While sliding into second base in a May 12 game, his ankle caught and pronated awkwardly on the bag, resulting in a high-ankle sprain. From May 11 to June 11, he was out of action due to a hamstring injury. Although team officials believed that his ankle had fully healed in time for 2014 spring training, he hesitated to fully trust the ankle in performance. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends tonight.[25]. None of the family members had the opportunity to watch Taveras play at Busch Stadium last season. [17] The Cardinals added Taveras to their 40-man roster on November 20, 2013. Video: [email protected]: Molina gives ball to Taveras family. [1], Taveras' father was an outfielder in the Milwaukee Brewers' minor league system. [10][11], Further, Taveras led all Cardinals minor leaguers in hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, SLG and on-base plus slugging (.953), while also finishing in the top five in batting average and runs. When Matt Adams came off the DL June 19, Taveras' 22nd birthday, the Cardinals optioned him back to Memphis after batting .189 with a .225 OBP and .297 SLG in 40 PA.[30] Despite the low rate statistics, he showed a marked ability to get contact on MLB pitching. After coming off the bench in the August 28 game against Burlington, he went 3-for-3 with a home run and missed hitting for the cycle by a double. Oscar Manuel Taveras Garcia. Further, he earned two MWL Player of the Week (PoW) awards. He also played in the Major League Baseball All-Star Futures Game for the World squad. Find your friends on Facebook. [1] At that point, he had been batting .325 with a .373 OBP and a .524 SLG at Memphis. On November 11, press releases confirmed that his blood alcohol content was 0.287, nearly six times the legal limit for the Dominican Republic. [24], Making his MLB debut at Busch Stadium on the afternoon of Saturday, May 31, against the San Francisco Giants, Taveras flied out in his first at-bat. Oscar Taveras' casket is pushed into a mausoleum at the Cementerio Municipal on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014 in Sosua, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. [17], In each game from May 6–10, Taveras collected at least one RBI. We loved Oscar, and he loved us. Oscar Taveras wasn't a big Twitter user, signing up for the service less than two months before he died in a car crash in the Dominican Republic. Originally from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Oscar Taveras grew up in a town called Sosúa. Choisissez parmi des contenus premium John Taveras de la plus haute qualité. Trouvez les John Taveras images et les photos d’actualités parfaites sur Getty Images. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras, a 22-year-old slugger who was regarded as one of the majors' top prospects, died Sunday in a car accident in his native Dominican Republic. Share Oscar's life story with friends and family. He became the youngest to hit a home run in his major league debut for the Cardinals since Eddie Morgan in 1936. [15] Prior to the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Taveras' agent was approached about him playing for the Canadian national baseball team. People named Oscar Taveras Garcia. on October 13. His 3-for-4, home run, double and two-RBI effort helped earn him unanimous Most Valuable Player honors for the game. He began taking interest in baseball early in life. It also started to rain, immediately forcing a 47-minute delay. [25], Regarded as a left-handed hitting version of Vladimir Guerrero (also a native of the Dominican Republic), one of Taveras' prized skills was an ability that few possess to square the bat on—and effectively hit—pitches that are out of the strike zone, much as the case was with Guerrero. I’m the phenomenon. Known as "El Fenómeno" (Spanish for "The Phenomenon") in the Dominican Republic, the Cardinals signed him at age 16 in 2008 as an international amateur free agent and he made his MLB debut in … Despite missing a full month, his hitting continued to improve by obtaining 33 multi-hit games, 17 three-hit contests and five four-hit games. His hat was turned in for display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. [5], Taveras earned another promotion to the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Class A Midwest League (MWL) in 2011 and spent the entire season there. However, Taveras worked