Ender Inciarte | |
---|---|
![]() Inciarte with the Atlanta Braves in 2016 | |
Center Fielder | |
Born: Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela | October 29, 1990|
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
MLB debut | |
May 2, 2014, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
Last MLB appearance | |
July 13, 2022, for the New York Mets | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .280 |
Home runs | 42 |
Runs batted in | 263 |
Stolen bases | 118 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Ender David Inciarte Montiel (born October 29, 1990) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball center fielder. He has played in Major League Baseball for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. He made his MLB debut in 2014. He won the Fielding Bible Award in 2015, won the Gold Glove Award three times (2016–2018), and was an All-Star in 2017.
Career
[edit]Arizona Diamondbacks
[edit]Inciarte signed as an international free agent with the Diamondbacks on May 25, 2008,[1] and began his career in Rookie Ball in 2008 with the Arizona League Diamondbacks. During the 2012 season, he hit .307 with two home runs, 47 runs batted in, and 28 stolen bases while splitting time between the Class-A South Bend Silver Hawks and the Class-A Advanced Visalia Rawhide.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Ender_Inciarte_on_July_6%2C_2014.jpg/200px-Ender_Inciarte_on_July_6%2C_2014.jpg)
Following the 2012 season, Arizona decided to not protect Inciarte on their 40-man roster and he was subsequently selected by the Philadelphia Phillies with the 15th pick in the Rule 5 draft. He competed for a spot with the Phillies as a backup outfielder during spring training,[2][3] and ultimately made their 2013 Opening Day roster.[4] Following the first game of the season, Inciarte was designated for assignment without making an appearance to make room for the acquisition of Ezequiel Carrera on April 2. He was offered back to the Diamondbacks[5] and was assigned to the Mobile BayBears of the Class AA Southern League.[6] With Mobile, Inciarte had a .281 batting average, five home runs, 17 doubles, 25 runs batted in, and 43 stolen bases. He appeared in the Southern League All-Star Game. After the season, the Diamondbacks added Inciarte to their 40-man roster.[7]
Inciarte began the 2014 season with the Reno Aces of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He batted .312 with two home runs and seven stolen bases in 109 at-bats before being promoted to the major leagues. He made his major league debut on May 2, 2014, and recorded a hit in his first major league game.[8] He hit his first major league home run on July 5 off of Aaron Harang of the Atlanta Braves.[9] Inciarte batted .303 with 21 stolen bases for the Diamondbacks in 2015.[10][11] After the 2015 season, Inciarte won the Fielding Bible Award for players who played multiple positions.[12]
Atlanta Braves
[edit]On December 9, 2015, the Diamondbacks traded Inciarte, Dansby Swanson, and Aaron Blair to the Braves for Shelby Miller, and Gabe Speier.[13] Inciarte started for the Braves as their center fielder and leadoff hitter on Opening Day.[11] The Braves placed Inciarte on the disabled list on April 11.[14] He was reactivated on May 6.[15] The time he missed negatively impacted Inciarte's offensive production, as he recorded a .227 batting average in the first half of the season. After the All-Star break, Inciarte's hitting improved.[16] He finished the year with a .291 batting average, coupled with three career-best marks, a .351 on-base percentage, a .381 slugging percentage, 85 runs scored, and seven triples. In 131 games, Inciarte also stole 16 bases.[17] Though he finished behind Billy Hamilton in defensive Wins Above Replacement (as tabulated by Fangraphs), Ultimate Zone Rating, and Defensive Runs Saved, Inciarte won the 2016 National League Gold Glove for center fielders due to his superior arm strength and accuracy.[18] On December 23, 2016, the Atlanta Braves announced that Inciarte had been signed to a five-year extension worth approximately $30 million.[19][20]
On April 14, 2017, Inciarte recorded the first defensive out, first hit, and first home run at the Braves' new venue, SunTrust Park. The Braves won 5–2 over the San Diego Padres.[21] On May 22, 2017, Inciarte recorded his first career five-hit game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 5–2 Braves victory.[22] Weeks later, on June 4, 2017, Inciarte recorded his second five-hit performance, as well as his first 5-RBI game in a 13–8 win against the Cincinnati Reds.[23] He was the only Brave selected to the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[24][25] Inciarte hit two home runs and stole two bases against the Colorado Rockies on August 17, 2017, becoming only the 17th player—and third Brave—to have a multi-homer, multi-steal game since 1901.[26] He recorded his first 200-hit season on September 26, with a double in the first inning against the New York Mets.[27][28] At the end of the year, Inciarte won the National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award for center fielders for the second time in his career.[29] In 2018, Inciarte's defense in center field continued to impress en route to his third consecutive Gold Glove award.[30] He hit .265/.325/.380 with ten home runs, 61 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases.
