Alex Escobar

{{Infobox baseball biography

|image=

|name=Alex Escobar

|position=Outfielder

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1978|9|6}}

|birth_place=Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=May 8

|debutyear=2001

|debutteam=New York Mets

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=August 25

|finalyear=2006

|finalteam=Washington Nationals

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.258

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=13

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=52

|teams=

New York Mets ({{mlby|2001}})
Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2003}}–{{mlby|2004}})
Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2006}})

}}

Alexander José Escobar [ess-COE-bar] (born September 6, 1978) is a Venezuelan former Major League Baseball outfielder.

Career

Escobar was signed by the Mets as a non-draft amateur free agent in {{By|1995}} and made his debut in {{By|2001}}. At the end of the season, he was traded to the Indians as part of an eight-player deal that sent Roberto Alomar to the Mets. Escobar missed the entire {{By|2002}} season after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Spring Training. In {{By|2003}}, he recovered from a slow start at Triple-A Buffalo Bisons and played 28 games, collecting 24 home runs and 78 runs batted in.

In the minors, Escobar was an All-Star in the 'AAA' International, 'AA' Eastern, and 'AA' South Atlantic leagues. He also was selected by Baseball America to join the 1998 All-Stars team.

Escobar was demoted by the Nationals during spring training after hitting just .103 (3-for-29) with two RBIs. He said he was not getting enough playing time in spring training. "I'm not swinging the bat. I have to work my way back," Escobar said. "I'm getting used to being on the field every day. It's a combination of everything." Baseball America rated him as a top prospect for three years.[http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2009/267356.html "New York Mets"], at baseballamerica.com