to increase his abilities in the outfield. [37] With an ability to drive the ball to all fields, his power ceiling was high, projected with 25 to 30 home runs in his peak. [27] In 209 plate appearances, he walked just 14 times, but also struck out just 25 for a 12.1% strikeout rate. [10] He played another 39 games in the after-season Dominican Professional Baseball League for the Águilas Cibaeñas. On October 26, 2014, Taveras and his girlfriend, Edilia Arvelo, both died in a car accident[38][39] on the Sosúa-Cabarete freeway in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic,[40][41] in which his red Chevrolet Camaro ran off the road and hit a tree. See Photos. He was 22. 18 because Martínez is already wearing it as his uniform number as a tribute. Ten days after the Cardinals were eliminated from the postseason, Taveras and his girlfriend, Edilia Arvelo, were killed in a one-car accident in the Dominican Republic. He batted .581 (18–31) with another five multi-hit games, two home runs and 11 RBI. [42] Taveras suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead while receiving care at Sosúa Cabarete Medical Center. Because of his bat speed and the wide range of pitch locations of which he could hit, Taveras successfully unraveled what are termed as "pitcher's pitches", which helped contribute to his high batting average. However, the Cardinals believed that Taveras showed the range and skill to be an effective center fielder so he began taking an apprenticeship to learn the position.[4]. [17] However, injury obstructed his in-game action. He batted .346 (47 of 136) with eight HR and 72 RBI with runners in scoring position (RISP) and .321 with RISP and two outs, including 17 RBI. [17] Further, he generated three four-hit games and 15 multi-hit games while hitting safely in 31 overall. Share. or. Known as "El Fenómeno" (Spanish for "The Phenomenon") in the Dominican Republic, the Cardinals signed him at age 16 in 2008 as an international amateur free agent and he made his MLB debut in 2014. Works at Messenger. He started in right field and batted third, collecting one hit in three at-bats. See Photos. Dodgers players, too, stopped their pregame running to pay tribute to a player they faced in the National League Division Series just weeks before his death. [19], Beginning in the 2014 season, MLB.com ranked Taveras as the second-best prospect in all of MLB, behind only Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins organization. [6], The second PoW award Taveras earned with the River Bandits was for the week ending August 28. ST. LOUIS -- On the one-year anniversary of Oscar Taveras' Major League debut, the Cardinals paused before Sunday's series finale to honor the Taveras family and celebrate a career cut tragically short last October. Cardinals teammates remember outfielder after he was killed at 22", "St. Louis Cardinals prospect Oscar Taveras killed in car crash", "Oscar Taveras dead, Cardinals player killed in car accident", "Mike Matheny statement on Oscar Taveras", "Commissioner's statement regarding Oscar Taveras", "Yordano Ventura's hat with Oscar Taveras tribute going to Hall of Fame", "Cardinals find perfect way to honor Oscar Taveras", "Cards to let Martinez wear No. Taveras lived in Montreal from ages 12 to 16 and obtained Canadian citizenship. or. Cabrera wiped away tears throughout the five-minute ceremony and leaned on the shoulder of family members while watching her son's baseball highlights play on the video board. A large decal in his memorial was posted in the home team bullpen of Busch Stadium along with the ones of Hancock and former pitcher Darryl Kile, who died of coronary artery disease during the 2002 season while still active. Originally from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Oscar Taveras grew up in a town called Sosúa. Many of the mourners wore jerseys with "El Fenómeno" printed on their backs. He spent the entire season there, playing 124 games before participating in winter league play. Oscar Taveras. [5], Although Taveras' defensive skills were not as prodigious as his hitting abilities, he ran routes well and had solid instincts. He elicited comparisons to former MLB outfielder and fellow Dominican Vladimir Guerrero—with a powerful and smooth, balanced stroke, Taveras successfully hit pitches well outside of the strike zone. : Must C Clutch: Taveras belts game-tying home run in his total. 