Yuniesky Betancourt
Born: 1/31/1982 in Santa Clara, Santa Clara, Cuba
MLB Debut: 2005-07-28 | Final Game: 2013-09-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 205 lbs
Biography
Yuniesky Betancourt was a professional baseball player born in 1982, whose career spanned from 2005 to 2013. An infielder known for his solid defensive skills and versatility, Betancourt played in a total of 1,156 games across his Major League Baseball tenure. He made his mark primarily as a shortstop, showcasing a combination of agility and arm strength that contributed to his teams' defensive efforts. Betancourt's offensive contributions included 1,057 hits, 80 home runs, and 457 runs batted in, culminating in a career batting average of .261. He also demonstrated speed on the bases, finishing his career with 30 stolen bases.
Betancourt first emerged in the MLB with the Seattle Mariners, where he quickly gained recognition for his athleticism and ability to perform in high-pressure situations. Over the years, he played for several teams, including the Kansas City Royals and the Milwaukee Brewers, adapting his playing style to meet the demands of each franchise. Throughout his career, Betancourt was part of a generation of players that bridged the gap between traditional baseball values and the evolving strategies of the modern game, making him a notable figure in the context of early 21st-century baseball. After retiring in 2013, Betancourt left behind a legacy as a reliable player who contributed both offensively and defensively to his teams.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1156 | 4052 | 437 | 1057 | 218 | 29 | 80 | 457 | 30 | 143 | 435 | 0.261 | 0.285 | 0.388 | 0.673 | -8808.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | SEA | AL | 60 | 211 | 24 | 54 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 11 | 24 | 0.256 | -483.8 |
| 2006 | SEA | AL | 157 | 558 | 68 | 161 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 47 | 11 | 17 | 54 | 0.289 | -966.6 |
| 2007 | SEA | AL | 155 | 536 | 72 | 155 | 38 | 2 | 9 | 67 | 5 | 15 | 48 | 0.289 | -674.7 |
| 2008 | SEA | AL | 153 | 559 | 66 | 156 | 36 | 3 | 7 | 51 | 4 | 17 | 42 | 0.279 | -1102.8 |
| 2009 | KCR | AL | 71 | 246 | 25 | 59 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 11 | 26 | 0.240 | -785.2 |
| 2009 | SEA | AL | 63 | 224 | 15 | 56 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 0.250 | -785.2 |
| 2010 | KCR | AL | 151 | 556 | 60 | 144 | 29 | 2 | 16 | 78 | 2 | 23 | 64 | 0.259 | -754.5 |
| 2011 | MIL | NL | 152 | 556 | 51 | 140 | 27 | 3 | 13 | 68 | 4 | 16 | 63 | 0.252 | -1331.1 |
| 2012 | KCR | AL | 57 | 215 | 21 | 49 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 36 | 0 | 9 | 25 | 0.228 | -460.5 |
| 2013 | MIL | NL | 137 | 391 | 35 | 83 | 15 | 1 | 13 | 46 | 0 | 14 | 71 | 0.212 | -1423.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 42 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0.310 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | NLDS2 | MIL | 5 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.278 |
| 2011 | NLCS | MIL | 6 | 24 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0.333 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 68 | 46 | 389 | 25 | 3 | 38 |
| 2B | 60 | 52 | 117 | 135 | 5 | 45 |
| 3B | 67 | 49 | 32 | 95 | 8 | 4 |
| OF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 952 | 934 | 1449 | 2584 | 127 | 585 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | SEA | 2B | 9 | 6 | 23 | 21 | 0 | 5 |
| 2005 | SEA | SS | 53 | 52 | 83 | 138 | 5 | 34 |
| 2006 | SEA | SS | 157 | 156 | 251 | 430 | 20 | 95 |
| 2007 | SEA | SS | 152 | 147 | 239 | 435 | 23 | 110 |
| 2008 | SEA | SS | 153 | 150 | 237 | 401 | 21 | 98 |
| 2009 | KCA | SS | 71 | 70 | 111 | 181 | 9 | 40 |
| 2009 | SEA | SS | 62 | 61 | 101 | 159 | 9 | 38 |
| 2010 | KCA | SS | 151 | 151 | 256 | 418 | 18 | 84 |
| 2011 | MIL | SS | 149 | 146 | 167 | 418 | 21 | 85 |
| 2012 | KCA | 2B | 46 | 43 | 89 | 107 | 5 | 40 |
| 2012 | KCA | 3B | 8 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 | KCA | SS | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | MIL | 1B | 68 | 46 | 389 | 25 | 3 | 38 |
| 2013 | MIL | 2B | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | MIL | 3B | 59 | 43 | 29 | 84 | 8 | 3 |
| 2013 | MIL | SS | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | MIL | OF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 68 |
| Second Base | 60 |
| Third Base | 67 |
| Shortstop | 952 |
| Left Field | 2 |
| Designated Hitter | 1 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | MIL | NL | $900,000 |
| 2012 | KCA | AL | $2,000,000 |
| 2011 | MIL | NL | $4,300,000 |
| 2010 | KCA | AL | $3,300,000 |
| 2009 | SEA | AL | $2,300,000 |
| 2008 | SEA | AL | $1,550,000 |
| 2007 | SEA | AL | $727,500 |
| 2006 | SEA | AL | $677,500 |
| Total Career Earnings | $15,755,000 | ||