]

Minnesota Twins

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When pitcher Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins became available via trade, the Mets traded Gómez and pitchers Deolis Guerra, Philip Humber and Kevin Mulvey to the Twins to acquire him on January 29, 2008.[10] Gómez became the starting center fielder for the Twins, following Torii Hunter's signing with the Los Angeles Angels. He won a three-way race for center field in 2008, beating out prospects Denard Span and Jason Pridie. Gómez's 40-yard dash time was clocked at 4.29.[11] Twins manager Ron Gardenhire nicknamed Gómez "Go-Go" due to his last name and his blazing speed.[12][13] Batting first, with Alexi Casilla batting second, Gardenhire referred to the speedy duo as "Loose Cannon One" and "Loose Cannon Two."[14]

 
Gómez playing for the Minnesota Twins in 2009

On March 31, 2008, Gómez made his regular-season debut for the Twins, going 2-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and two runs as the Twins beat the Angels, 3–2.[15] On April 11, 2008, Gómez hit his first career triple off Yasuhiko Yabuta of the Kansas City Royals.[16]

On May 7, 2008, Gómez hit for the cycle against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. He became the ninth major leaguer in history to hit for the reverse natural cycle.[17] He also became the third-youngest player to hit for the cycle in MLB history.[18]

Gómez finished the 2008 season batting .258 with seven home runs, 59 RBI and 33 stolen bases in 153 games.[9] He led the major leagues with 30 bunt hits, but was also picked off a major-league-leading 10 times.[19][20] Defensively, he led all major league center fielders in errors, with eight.[21]

In 137 games with the Twins in 2009, Gómez hit .229 with three home runs and 28 RBI.[9] On October 6, 2009, Gómez scored the winning run in the 2009 American League Central tie-breaker game on Alexi Casilla's walk-off single, clinching the AL Central division title for the Twins.[22] Gómez also saw his first postseason action, earning the start in center field for Game 2 of the 2009 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees. In the game, he went 0-for-4 with a walk and run scored in Minnesota's 4–3 loss.[23] The Yankees would go on to sweep the Twins in three games, ending their season.[24]

Milwaukee Brewers

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On November 6, 2009, Gómez was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for J. J. Hardy and $250,000.[25]

In 2011, Gómez led all NL outfielders in range factor, at 2.97, and tied for the NL lead in fielding percentage for outfielders, at 1.000.[26] On July 20, 2011, Gómez fractured his collarbone when he made a diving catch in shallow center field.[27] He returned for the rest of the season in September. During the 2011 postseason, Gómez hit .357, with a home run and 2 RBI.[9]

In 2012, Gómez started the season platooning with Nyjer Morgan and Norichika Aoki in center field, but eventually Gómez got more starting playing time. Gómez ended up having the best season of his major league career at that point. In 137 games, Gómez posted career highs with a .260 batting average, .305 on-base percentage, 19 home runs, and 37 stolen bases in the 2012 season.[9]

Prior to the 2013 season, Gómez signed a three-year, $24 million extension with the Brewers.[28]

 
Gómez with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2013

Gómez started the 2013 season as the Brewers' starting center fielder, though he struggled early, batting only .162 after the first couple of weeks.[29] After that, Gómez went on a tear, getting three hits in each of the next three games, raising his average back up to .300 just a week later.[29] Gómez was named National League Player of the Week for his efforts, the third time he had won the award.[30] Gómez was named to his first All-Star team.[31] Mariano Rivera retired him to end the eighth inning in his last All-Star Game.[32]

On September 26, Gómez was suspended for one game[33] for his role in an on-field altercation during a game on September 25 against the Atlanta Braves.[34] In the game, Gómez hit a home run, and as he trotted around the bases, shouted at Braves pitcher Paul Maholm for apparently throwing at Gómez in an earlier game. As Gómez reached home plate, Braves catcher Brian McCann deliberately stood between Gómez and home plate, blocking him, which sparked a brief brawl between the two teams.[33]

