Omar Vizquel

Guide Note

Omar Vizquel is a Gold-Glove winning shortstop for the San Francisco Giants. He is arguably one of the greatest defensive shortstops to ever play the game with 11 Gold Gloves, 9 straight from 1994 to 2004.

Fast Facts

1. Born: April 24, 1967
2. Birth Place: Caracas, Venezuela
3. Birth Name: Omar Enrique Vizquel
4. Bats: Switch
5. Throws: Right
6. Height: 5'9"
7. Weight: 165 lbs
8. MLB Debut: April 3, 1989
9. Gold Gloves: 11
10. All-Star appearances: 3
11. Trivia: Vizquel is also an accomplished artist and musician

Omar Enrique Vizquel was born in Caracas, Venezuela on April 24, 1967. He would sign as a free agent with the Seattle Mariners on April 1, 1984. He would spend five years in the minor league system, developing his skills to Major League Baseball caliber level.

Vizquel would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Seattle Mariners on April 3, 1989. In his first season he would establish himself as an excellent defender, but he would be an offensive liability with a .220 batting average in 143 games. It would take several years for Vizquel to bring his offensive game up to par to his defensive skills. In 1992 he would hit .294 in 136 games. He would be traded to the Cleveland Indians for Felx Fermin and Reggie Jefferson in 1993. Vizquel would enjoy his best years in Cleveland winning several awards and reaching the World Series twice, in 1995 and 1997. During his first season with Cleveland he would win his first of nine straight Gold Glove Awards and in 1998, he would be selected to his first All-Star Game. He would go on to be elected two more times in 1999 and 2002. In 2004, Vizquel would sign as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants where he serves as an excellent veteran leader and anchoring the Giants infield still playing gold glove caliber defense, winning the award in 2005 and 2006.

• April 24, 1967: Born
• 1989: Makes debut with the Seattle Mariners
• 1995: Plays in first World Series with the Cleveland Indians, against the Atlanta Braves
• 1999: Has a career-high 191 base hits and .333 batting average
• 2001: Wins Ninth consecutive Gold Glove award]
• 2004: Signs with the San Francisco Giants
• 2006: Becomes oldest player to win a Gold Glove
• 2007: Collects 2,500th hit against the Philadelphia Phillies