Oscar FigueroaHow did he get here?: Signed as free agent prior to 2006 season
Stats: 5'11" 154 lbs, Bats: Right Throws: Right
Hometown/Birthplace: Caracas, Venezuela
Age as of April 1, 2011: 23
Position: SS
2010 Men of the Match: 0
2010 Overview
| PA | Avg/OBP/SLG | K:BB | XBH-RBI | K/PA% | XBH/H% |
| 142 | .200/.287/.242 | 21:14 | 3-10 | 9.9% | 12.5% |
Career (2006-2009)
| Year | Team | PA | Avg/OBP/SLG | K:BB | XBH-RBI | K/PA% | XBH/H% |
| 2006 | VSL | 240 | .263/.329/.362 | 38:20 | 14-34 | 8.3% | 25% |
| 2007 | VSL | 258 | .208/.278/.330 | 39:21 | 18-33 | 15.1% | 39.1% |
| 2008 | VSL | 262 | .289/.402/.372 | 40:37 | 15-36 | 8.5% | 31.7% |
| 2009 | GRN/TC | 156 | .188/.232/.243 | 23:9 | 6-14 | 16.0% | 22.2% |
What happened?
This was Figueroa's second season in the States, and his return to the NYPL after going 1x7 in two games for the ValleyCats in '09 before getting sent on down to Greeneville for the overwhelming majority of last season. And it didn't go so well. It went better than last year, don't get me wrong, when Figueroa's OPS fell by 301 points. His SLG in 2009 was .243, and he was remarkably consistent, posting a .242 SLG in 2010.
What went right?
Fielding. Figueroa spent 26 of his 38 games in the field at SS, where he made five errors for a .955 Fld%. This was a dramatic improvement over last season, when he committed five errors in 13 games for a .904 Fld%. He also spent a handful of games at 3B and 1B.
Hitting w/RISP. Figueroa had 25 ABs w/RISP, and hit .320/.455/.400, striking out twice and drawing six walks.
What went wrong?
Uh, hitting. Posting a .555 OPS at home, Figueroa hit .174/.309/.174 in 18 road games, for a .483 road OPS.
Despite finishing the season with three hits in his last ten ABs, Figueroa hit .191/.280/.236 in his first 37 games of the season, and only saw periodic playing time once August came around.
-
I fear for Figueroa. In two seasons in the US, he has hit .193 (51x264) and just hasn't been able to replicate that .776 OPS season in 2008 - his last in the VSL.
