Edwin Encarnación
Edwin Elpidio Encarnación Rivera is a Dominican former professional baseball designated hitter, third baseman and first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox.
Encarnación was initially drafted in 2000 by the Texas Rangers but was subsequently traded to the Cincinnati Reds, where he eventually made his major league debut in 2005. His playing time as a third baseman gradually rose year to year, and he had his first 20-HR season in 2008 with 26 home runs. He was traded midway through the 2009 season to the Toronto Blue Jays. He would play a variety of positions there in third base, first base, and designated hitter for eight seasons. He reached a new career high in home runs with 42 in 2012; he was named an All-Star for the first time in 2013 and did so again in 2014, which saw him hit 30 home runs each time. He reached the postseason for the first time in 2015 and did so again in 2016, where the Blue Jays lost in the ALCS each time. He left for Cleveland in free agency after 2016, hitting thirty home runs in each of his two seasons before being traded to Seattle. He was traded midway through the year to New York but hit 34 total home runs to reach the 400 home run club. Encarnación signed with the White Sox in 2020 and had ten home runs in the pandemic-shortened season. After not being signed in the offseason, Encarnación retired.
A batter who hit 20+ home runs in ten different seasons, Encarnación was named an All-Star three times for his career.
Early life
Encarnación was born in the Dominican Republic to Elpidio Encarnación, a track and field coach, and Mireya Rivera. He is the third of three sons, including Richard and Julio, and four children, including younger sister, Evelin. Encarnación also had twelve half-siblings via his father. Encarnación split time as a high school student between his native country and Puerto Rico after his father took a job coaching at a Puerto Rican college. His Puerto Rican residence made him eligible for the Major League Baseball draft.Professional career
Cincinnati Reds
The Texas Rangers selected Encarnación in the ninth round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed with them. On June 15, 2001, the Rangers traded him and Rubén Mateo to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for pitcher Rob Bell. He made his Major League Baseball debut on June 24, 2005, and played in 69 games. He finished with a.232 batting average, nine home runs, and 31 runs batted in.In the 2006 season, Encarnación played 117 games for the Reds, and batted.276 with 15 home runs and 72 RBIs. Encarnación won the National League Player of the Week award for the week of August 7–13. During the week, he led the league with 4 home runs and 24 total bases, batting.440 with eight RBIs. In 2007, Encarnación started the year slowly, struggling to bat over.200. He was frequently benched in favor of Ryan Freel, which gave Josh Hamilton, who was attempting to resurrect his career after it was derailed by addiction to drugs and alcohol, more starts in center field. Encarnación was benched again at one point by then manager Jerry Narron for not running out a fly ball. On May 10, 2007, Encarnación was demoted to the Reds' Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats. He was recalled to the Major Leagues on May 22, 2007. For the 2007 season, Encarnación batted.289 with 16 home runs and 76 RBI.
In 2008, Encarnación set career highs in games played and home runs. He batted.251 in 146 games with 26 home runs and 68 RBIs, and also struck out 102 times, the first time he had struck out more than 100 times in his career. For the 2009 season, Encarnación stated that he wanted to be more consistent as a hitter who did not try to hit home runs in every at bat: "I want to try to stay more to the middle. Last year, I tried to pull too many balls and hit more homers. That's why my average went down. I will be more consistent as a hitter. I know I can do it. I've done it before. I know I can hit better than that and I just have to keep working". Encarnación played in 43 games with the Reds in the 2009 season, batting just.209 with five home runs and 16 RBIs before being traded to Toronto.
Toronto Blue Jays
2009–2011
Encarnación, along with right-handed pitchers Josh Roenicke and Zach Stewart, was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Scott Rolen on July 31, 2009. It was reported that then Blue Jays General Manager J. P. Ricciardi was only interested in acquiring Roenicke and Stewart, but Cincinnati would not accept the trade unless the Blue Jays also took on Encarnación. Encarnación played in 42 games for the Blue Jays during the 2009 season, and batted.240 with eight home runs and 23 RBIs. During the offseason, Encarnación suffered first and second-degree burns to the forehead and the right side of his face when a rocket firecracker hit him in the jaw and exploded near his mouth. After initially being treated near his Dominican Republic home, Encarnacion was transferred to a Miami hospital. He was discharged less than two days after the incident.Encarnación missed 30 games through April and May 2010 with a right arm injury, before returning on May 18. He hit a home run in his first at bat since the injury against the Minnesota Twins. On May 21, he had three home runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks, homering in three straight at-bats. On June 20, after a loss to the Giants, Encarnacion was optioned to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s. However, in a surprise move, he was designated for assignment the next day by the Blue Jays. Encarnación was eventually assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas on June 23, but was called up to the Blue Jays again on July 2 after a struggling performance by Encarnacion's replacement, Jarrett Hoffpauir. Encarnacion hit his 100th career home run against the Minnesota Twins on the last day of the season, also becoming the seventh Jays player that season with at least 20 home runs. He finished the 2010 season with a batting average of.244, 21 home runs and 51 RBI.
