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José Azócar

José Enrique Azócar (born May 11, 1996) is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres. He made his MLB debut in 2022.

Career

Detroit Tigers

Azócar signed with the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent on October 21, 2012. He made his professional debut in 2013 with the VSL Tigers (the Venezuelan Summer League). He joined the Low–A Connecticut Tigers in 2015, but was quickly sent down to the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Tigers, where he was named a 2015 Post Season All-Star. Azócar hit .325 with 29 RBI, 10 doubles, and five triples. His play warranted a call–up for the 2016 season to the Single–A West Michigan Whitecaps, where he spent the entire year. Azócar was promoted to the High–A Lakeland Flying Tigers for 2017, where he hit his first professional home runs (he would hit three), but saw his average drop from .281 in 2016 to .220 in 2017.

Azócar with the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2016

Azócar spent 2018 in both West Michigan and Lakeland. He started 2019 with the Double–A Erie SeaWolves. As of May 11, 2019, he possessed the third-highest batting average in the Eastern League, with a .336 clip.[1] He was batting .293 when, on June 24, he was named to the Eastern League All-Star Game for the Western Division.[2] At the All Star break, he led the league in hits with 136, was tied for third-highest batting average in the league (.284), had 39 multi-hit games, and had ten home runs to go with 56 RBI.[3] Azócar would ultimately earn the dubious distinction of leading the minor leagues in 2019 by grounding into 22 double plays.[4] However, he would be named the Eastern League Rookie of the Year for 2019, becoming the first SeaWolves' player to earn the honor. Azócar was re-signed by the Tigers organization after becoming a minor league free agent on November 7, 2019.[5] He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] Azócar became a free agent on November 2, 2020.[7]

San Diego Padres

On November 18, 2020, Azócar signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. He split the 2021 campaign between the Double–A San Antonio Missions and Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas. In 128 games split between the two affiliates, Azócar slashed .281/.341/.438 with nine home runs, 70 RBI, and 32 stolen bases.[8]

On April 7, 2022, Azócar had his contract selected to the major league roster and made his MLB debut that night as a pinch runner and left fielder. In his first at-bat two days later, he had his first major-league hit, a single, and drove in his first run.[9] That year, he appeared in two games in the NLDS and one in the NLCS for the Padres without coming up to bat. He served as a pinch runner and a replacement left fielder. He did steal a base in Game 2 of the NLDS.

On September 15, 2023, Azócar hit his first MLB home run, driving in 3 runs during the top of the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics.[10]

Azócar played in 61 games for the Padres in 2024, slashing .219/.269/.247, with two RBI and five stolen bases. Azócar was designated for assignment by the Padres on September 2, 2024.[11][12]

New York Mets

On September 5, 2024, Azócar was claimed off of waivers by the New York Mets. He was immediately sent to the Triple–A Syracuse Mets,[13] for whom he batted .353/.382/.529 with two home runs, 12 RBI, and 6 stolen bases across 13 games.

Azócar was designated for assignment by the Mets on March 27, 2025.[14] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Syracuse on March 29.[15] On April 17, the Mets selected Azócar's contract, adding him to their active roster, after center fielder Jose Siri was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured tibia.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Tigers outfield prospect Jose Azocar takes step forward in Double-A Erie". Detroit News. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  2. ^ "2019 Eastern League All-Star Game Rosters Announced". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  3. ^ "Jose Azocar Named Eastern League Rookie of the Year". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "2019 Register Batting Leaders | Baseball-Reference.com".
  5. ^ Woodbery, Evan (November 7, 2019). "Tigers re-sign 5 minor-league free agents, including Nick Ramirez". mlive. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  6. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  7. ^ "Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "Jose Azocar - Stats - Batting". fangraphs.com. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  9. ^ "Hosmer, Machado help Padres pull away late, top D-backs 5-2". April 9, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  10. ^ "Fernando Tatis Jr. homers, drives in 3 runs as Padres beat A's 8-3 in Bob Melvin's return". Associated Press. September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  11. ^ Glaser, Kyle (September 2, 2024). "Tatis rejoins lineup after 2 months on IL: 'I feel like I can do anything'". MLB.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  12. ^ "Padres activate RF Fernando Tatis Jr. from 60-day IL". Victoria Advocate. September 2, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  13. ^ "Mets activate DH J.D. Martinez from paternity list". ESPN.com. September 5, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "Mets To Designate Alexander Canario, Jose Azocar For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  15. ^ "New York Mets veteran outfielder clears waivers, outrighted to Triple-A". si.com. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  16. ^ "Mets Select José Azócar". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 17, 2025.