Gómez's 2013 season was the best of his major league career, attaining career highs in practically every offensive category: a .284 batting average, .338 on-base percentage, 27 doubles, 10 triples, 24 home runs, 80 runs scored, 73 RBI, and 40 stolen bases in 147 games.[9] He led the National League in power-speed number (30.0).[35] Gómez had a spectacular season defensively as well, leading the league in defensive putouts, as well as taking at least four potential home runs.[36] Gómez finished third in the National League in Wins Above Replacement (WAR).[37][38] He also won the NL Gold Glove Award for center field,[39] becoming the first Brewer to win the award since Robin Yount in 1982.[36]

Gómez began 2014 as Milwaukee's starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. In April, Gómez got into an altercation in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the game, Gómez hit a deep fly ball that he initially thought was a home run. As a result, he flipped his bat out of his hand, something he was known to do when hitting a home run. The ball ended up hitting the outfield wall, though Gómez still ended up at third base with a triple. When Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole confronted Gómez about showing off, the two began to argue, and as the two were separated, Pirates player Travis Snider confronted Gómez as well, causing Gómez to throw punches at Snider, igniting a brief brawl in which Snider got hit in the eye by Gómez' teammate, Martin Maldonado.[40] Gómez was suspended for three games. He initially appealed the suspension, but dropped it after suffering a minor back injury, using the time for the suspension to rest his back.[41] Upon his return, Gómez was moved to the clean-up spot in the Brewers batting order, due to an injury to Aramis Ramírez.[42] Gómez had another solid season in 2014, batting .284 with 23 home runs, 73 RBI, 95 runs scored, and 34 stolen bases in 148 games, though he was also caught stealing a career-high 12 times.[9] He again led the National League in power-speed number (27.4).[35] He was second in the major leagues in hit by pitch, with 19.[43]

Houston Astros

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Carlos Gómez with the Houston Astros in 2015

On July 30, 2015, the Brewers traded Gómez and Mike Fiers to the Houston Astros for Brett Phillips, Domingo Santana, Josh Hader, and Adrian Houser.[44] On October 6, Gómez hit a solo home run in the AL Wild Card Game against the New York Yankees to put the Astros up 2–0 in the fourth inning, propelling them to a 3–0 win and a berth in the ALDS.[45]

In 2016, Gómez batted .210 with five home runs and 29 RBI in 85 games for the Astros.[9] On August 10, Gómez was designated for assignment by the Astros.[46] He was released on August 18.[47]

Texas Rangers

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Gómez signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on August 20, 2016, and was assigned to the Round Rock Express of the PCL.[48] He was promoted to the major leagues on August 25 and made his Rangers debut that night vs. the Cleveland Indians.[49] Gómez homered in his first plate appearance with the club in a 9–0 win.[50] He hit a grand slam off Seattle Mariners pitcher Félix Hernández on August 31;[51] having hit one against them earlier in the season while with the Astros, he became only the fourth player to hit two grand slams against the same opponent for two different teams (joining Ray Boone in 1953, Mike Piazza in 1998, and Ike Davis in 2014). Gómez finished the 2016 season with a batting average of .231, 13 home runs, 53 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 118 combined games.[9] Gómez rebounded with Texas, finishing with a .284 average, eight home runs and 24 RBI in 33 games for Texas.[9]

On December 13, 2016, Gómez re-signed with the Rangers on a one-year, $11.5 million contract.[52] On April 29, 2017, in a game against the Los Angeles Angels, Gómez hit for the cycle for the second time in his career as the Rangers won 6–3.[53] He played in 105 games for the Rangers, batting .255 with 17 home runs and 51 RBI.[9]

Tampa Bay Rays

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Gómez with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018

On March 3, 2018, Gómez signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.[54] The contract was for $4 million with a provision for $500,000 in performances bonuses based on games played: $100,000 each for 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120.[55] On April 22, Gómez hit his first career walk-off home run in an 8–6 win over one of Gómez's former teams, the Minnesota Twins.[56]

In May 2018, Gómez said in multiple interviews that he did not believe MLB's drug testing was random and that he believed the league targets older players and Latin players.[57] He claimed to have been tested six or seven times within the season's first two months.[58] As translated by journalist Hector Gomez, Carlos Gómez said in Spanish: "Until they prove to me that it is random, I will not believe it. Because for me, it's not random...I have the greatest luck on my team, because they test me more than everyone else. I arrived now, three days after coming from the disabled list, and they are already testing me again."[58]