On November 12, 2010, Encarnacion was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics. On December 2, he was non-tendered by the Athletics, making him a free agent. On December 16, 2010, he signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays worth $2.5 million, with a club option worth $3.5 million in 2012. He began the 2011 season playing third base for the Blue Jays and struggled offensively. His numbers improved significantly after he was moved to the designated hitter position. In a game against the Boston Red Sox on September 7, Encarnacion set a new career record for doubles in a single season with 34. On September 22, Encarnacion hit a walk-off home run off the Rogers Sportsnet One sign in the 12th inning against Angels rookie Garrett Richards. In 2011, Encarnación batted.272 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs.
On October 31, 2011, the Blue Jays picked up the $3.5 million club option for the 2012 season.
2012–2013
In a game against the Seattle Mariners on April 28, 2012, Encarnación hit his fourth career grand slam in the 8th inning leading the Blue Jays to a 7–0 win. His grand slam marked the first time that Encarnación held his arm out in his trademark "Ed-wing" fashion while rounding the bases. This trademark would be known as the "Parrot Walk" which Edwin would do for every home run he would hit from then on. Fans would mimic it in the stands and even flap their arms as though they were the wings of a parrot. It was so popular it generated T-shirts, hats and even toy parrots that fans could attach to their right arm.On April 30, 2012, in a home game against the Texas Rangers, Encarnación hit the first home run off of starter Yu Darvish. In an inter-league game against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 19, Encarnación hit the last of three straight solo home runs by the Blue Jays, following Colby Rasmus and José Bautista, the first time in the 2012 season that the Jays went back-to-back-to-back with home runs, and only the sixth time in franchise history. On July 12, Encarnación signed a 3-year, $27 million contract extension with Toronto. The deal included a $10 million club option for the 2016 season.
On September 13, 2012, in a home game against the Seattle Mariners, Encarnación hit his 40th home run of the season, and recorded his 100th RBI of the season, marking the first time in his career that he had surpassed 40 home runs and 100 RBIs. Encarnación was unanimously named by the Baseball Writers' Association of America as the Blue Jays Player of the Year on November 28, 2012. He also received the Most Improved Player award for the Jays.
On May 23, 2013, Encarnación hit his fifth career grand slam to give the Blue Jays an 8–3 lead over the Baltimore Orioles. The Jays would win the game 12–6.
On July 6, 2013, Encarnación was named to his first All-Star Game as a reserve designated hitter for the American League. Encarnación was one of four Blue Jays to be named, the others being José Bautista, Brett Cecil, and Steve Delabar. Up to the All-Star break, Encarnación posted a triple-slash of.264/.353/.532 with 25 home runs and 72 RBIs. In the All-Star Game, Encarnación entered as a pinch-hitter for David Ortiz in the seventh inning, and finished the game 0–2. In a game against the Houston Astros on July 26, 2013, Encarnación became only the second Blue Jay in franchise history to hit two home runs in one inning, joining Joe Carter who did so on October 3, 1993 – tying the Major League record for most home runs in an inning. Leading off the 7th inning behind at 6–4, Encarnación hit a solo home run and would later hit his sixth career grand slam, receiving a curtain call afterwards as the Blue Jays would score 8 runs in the inning and lead 12–6. He was named the American League Player of the Week on July 29, after batting.520 with three doubles, two home runs, and eight RBIs over the prior week. Encarnación hit his 30th home run of the season on August 7, 2013, against the Seattle Mariners. In doing so, he recorded back-to-back 30 home run seasons for the first time in his career. Playing against the Kansas City Royals on August 31, 2013, Encarnación recorded his 1,000th career hit, a single off Kansas City starter Jeremy Guthrie. On September 2, he reached 100 RBIs for the second consecutive season on a two-run home run against Brandon McCarthy of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He spent time on the bench in mid September with a wrist injury, but made a brief comeback before being placed on the disabled list on September 17. He underwent successful surgery on September 19. Encarnación finished the 2013 season with a.272 average, 36 home runs, and 104 RBIs. He finished with more walks than strikeouts for the first time in his career, with 82 and 62 respectively.