Oscar Gregorio Azócar (February 21, 1965 – June 14, 2010) was a Venezuelan left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees (1990) and San Diego Padres (1991-'92). Listed at 6' 1", 170 lb., Azócar batted and threw left-handed. In 202 career games, Azócar recorded a batting average of .226 and accumulated 10 stolen bases, and 36 runs batted in (RBI).
Oscar Azócar | |
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Left fielder | |
Born: (1965-02-21)February 21, 1965 Soro, Venezuela | |
Died: June 14, 2010(2010-06-14) (aged 45) Valencia, Venezuela | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
MLB debut | |
July 17, 1990, for the New York Yankees | |
Last MLB appearance | |
October 4, 1992, for the San Diego Padres | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .226 |
Home runs | 5 |
Runs batted in | 36 |
Teams | |
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Member of the Caribbean | |
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Induction | 2010 |
Azócar was born in Soro, Sucre, Venezuela. After attending high school in Venezuela, he was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent on November 22, 1983.[1]
Until 1987 Azócar posted a record of 14–5 with a 2.30 earned run average as a professional pitcher, but then switched to the outfield. Azócar was a classic example of the impatient hitter who would swing at almost anything and usually put it in play. It took him 100 Major League at-bats to draw his first walk. He normally obliged the pitchers by hitting whatever they threw, and his batting average dropped accordingly.[1]
In a three-season career, Azócar was a .226 hitter (99-for-439) with five home runs and 36 runs batted in in 202 games, including 38 runs scored, 16 doubles, 10 stolen bases and 12 base on balls. Despite his free-swinging style, he had only 36 strikeouts in 439 at-bats (one every 12 at-bats). Azócar also used his speed selectively and never was caught stealing.[1]
Azócar died in 2010 in Valencia, Carabobo, at the age of 45[2] of a heart attack.[3] The same year, he was inducted in the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame for his notable contributions in the Caribbean Series.