Ángel Pagán

Ángel Pagán
San Francisco Giants – No. 16
Outfielder
Born: (1981-07-02) July 2, 1981 Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
debut
April 3, 2006, for the Chicago Cubs
Career statistics (through 2012 season)
Batting average	.281
Home runs	41
Runs batted in	265
Runs	358
Stolen Bases	124
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Chicago Cubs (2006–2007) New York Mets (2008–2011) San Francisco Giants (2012–present)

Ángel Manuel Pagán (born July 2, 1981) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. Raised in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, he began playing baseball at age six. Pagán's original contract in Major League Baseball was with the New York Mets, but he was transferred to the Chicago Cubs when they bought his contract. Pagán was subsequently traded back to the Mets prior to the 2008 season. On December 5,1996 , he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Andrés Torres and Ramón Ramírez. Pagán was given the nickname "El Caballo Loco" or "Crazy Horse" by his Mets teammates.

Early life

Ángel Manuel Pagán was born and raised in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. His mother, Gloria, was a fan of baseball and played in a men's fastpitch softball league. The family lived in a crowded apartment with his brother and sister, and the energetic Pagán did not have space to run. His mother hoped to direct Pagán's high level of energy into a constructive outlet, and encouraged the child to play the sport. He joined a tee ball team at age six, and continued playing throughout childhood. Baseball helped him avoid the dangers of his neighborhood; he recalls, "It was tough to come out of that place a good person. Selling drugs or something. It was a bad neighborhood. A lot of my friends couldn't survive that world. But [my mother] made me strong enough to forget about that path and go to the positive one." He also developed interests in basketball and boxing, "But there was something about baseball," he said. "I fell in love with the sport."

Professional career

Chicago Cubs

2006

Pagán playing for the Chicago Cubs in 2007.

On January 25, 2006, the Cubs purchased Pagán's contract from the Mets. Pagán made his major league debut with the Cubs on April 3, 2006, but was injured early in the season and missed two and a half months. On July 2, 2006, his 25th birthday, Pagán hit his first and second career home runs in a game against the crosstown rival Chicago White Sox. Pagán is the first person in Major League history to hit his first two career home runs on his birthday.

2007

Pagán returned in May 2007, being recalled in place of Matt Murton, who had struggled somewhat and was not getting regular at-bats. Pagán then became a regular outfielder and enjoyed modest success until his season was cut short due to a bout with colitis. On June 2, 2007, Pagan was called out at third base trying to move up after a wild pitch, which led to Lou Piniella's most infamous meltdown.

Pagán had lost a considerable amount of weight and strength due to illness. Chicago general manager Jim Hendry was afraid Pagán would not be ready to start the 2008 season on time, thus prompting the trade to New York.

New York Mets

2008

On January 5, 2008, Pagán returned to the Mets in a trade for two minor-league players. He began the year as the starting left fielder for the Mets because Moisés Alou was injured and on the disabled list. When Alou returned from the DL in May, he took over the starting job in left field from Pagán.

On May 7, 2008, Pagán made a spectacular catch in foul territory, falling into the stands, in Los Angeles against the Dodgers while playing left field. Although he originally stayed in the game, Pagán was later removed with left shoulder pain. The injury eventually caused Pagán to be placed on the disabled list. Pagán was undergoing rehabilitation in the GCL and was expected to be on the active roster after the All-Star break. However, he left a rehab start with the Brooklyn Cyclones feeling pain when batting from the right side. Pagán had season-ending surgery on his shoulder on July 29, 2008.

2009

A year later, on May 7, 2009, Pagán was arrested in Port St. Lucie for traffic violations. It was reported that Pagán, who was driving with a suspended license, was originally stopped for speeding, but after a license check, troopers learned Pagán has several warrants out for his arrest for failure to pay traffic fines.

On June 1, 2009, Pagán was placed on the 15-Day DL with a right groin strain. The next day, the Mets activated 2B Alex Cora to fill Pagán's spot on the roster. On August 1, 2009, Pagán hit a grand slam for his first home run since mid 2007 and first for the New York Mets, leading to the win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. On August 5, 2009, he went 3-for-4 against the Cardinals, with a home run, triple, and single, missing the cycle by just a double. On August 23, 2009, he hit 2 home runs (one of which was inside the park) against Pedro Martinez and the Philadelphia Phillies.

On October 4, 2009, Pagán went four-for-four against the Houston Astros, falling a home run shy of a cycle.

2010

Pagán while playing for the Mets in 2010

Pagán was not the 2010 Opening Day center fielder (the nod went to newly acquired Gary Matthews, Jr.), despite making a strong case in 2009. Due to Matthew's poor performance, Pagán shortly found himself back in the starting lineup and quickly established himself as a quality everyday player.

On May 19, 2010, Pagán started a triple play from center field in the 5th inning against the Washington Nationals on a ball hit by Cristian Guzman. He hit an inside-the-park home run in the same game, the first in Nationals Park history. On June 22. 2010, Pagán fell one home run short of a cycle.

With the return of Carlos Beltran as the starting center fielder on July 15, 2010, Pagán became the starting right fielder for the Mets, replacing Jeff Francoeur. He finished the year batting .290, with 11 home runs and 69 RBI. He had 168 base hits in 579 at bats on the season. He hit 31 doubles, 7 triples and stole 37 bases. His first career hit by a pitch came on September 4, 2010, against the Chicago Cubs. All facets of Pagán's game improved in 2010, most notably his ability to make smart decisions while running the bases.

2011

With the uncertainty of Beltran's health as well as his range, the speedy Pagán was inserted into the starting center fielder position for the 2011 season. Beltran was moved over to right field by manager Terry Collins.

He was placed on the DL on April 21, 2011, due to a rib injury. On May 27, 2011, he came back from the DL as the club sent down Fernando Martínez and DFA'd Pat Misch and they brought up Dale Thayer. For the season, on defense he led all major league center fielders in errors, with 10, and had the lowest fielding percentage, at .968. On July 20, Pagán hit a 10th-inning walk-off home run off the railing of the second deck (named the Pepsi Porch in Citi Field) against closer Fernando Salas to help the Mets win 6-5 over the St. Louis Cardinals.

On December 7, 2011, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Andrés Torres and Ramón Ramírez.

San Francisco Giants

2012

On January 16, 2012, Pagán signed a one-year deal worth $4.85 million to avoid his final year of arbitration. He will earn an additional $50,000 for 550, 600 and 650 plate appearances. Therefore, he could earn $5 million if he reaches 650 plate appearances. Though the streak is still going, Angel Pagán holds the Giants record for home hitting streak, currently at 28. This breaks Mike Donlin's record of 26 consecutive home games with at least one hit from 1905-1906, back when the team was in New York. On September 15, 2012, Angel broke the San Francisco Giants record for the most triples in a season, with thirteen. He finished the regular season as the National League's leader in triples.

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)