Yorvit Torrealba

Torrealba with the Colorado Rockies

Catcher

Born: July 19, 1978 (age 38)
Caracas, Venezuela

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

MLB debut

September 5, 2001, for the San Francisco Giants

Last MLB appearance

September 25, 2013, for the Colorado Rockies

MLB statistics

Batting average

.256

Home runs

Runs batted in

339

Teams

Yorvit Adolfo Torrealba ([ʝorˈβit toreˈalβa]; born July 19, 1978) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies. He bats and throws right-handed.

Torrealba signed with the San Francisco Giants as a minor league free agent on September 14, 1994. He made his major league debut with the Giants on September 5, 2001 as a September call up. Torrealba became the Giants back up catcher for the 2002 season after a strong spring training. During Torrealba's early career, his defensive abilities were his key strength, particularly his ability to throw out baserunners. He had 136 at-bats in 2001 and 200 in 2002. During the 2002 postseason, Torrealba would still serve as the backup catcher although he made no appearances as the Giants lost the 2002 World Series to the Anaheim Angels.

Yorvit showed some potential, but when Benito Santiago left via free agency in 2003, the Giants opted to trade for A. J. Pierzynski rather than test Torrealba as a full-time player. He continued to serve as the backup catcher when the Giants signed Mike Matheny prior to the 2005 season; in fact, he played less than when Pierzynski was the starter. Torrealba expressed frustration over his lack of playing time to the media more than once, saying he believed he was capable of playing every day. Manager Felipe Alou publicly discussed the possibility of converting Torrealba into a utility player to get him more playing time, but that never came to pass.

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Wikipedia