Francisco Cervelli

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Francisco Cervelli
position=Catcher
team=New York Yankees
number=64
bats=Switch
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1986|3|6
birthplace=city-state|Valencia|Venezuela
debutdate=September 18
debutyear=2008
debutteam=New York Yankees
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.000
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=0
stat3label=Runs batted in|
stat3value=0
stat4label=On-base plus slugging
stat4value=.000
teams=
*New York Yankees (by|2008-present)

Francisco Cervelli (born March 6, 1986 in Valencia, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Yankees. He was an international signee by the Yankees in by|2003.

Minor Leagues

After struggling to adjust to professional baseball in by|2004 and by|2005, Cervelli batted .309 for the Short Season Single-A Staten Island Yankees in by|2006. In by|2007, he played for the Tampa Yankees, where he batted .279 with an OBP of .387 and two home runs. Baseball America rated him the 23rd best prospect on the Yankees prior to the by|2008 season.

Controversy

On March 8, 2008, he fractured his wrist on a controversial play during a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays, when Rays infielder Elliot Johnson collided with him at home plate in the ninth inning. Joe Girardi, the Yankees manager said, "I think it was uncalled for, it's spring training and you are going to get people hurt and we got Cervelli hurt." [ [http://www.nypost.com/seven/03092008/sports/yankees/harmful_rays_101078.htm HARMFUL RAYS - New York Post ] ] He didn't return to action until June 2008.

Major Leagues

Following the completion of the 2008 minor league season, Cervelli was called up to the Yankees. He made his major league debut on September 18, mlby|2008, as a defensive replacement.

References

External links

*
* [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Francisco%20Cervelli&pos=C&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=465041 Minor League Stats]
* [http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/262804.html Baseball America]