Christian Villanueva

Christian Villanueva
San Diego Padres – No. 22
Third baseman
Born: (1991-06-19) June 19, 1991
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 18, 2017, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through August 3, 2018)
Batting average .236
Home runs 24
Runs batted in 52
Teams

Christian Iván Villanueva Limón (born June 19, 1991) is a Mexican professional baseball third baseman for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2017. Villanueva was voted rookie of the month in April 2018. In April he led all rookies in hits, runs scored, home runs, RBI, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and total bases. In May 2018 he tied the MLB record for most home runs for a rookie born in Mexico.

Career

Villanueva signed with the Texas Rangers as an international free agent on August 17, 2008.[1] He missed the part of the 2009 season after having knee surgery.[2] The Rangers traded Villanueva and Kyle Hendricks to the Chicago Cubs in 2012 in exchange for Ryan Dempster.[3]

By 2014, Villanueva was blocked in the Cubs' organization by fellow third baseman Kris Bryant.[2][4] Villanueva broke his right fibula during spring training in 2016 and missed the entire season.[5] He was non-tendered on December 2,[6] and signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres.[7]

Villanueva began the 2017 season with the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He batted .296 with 20 home runs.[8] On September 18, 2017, the Padres promoted Villanueva to the major leagues. He made his major league debut that day, starting at third base.[2] He batted .344 in 32 at bats for the Padres.[8]

On April 3, 2018, Villanueva hit three home runs in a game against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park.[9]

Villanueva was named the National League Rookie of the Month for the month of April 2018.

Personal life

Villanueva and his wife had a son, Christian Jr., in 2017. [2]

References

  1. ↑ "Rangers Add Dempster Right Before Deadline Buzzer". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Sanders, Jeff (September 18, 2017). "Padres' Villanueva relishing culmination of long journey to majors". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Rangers land Dempster in trade with Cubs". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  4. ↑ http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/iowa-cubs/2015/05/27/christian-villanueva-iowa-cubs-minor-league-baseball-chicago-kris-bryant/28030821/
  5. ↑ "Chicago Cubs prospect Christian Villanueva suffers broken right fibula - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  6. ↑ Miles, Bruce (December 2, 2016). "Cubs sign relief pitcher, tender contracts". dailyherald.com. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  7. ↑ Eddy, Matt (December 24, 2016). "Minor League Transactions: Dec. 10-22". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  8. 1 2 http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sd-sp-padres-christian-villanueva-third-base-padres-chase-headley-0302-story.html
  9. ↑ "Christian Villanueva hits 3 homers to give Padres first win of 2018. In postgame interviews, Padres manager <Andy Green> said, "Villanueva reminds me a lot of (Hall of Famer) <Vladimir Guerrero.> The swing, the bat speed, he has the whole package. We found ourselves a diamond in the rough."". MLB. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
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