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José Azócar

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José Azócar
Azócar with the Padres in 2022
New York Mets
Outfielder
Born: (1996-05-11) May 11, 1996 (age 28)
Guiria, Venezuela
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 7, 2022, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.243
Home runs2
Runs batted in21
Stolen bases18
Teams

José Enrique Azócar (born May 11, 1996) is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres, for whom he made his MLB debut with in 2022.

Career

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Detroit Tigers

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Azócar signed with the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent on October 21, 2012 and would make his professional debut in 2013 with the VSL Tigers (the Venezuelan Summer League). He would then join the Low–A Connecticut Tigers in 2015, before quickly being sent to the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Tigers, where he was named a 2015 Post Season All-Star. Azócar hit .325 with 29 RBI, 10 doubles, and five triples. His play warranted a call–up for the 2016 season to the Single–A West Michigan Whitecaps, where he spent the entire year. Azócar made another jump in play up to the High–A Lakeland Flying Tigers for 2017, however despite seeing his first professional home runs (he would hit three), his average would drop from .281 in 2016 to .220 in 2017.

Azócar with the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2016

Azócar would spend 2018 in both West Michigan and Lakeland. He would start 2019 with the Double–A Erie SeaWolves. As of May 11, 2019, he possessed the third-highest batting average in the Eastern League with a .336 clip.[1] Azócar's average would ultimately take a downtick, but it would be sitting at .293 when, on June 24, he was named to the Eastern League All-Star Game for the Western Division.[2] At time of the honoring, he led the league in hits with 136, was tied for third-highest batting average in the league (.284), had 39 multi-hit games, and also had ten home runs and 56 RBI.[3] Azócar would ultimately earn the dubious distinction of leading the minor leagues in 2019 by grounding into 22 double plays.[4] However, he would be named the Eastern League Rookie of the Year for 2019, becoming the first SeaWolves' player to earn the honor. Azócar was re-signed by the Tigers organization after becoming a minor league free agent on November 7, 2019.[5] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] Azócar became a free agent on November 2, 2020.[7]

San Diego Padres

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On November 18, 2020, Azócar signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. He split the 2021 campaign between the Double–A San Antonio Missions and Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas. In 128 games split between the two affiliates, Azócar slashed .281/.341/.438 with nine home runs, 70 RBI, and 32 stolen bases.[8]

On April 7, 2022, Azócar had his contract selected to the major league roster and made his MLB debut that night as a pinch runner and left fielder. In his first at-bat two days later, he had his first major-league hit, a single, and drove in his first run.[9] That year, he appeared in two games in the NLDS and one in the NLCS for the Padres without coming up to bat. He served as a pinch runner and a replacement left fielder. He did steal a base in Game 2 of the NLDS. On September 15, 2023, Azócar hit his first MLB home run, driving in 3 runs during the top of the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics.[10]

Azócar played in 61 games for the Padres in 2024, slashing .219/.269/.247 with two RBI and five stolen bases. Azócar was designated for assignment by the Padres on September 2, 2024.[11][12]

New York Mets

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On September 5, 2024, Azócar was claimed off of waivers by the New York Mets. However, he was then optioned to the Triple–A Syracuse Mets.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Tigers outfield prospect Jose Azocar takes step forward in Double-A Erie". Detroit News. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  2. ^ "2019 Eastern League All-Star Game Rosters Announced". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  3. ^ "Jose Azocar Named Eastern League Rookie of the Year". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "2019 Register Batting Leaders | Baseball-Reference.com".
  5. ^ Woodbery, Evan (November 7, 2019). "Tigers re-sign 5 minor-league free agents, including Nick Ramirez". mlive. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  6. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  7. ^ "Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "Jose Azocar - Stats - Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  9. ^ "Hosmer, Machado help Padres pull away late, top D-backs 5-2". April 9, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "Fernando Tatis Jr. homers, drives in 3 runs as Padres beat A's 8-3 in Bob Melvin's return". Associated Press. September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  11. ^ Glaser, Kyle (September 2, 2024). "Tatis rejoins lineup after 2 months on IL: 'I feel like I can do anything'". MLB.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  12. ^ "Padres activate RF Fernando Tatis Jr. from 60-day IL". Victoria Advocate. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  13. ^ "Mets activate DH J.D. Martinez from paternity list". ESPN.com. September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
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