Carlos Gomez
From BR Bullpen
Carlos Argelis Gomez Pena
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 4”, Weight 195 lb.
- Born December 4, 1985 in Santiago D.R.
[edit] Biographical Information
Outfielder Carlos Gomez was signed by scout Eddy Toledo for the New York Mets in July 2002. He made his pro debut the next summer with the DSL Mets.
Gomez had two hits, including a double, in four at bats in his Major League debut for the New York Mets against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 13, 2007.
Gomez, only 21 years old at the time of his debut, has played in the minors since age 18. He has hit between .268 and .287 in the minors with moderate power and lots of stolen bases. After the 2007 season, he was sent to the Minnesota Twins as one the key pieces of the trade which brought pitcher Johan Santana to New York.
Gomez hit for the cycle on May 7, 2008, the first member of the Twins to do so since Kirby Puckett in 1986. Gomez has played the 2008 season as the Twins starting centerfielder following the blockbuster trade. He played 153 game for the Twins that year, batting .258, giving hope that he would emerge as an outstanding center fielder. However, he slipped significantly in 2009, to .229 with a .287 OBP in 137 games. After the season, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for shortstop J.J. Hardy. He split time in centerfield with veteran Jim Edmonds in 2010, hitting .247 with once again an OBP below .300. With Edmonds gone, Gomez won the starting job outright in spring training of 2011. He was hitting .220/.270/.378 in 81 games when he broke a collarbone diving to catch a fly ball off the bat of Arizona's Ryan Roberts on July 20. Ironically, the injury came one play after Diamondbacks SS Stephen Drew broke an ankle sliding at the plate, putting him out for the season. He came back to the playing field in September, ending up with a .225 average in 94 games and a well below-average .276 OBP. However, he made a key contribution to the Brewers' win over the Diamondbacks in the NLDS, going 3 for 4 with a homer and a pair of stolen bases. In the NLCS, however, he was only 2 for 10 as the Brewers were defeated by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Gomez was off to a better start in 2012, sharing playing time in center field with Nyjer Morgan and after 21 games was hitting .280. The injury bug struck him again however, as he pulled a hamstring muscle running out a routine fly ball on May 4th, putting him on the disabled list again.