Gomez ended the season hitting .208 (a career low)/.298/.336 with nine home runs and 32 RBI in 118 games.[9] He was hit by pitch 21 times, which led the American League.[59]

Second stint with the Mets

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On March 7, 2019, the Mets signed Gómez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.[60][61]

On May 18, the Mets called up Gómez.[62] Against the Nationals, on May 23, Gómez hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 8th to lead the Mets to a 6–4 win, his first as a Met in 12 years.[63]

Gómez was released on June 30, 2019.[64] In 2019, he batted .198/.278/.337 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 34 games.[9]

In January 2020, Gómez announced his retirement from professional baseball.[65]

On September 24, 2021, he was inducted into the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor, signing papers to officially retire as a Brewer.[66]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Massoth, Kevin (September 5, 2013). "Gomez raring to 'Go-Go,' finish season with flourish". Milwaukee Brewers. MLB.com. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  2. ^ Lewis, Brian (June 4, 2007). "El Duque's Schooling a Hit for Gomez". New York Post. Archived from the original on June 6, 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2007. That is how a speedster whose 64 steals in 2005 were second in all of minor league baseball – and who Jose Reyes admits is faster than he is – should be playing the game.
  3. ^ "Gomez's chances over Milledge". Mets Prospects. April 26, 2007. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Carlos Gómez Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  5. ^ "Mets recall Gomez, option Pelfrey". New York Mets. MLB.com. May 13, 2007. Archived from the original on May 18, 2007. Retrieved May 14, 2007.
  6. ^ "Year-by-Year League Leaders for Youngest Player". Baseball-reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  7. ^ "Milwaukee Brewers vs New York Mets Box Score: May 13, 2007". Baseball-Reference.com. May 13, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  8. ^ Noble, Marty (June 10, 2007). "Mets take the fall in Motown finale". New York Mets. MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Carlos Gomez Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  10. ^ Noble, Marty (January 29, 2008). "Mets land Santana for four prospects". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on January 31, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  11. ^ Fuhrman, Zeke (April 4, 2008). "Minnesota Twins Profile Part I: CF Carlos Gomez". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  12. ^ Souhan, Jim (May 28, 2013). "All systems Go-Go: Ex-Twin Gomez is going at full speed". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  13. ^ Gleeman, Aaron (November 10, 2009). "Gardenhire on Carlos Gomez: 'He irritates people, sometimes me'". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  14. ^ Reusse, Patrick (June 14, 2008). "Headache must be Gardenhire's price for needed victory". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  15. ^ Thesier, Kelly (March 31, 2008). "Gomez does it all, upstaging Hunter". Minnesota Twins. MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  16. ^ "Hernandez scatters seven hits, cruises to third straight win". ESPN. Associated Press. April 11, 2008. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  17. ^ Huber, Mike. "May 7, 2008: Minnesota's Carlos Gomez hits for reverse natural cycle". SABR. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  18. ^ Willis, Ken (April 20, 2008). "Hey Willie! Best style is winning". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2008.
  19. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2008 » Batters » Batted Ball Statistics". FanGraphs. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  20. ^ "2008 Major League Baseball Baserunning/Misc". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  21. ^ "2008 Regular Season MLB Baseball CF Fielding Statistics". ESPN. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  22. ^ Thesier, Kelly (October 7, 2009). "Never-give-up Twins win AL Central title". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on October 8, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  23. ^ "2009 American League Division Series (ALDS) Game 2, Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees: October 9, 2009". Baseball-Reference.com. October 9, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  24. ^ "2009 AL Division Series - New York Yankees over Minnesota Twins (3-0)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  25. ^ McCalvy, Adam (November 6, 2009). "Brewers trade Hardy to Twins for Gomez". Milwaukee Brewers. MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  26. ^ "2011 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  27. ^ "Stephen Drew breaks ankle as Brewers drop D-backs in 10". ESPN. Associated Press. July 20, 2011. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  28. ^ Rosiak, Todd (March 14, 2013). "Carlos Gomez gets 3-year extension with Brewers". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  29. ^ a b "Carlos Gómez 2013 Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  30. ^ Cassavell, A.J. (April 22, 2013). "Gomez garners NL Player of the Week honors". Milwaukee Brewers. MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  31. ^ McCalvy, Adam (July 7, 2013). "Segura, Gomez named NL All-Star reserves". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  32. ^ Marchand, Andrew (July 17, 2013). "Exit Sandman: Rivera pitches 8th, wins MVP". ESPN. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  33. ^ a b McCalvy, Adam (September 26, 2013). "Gomez suspended one game for fracas". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  34. ^ McCalvy, Adam (September 26, 2013). "Gomez apologizes after scuffle, ejection". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  35. ^ a b "Yearly League Leaders & Records for Power-Speed #". Baseball-Reference.com.