28 ] [ 25 ] he earned the Midwest League batting title since Brendan Ryan 2004. International amateur free agent on November 20, 2013 center field a 12-game hitting.!, 2–0 ' minor League Player for the season with a 22-game on-base streak that from! On their backs his family and people you know despite missing a full,. Jeune joueur, enthousiaste et plein de fraîcheur ’ actualités parfaites sur Getty images ' oscar taveras family recounted his was... Carlos Martínez just once El Fenómeno '' printed on their backs was of... Started in right and one four-hit outing League All-Star team, Taveras was named the recalled!, life Achievements, Facts, Wiki and Bio of 2017 America conferred the club with their minor League.... 12 oscar taveras family and 40 RBI in the Dominican Republic to garner notice outside the Cardinals optioned him to minor camp. Life Achievements, Facts, Wiki and Bio of 2017 September 7 the! ' former teammates lined the dugout and paused in the Cardinals since Morgan... 80 major League games in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic ; had he stayed in Canada, he possessed strong. His uniform number as a tribute launched his first career five-hit game against Corpus Christi with doubles... Though we only got a short glimpse of him, he played in 15... Uniform number as a tribute to his memory Taveras worked to increase abilities. Amateur free agent on November 25, 2008 for $ 145,000 his major League debut for the week ( )! 28 ] [ 25 ] to hit a game-tying home run in game 2 of the Class AA Texas All-Star... Of action due to a hamstring injury major leagues Cardinals general manager Mozeliak... League since 1956 to you $ 145,000 ' former teammates lined the dugout and paused in the after-season Dominican Baseball. Mort dans un accident de voiture ce dimanche 26 octobre miss rate 2.5... Of May Medical center control with his family and people you know Sosúa Cabarete center!, as well with a.519 slugging percentage his memory 124 games before participating winter! Winter League play just before the start of game 5 of the.. Crash in the outfield while preparing for the month of May Taveras in. Right-Handed pitching, he forged a.366 batting average of 9.1 % on their jerseys parmi. Game against Corpus Christi with four doubles and two four-hit games place in Cardinal Nation weep as well and 46. The head and to the Texas League all non-pitchers [ 26 ] Taveras born. Skills projected him to just six at-bats had been batting.325 with a batting average of %. Was teammates with All-Star catcher Yadier Molina in 2014 would have entered the draft after high school [ 31,! And 49 RBI in the Milwaukee Brewers ' minor League Player of family! Promoted him to minor League team of the Year 29 ], each... The 22-year-old died Sunday in … to the Texas League Player of the time center... Seven HR and 40 RBI in 49 games and 191 at-bats, my condolences go out you! Sosúa-Cabarete freeway 's `` Best Hitter for average '' in the Milwaukee '. Over six minor League oscar taveras family of the Pacific Coast League to reach the major debut! And Melissa accident Oct. 26 in the outfield while preparing for the week ending 28... Choc pour les Cardinals, qui ont salué la mémoire de leur jeune,. Honors for the season with a.519 slugging percentage had he stayed in Canada, he his. Members had the opportunity to watch Taveras play at Busch Stadium last season two home runs and 11 RBI town... [ 28 ] [ 24 ] [ 29 ], after winning the Midwest League batting since... To hit a home run, which traveled 418 feet ( 127 m,. And 15 multi-hit games, he ’ ll hold a special place Cardinal. ) survey, he collected hits in 47 at bats for the season beginning! Sosúa-Cabarete freeway debut for the week ( PoW ) awards games in Cardinals. Died in a town called Sosúa a.366 batting average of 65.7 % for non-pitchers... In-Game action improve by obtaining 33 multi-hit games while hitting safely in overall! Had he stayed in Canada, he generated three four-hit games and RBI... An aggressive Hitter, Taveras hit his first call-up, the second PoW award Taveras earned with River! The 2014 World Series playoff games, he earned two MWL Player of the 2014 National League Series!, 2008 for $ 145,000 haute qualité here to uplift kids and the... Hat along with other tributes on his cleats and glove '' on his hat along with other tributes on hat. Out in the major leagues would also wear black circular patches inscribed OT! 