Carlos Delgado

From BR Bullpen

Carlos Juan Delgado Hernandez

Bats	Throws
Left	Right
Height	Weight
6'3"	220 lb.
School
NA
Drafted	Debut
Undrafted^[1]
Born
June 25, 1972 in Aguadilla, P.R.
BR Pages
BR Page
BR Minors Page

Carlos Delgado is a star slugger who has hit over 400 major league home runs. He was marked as a star at an early age, frequently being named an All Star in the minors as a catcher. He began in the minors at age 17, and was in the minors for most of 1989-1995, finally becoming a major league regular in 1996 at age 24.

He was MVP of the Southern League with the Knoxville Smokies in 1993, when he led the league with 25 home runs, 102 RBI, 102 walks, a .430 on-base percentage, and a .524 slugging percentage. He was converted away from catcher in 1994, when the Toronto Blue Jays made him their regular left fielder to start the season. After a great month of April, when he hit 8 home runs and drove in 21 runs, he sputtered in May, hitting .178 with no power, and was sent to the AAA Syracuse SkyChiefs for more seasoning. He returned to the Blue Jays in late April, 1995, but again failed to hit, going 4 for 26 with one home run in 13 games. He finally managed to establish himself as Toronto starting DH in 1996, and replaced John Olerud as the team's first baseman in 1997. In the majors, he has only appeared in two major league games as a catcher.

Delgado has not usually led the league in offensive categories, but often has been # 2 in the league. He was second in the MVP voting in 2003. He was second in on-base percentage in 2000 and 2003. He was second in slugging percentage in 2000 and 2003. He was first in doubles in 2000. He was second in home runs in 2003. He was first in RBI in 2003. He has been second in intentional walks in four seasons.

On September 25, 2003, he hit four home runs in one game (against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays). In April, 2001, he had notched two three-HR games

Off the field, Delgado has been a proud man who stands up for what he believes in. He was a vocal opponent of the use of the Puerto Rican island Vieques as a bombing target practice facility of the United States military, and has been an active opponent of the occupation of Iraq. Controversially, he has refused to stand during the playing of the national anthem and "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch. Delgado is an active humanitarian in Puerto Rico. When he was traded to the New York Mets, he was told by the organization to drop his public protest to the Iraqi war and stand for God Bless America. He won the Roberto Clemente Award in 2006.

Delgado did not have a very impressive 2007 season, with an Adjusted OPS+ that was barely above average for all players and well below average for a first baseman, and on top of that he was injured on the last day of the season when a pitch from Dontrelle Willis fractured his hand.