  36. ^ a b McCalvy, Adam (October 29, 2013). "Gomez ends Crew's 31-year Gold Glove drought". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  37. ^ "Yearly League Leaders & Records for Wins Above Replacement". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  38. ^ "MLB Wins Above Replacement - 2013". ESPN. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  39. ^ Rosiak, Todd (October 29, 2013). "Carlos Gomez wins Rawlings Gold Glove award". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  40. ^ "Two ejected from Brewers-Pirates for brawl". ESPN. Associated Press. April 20, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  41. ^ Haudricourt, Tom (May 14, 2014). "Injured Carlos Gomez drops appeal, accepts 3-game suspension". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  42. ^ Haudricourt, Tom (May 11, 2014). "Aramis Ramírez headed for DL". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  43. ^ "2014 Major League Baseball Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  44. ^ Cassavell, A. J. (July 30, 2015). "Astros add Gomez, Fiers from Brewers". Houston Astros. MLB.com. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  45. ^ Jaffe, Jay (October 7, 2015). "Keuchel helps Astros down Yankees in AL WC game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  46. ^ "Astros OF Gomez designated for assignment". ESPN. August 10, 2016.
  47. ^ Verdejo Jr., Angel (August 19, 2016). "Astros release Carlos Gomez outright". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  48. ^ Conway, Tyler (August 20, 2016). "Carlos Gomez to Rangers: Latest Contract Details, Comments, Reaction". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  49. ^ "Rangers call Carlos Gomez up from Round Rock; Stubbs sent to Triple-A to make room". The Dallas Morning News. August 25, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  50. ^ "Hamels goes 8 innings for Texas in 9-0 win over Indians". ESPN. Associated Press. August 25, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  51. ^ Posner, Ryan (August 31, 2016). "Gomez's slam sparks Rangers' homer frenzy". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  52. ^ Kruth, Cash (December 13, 2016). "Rangers finalize 1-year deal with Gomez". Texas Rangers. MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  53. ^ Mearns, Andrew (April 29, 2017). "Off to the laces: Gomez gets cycle in socks?". Cut4. MLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  54. ^ "Rays sign Carlos Gómez to one-year contract". Tampa Bay Rays. MLB.com. March 3, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  55. ^ "Rays finalize one-year, $4 million contract with Carlos Gomez". Sportsnet. March 3, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  56. ^ Chastain, Bill (April 22, 2018). "Gomez creates splash on 1st career walk-off HR". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  57. ^ Oz, Mike (May 22, 2018). "Carlos Gomez: MLB drug testing isn't random, targets older and Latin players". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  58. ^ a b "Gomez: Nothing random about MLB drug tests". ESPN. May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  59. ^ "2018 American League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  60. ^ "Mets sign 2-time All-Star outfielder Carlos Gomez to Minor League contract". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. March 7, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  61. ^ Martin, Dan (March 8, 2019). "Carlos Gomez: It's a 'dream' to be back with the Mets". New York Post.
  62. ^ De Nicola, Christina (May 18, 2019). "Full circle: Carlos Gomez rejoins Mets". New York Mets. MLB.com. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  63. ^ DiComo, Anthony (May 23, 2019). "After losing shoe earlier, Gomez hits clutch HR". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  64. ^ Puma, Mike (June 30, 2019). "Behind Mets decision to let go of Carlos Gomez". New York Post. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  65. ^ Wyatt, Matt (January 17, 2020). "Report: Carlos Gomez planning to retire". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  66. ^ "Carlos Gómez, Yovani Gallardo and Francisco Rodríguez are inducted into the Brewers Wall of Honor". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. September 24, 2021.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carlos Gómez.
Achievements
Preceded by Hitting for the cycle
May 7, 2008
April 29, 2017 		Succeeded by
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