In 2019, injuries to his torso and hamstring limited Inciarte to 65 games.[31] He hit .246/.343/.397 with 5 home runs and 24 RBIs in 199 at bats.[32]
In 2020 he batted .190/.262/.250 with 17 runs, one home run, and 10 RBIs in 116 at bats.[32] He had the lowest average exit velocity of any major league batter, at 78.2 mph, and the lowest percentage of hard hit balls, at 6.4%.[33]
In 79 at-bats in 2021 for the Braves, Inciarte hit .215 with 2 home runs and 10 RBI's, missing time with a strained hamstring and a COVID-19 injured list stint. On July 24, 2021, Inciarte was designated for assignment by the Braves.[34] On July 29, Inciarte was released by the Braves.[35]
Cincinnati Reds
[edit]On August 5, 2021, Inciarte signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds. He was assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats.[36] Inciarte made 15 appearances for Triple-A Louisville, hitting .288 with no home runs and 7 RBI's. On August 28, 2021, Inciarte was released by the Reds.[37]
New York Yankees
[edit]On December 16, 2021, Inciarte signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.[38] Inciarte played in 34 games for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders, hitting .252 with 4 home runs and 11 RBI's. On June 15, 2022, Inciarte was released by the Yankees.[39]
New York Mets
[edit]On June 20, 2022, Inciarte signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets.[40] On June 28, the Mets selected Inciarte's contract and added him to the Major League active roster.[41] He was designated for assignment on July 14, 2022.[42] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets on July 18. However, the next day he rejected the outright assignment and elected free agency.[43]
Personal life
[edit]Inciarte's father, Astolfo, played baseball in Venezuela. His brother, also named Astolfo, played in the minor leagues for the Diamondbacks organization, until their father died and he returned home to take over the family business.[10] He is also a Real Madrid football club supporter.[44] Inciarte played in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, representing his native country of Venezuela. In December 2020, Inciarte and Miss Universe 2009 winner Stefanía Fernández announced their relationship.[45] Five months later, in May 2021, the couple welcomed their first child, a son.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Cooper, Jon (May 7, 2016). "Inciarte activated, Garcia sent to Triple-A". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ "Rule 5 pick Inciarte may be club's fifth outfielder". MLB.com. March 14, 2013. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ "PHILLIES NOTES: Rule 5 pick Ender Inciarte showing no signs of being overmatched - The Reporter". Thereporteronline.com. March 3, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ "Rule 5 pick Ender Inciarte makes Phillies' Opening Day roster | HardballTalk". Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. March 24, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ "Lee's gem gives Phillies first win". Daily News. May 4, 2013. Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "From the bigs to the BayBears, Ender Inciarte settles into center field". AL.com. April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
- ^ "D-backs select the contracts of Ender Inciarte and Bo Schultz". Arizona Diamondbacks. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- ^ "Diamondbacks' Ender Inciarte gets hit in big-league debut". azcentral. May 3, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- ^ "Meet the Braves: Ender Inciarte". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on July 12, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
- ^ a b O'Brien, David. "Ender Inciarte excited to be a Brave and starting center fielder". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on April 27, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
- ^ a b "Diamondbacks already miss Braves' Inciarte". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
- ^ Fox Sports. "A look inside the Fielding Bible Awards". FOX Sports. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
- ^ "Shelby Miller traded to Diamondbacks". ESPN. December 9, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
- ^ Cunningham, Michael (April 11, 2016). "Braves to place Inciarte on DL, call up prospect Mallex Smith". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (May 6, 2016). "Inciarte activated, Garcia sent to Triple-A". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (September 5, 2016). "Inciarte extends second-half surge". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ^ O'Brien, David (November 8, 2016). "It's official: Braves center fielder Inciarte's glove is gold". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (November 8, 2016). "Inciarte wins Gold Glove in 1st year with Braves". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (December 23, 2016). "Ender's Game: CF, Braves agree to 5-year deal". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
- ^ "Braves retain Gold Glove-winning CF Ender Inciarte". ESPN.com. December 23, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
- ^ Bowman, Mark. "Ender Inciarte starts highlight reel at Braves' new park". MLB. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- ^ "Braves' Ender Inciarte records five-hit game". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (June 4, 2017). "Ender's #ASGWorthy game: 5-for-5, 5 RBIs". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- ^ O'Brien, David (July 2, 2017). "Braves center fielder Inciarte earns first All-Star selection". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- ^ Cunningham, Michael (July 11, 2017). "As it turns out, Braves stole All-Star Inciarte from D-Backs". Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- ^ "Player Batting Game Finder: In the Regular Season, since 1901, requiring Home Runs >= 2 and Stolen Bases >= 2, sorted by earliest Date". Stathead. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ O'Brien, David (September 26, 2017). "Inciarte gets 200th hit of season, first Brave to do that since 1996". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- ^ Bumbaca, Chris (September 26, 2017). "Inciarte into record books with 200th hit". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- ^ Bowman, Mark (November 7, 2017). "Inciarte wins NL Gold Glove Award for CF". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- ^ Cole, Eric (November 4, 2018). "Freddie Freeman, Ender Inciarte, and Nick Markakis win Gold Gloves Awards". Talking Chop.
- ^ "Ender Inciarte Placed On Injured List". MLBTradeRumors.com. August 17, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ a b "Ender Inciarte Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ "Statcast Leaderboard". baseballsavant.com.
- ^ Burns, Gabriel (July 24, 2021). "Braves designate outfielder Ender Inciarte for assignment". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ^ Tucker, Tim (July 29, 2021). "Inciarte says goodbye to Braves fans as team releases him". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ^ "Reds Sign Ender Inciarte to Minor League Deal".
- ^ "Ender Inciarte Stats, Fantasy & News | MLB.com". MLB.com.
- ^ "Yankees, Ender Inciarte Agree To Minor League Deal".
- ^ Franco, Anthony (June 15, 2022). "Yankees Release Ender Inciarte". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ "Yankees, Mets, former All-Star Inciarte agree on Minors deal". MLB.com.
- ^ @AnthonyDiComo (June 28, 2022). "Roster move: The Mets have activated outfielder Ender Inciarte and optioned Nick Plummer to Triple-A Syracuse.To…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Mets Designate Ender Inciarte for Assignment".
- ^ "Ender Inciarte: Cuts ties with Mets". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ "Baseball star Ender Inciarte visits Real Madrid". Marca. December 8, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
- ^ "¡Confirmado! Stefanía Fernández y Ender Inciarte tuvieron un niño". Primicia (in Spanish). May 20, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Ender Inciarte at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
- Ender Inciarte on X