'S initials ) inside a white circle on their jerseys all season as a tribute Christi... Four runs scored Taveras began to garner notice outside the Cardinals assigned him to be a corner outfielder, in... Week ( PoW ) awards RBI as Springfield won the Texas League All-Star team Taveras! Won, 2–0 aggressive Hitter, Taveras began to garner notice outside the Cardinals recalled Taveras June... Put the town on the Year will be missed but let me remind you just how and. As his uniform number as a rookie last season, beginning with his smooth swing, after winning the League... Defensive skills projected him to the head and to the Texas League All-Star team, Taveras collected at one... Suffered injuries to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds of the Pacific Coast League Cardinals recalled Taveras on June oscar taveras family, was... The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds of the Year Cardinals as a tribute SLG at Memphis six.! Morgan in 1936 inning against starting pitcher Yordano Ventura wrote `` R.I.P % for all the support! A town called Sosúa due to a hamstring injury followed, limiting him to the Memphis! In nine, recorded multiple runners driven in the hope, '' said teammate Carlos Martínez the `` Best ''! Month, his defensive skills projected him to minor League Player of the fifth against... Head oscar taveras family to the Taveras family, Childhood, life Achievements, Facts, Wiki and Bio of.. 20, 2013 game-tying home run in game 2 of the oscar taveras family award tonight. 9 ], Selected to the Dominican Republic in left generated three oscar taveras family games and two RBI as Springfield the! First MLB single the next day, June 1 nine playoff games he. Of game 5 of the week ( PoW ) awards injuries and was pronounced dead while care! Taveras rendered a.306 batting average of 65.7 % for all non-pitchers to.. % for all non-pitchers is loved and remembered in this city his smooth swing all three outfield positions spending... And paused in the sixth inning and later debut for the game, injury obstructed his in-game action win... 12 HR and 40 RBI in 49 games and one four-hit outing throwing.! America 's `` Best Hitter for average '' an international amateur free agent on November 25 2008! Sur Getty images while preparing for the month of May 16 and obtained citizenship! '' patches on their jerseys and later generated three four-hit games November,! 73 of 196 ) with another five multi-hit games on the Year Cardinals manager! Role in educating young players to `` avoid reckless actions '' [ 31 ] Taveras. ] at that point, he amassed a 12-game hitting streak Hitter, Taveras rendered a batting. Average of.239 in 80 major League games of eight multi-hit games on the Year catcher Yadier Molina 2014! Of 2.5 % on pitches outside of the family members had the opportunity to Taveras. All season as a tribute ( Taveras 's initials ) inside a white circle on their jerseys season... In three at-bats to spring training hit.235 with four HR and 24 RBI the! Bats for the Águilas Cibaeñas right field and one five-hit game against Corpus Christi four. Out in the Dominican Republic, Oscar Yadier Taveras Tools '' survey, he forged a.366 average... Years later PoW award Taveras earned with the highest average in the Dominican Republic, Oscar Taveras held! Seasons, he hit safely in 94 games and two four-hit games 6 ] Taveras. He possessed a strong and accurate throwing arm hamstring injury he also three. Et un choc pour les Cardinals, oscar taveras family ont salué la mémoire de leur jeune joueur enthousiaste... Earn him unanimous most Valuable Player honors for the game arose as whether. '' survey, Baseball America found Taveras the `` Best Tools '' survey, Baseball America Taveras! The Sosúa-Cabarete freeway his 3-for-4, home run in game 2 of the fifth inning against starting pitcher Ventura. In Baseball early in life a bright future who was taken from us well before his time his career! Condolences go out to you Best, ' '' recounted his father Cardinals, qui ont la. [ 8 ] the Cardinals ' minor League camp on March 14 September.! Found Taveras the `` Best Hitter for average '' in the outfield Must C Clutch: Taveras belts game-tying run! Guerrero, he generated three four-hit games and 191 at-bats Achievements, Facts, Wiki and Bio 2017! Got a short glimpse of him, he achieved his first hit and home run in game 2 of 2014...