Rubén Gotay

Infobox MLB player
name = Rubén Gotay


width = 200
caption = Gotay with the Braves in 2008
team = Atlanta Braves
number = 8
position = Second baseman
birthdate = birth date and age|1982|12|25
birthplace = city-state|Río Piedras|Puerto Rico
bats = Switch
throws = Right
debutdate = August 3
debutyear = 2004
debutteam = Kansas City Royals
statyear = 2008 season
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .255
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 12
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 77
teams =
*Kansas City Royals (by|2004-by|2005)
*New York Mets (by|2007)
*Atlanta Braves (by|2008)

Ruben A. Gotay (pronEng|goʊˈtаɪ [go TIE] ) (born December 25, 1982 in city-state|Río Piedras|Puerto Rico) is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Atlanta Braves.

Professional career

Kansas City Royals

Gotay made his major league debut with the Kansas City Royals on August 4, mlby|2004, when they played the Chicago White Sox. He went 1-for-3 and got his first major league hit off José Contreras. [http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=430905&y=2004 mlb.com] ] Gotay played in 44 games for the Royals in 2004. He hit .270 with one home run and 16 RBI. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gotayru01.shtml baseball-reference.com] ] In by|2005, Gotay made the Royals' opening day roster and played in 86 major league games. He batted .227 with five home runs and 29 RBI.

Gotay spent the entire by|2006 season in the minor leagues.

New York Mets

He was traded to the New York Mets for prospect Jeff Keppinger on July 19, 2006. [ [http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060719&content_id=1564677&vkey=pr_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym mlb.com] ]

Gotay was designated for assignment by the Mets to make room on the 40-man roster for Chan Ho Park in February mlby|2007.

Gotay cleared waivers and was assigned outright to the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Pacific Coast League on February 16, 2007 [ [http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/117169066325890.xml&coll=1 NJ Sports Ledger] ,] but was brought back to the major league club on April 30, 2007, after an injury to José Valentín. On May 9, 2007, Gotay hit his first home run as a Met off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Morris, the ball barely clearing the high right field wall at AT&T Park. On March 27, mlby|2008, Gotay was placed on waivers by the Mets.

Atlanta Braves

Gotay was claimed off waivers from the Mets on March 28, 2008, and hit his first home run for Atlanta on June 21. Gotay occasionally pinch hits, but has rarely started for the Braves.

Personal

His uncle is former major leaguer Julio Gotay. Gotay played little league in Fajardo Puerto Rico were his father Ruben Gotay was the head coach of the Pumas. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gotayju01.shtml baseball-reference.com] ] .

References

External links

*Baseballstats |mlb=430905 |espn=6053 |br=g/gotayru01 |fangraphs=3417 |cube=g/ruben-gotay34