Héctor Olivera (baseball)

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Héctor Olivera

| image = Héctor Olivera on March 19, 2016.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Olivera with the Atlanta Braves

| team =

| number =

| position = Third baseman / Outfielder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|4|5}}

| birth_place = Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 1

| debutyear = 2015

| debutteam = Atlanta Braves

|finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = April 11

| finalyear = 2016

| finalteam = Atlanta Braves

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .245

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 2

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 13

| teams =

Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2016}})

| medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry|{{CUB}}}}

}}

Héctor Olivera Amaro (born April 5, 1985) is a Cuban former professional baseball left fielder. He was part of the Cuban team that won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/summer08/baseball/recap?gameId=836|title=South Korea beats Cuba, finishes Olympic tourney unbeaten|date=August 23, 2008|publisher=ESPN|access-date=July 23, 2010}} He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves.

Career

=Cuban career=

File:Héctor Olivera 2010.jpg in 2010 World University Baseball Championship]]

Olivera played for the Santiago de Cuba team in the Cuban National Series from 2003 through 2014 and hit .323 with 96 home runs and 433 runs batted in for them.{{cite news|last1=O'Brien|first1=David|title=Hart says Olivera 'first building block' of retooled Braves offense|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-would-get-sought-after-cuban-but-give-up-pl/nm9Gh/|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=July 31, 2015}} He missed the entire 2012–13 season due to a blood disorder, which also limited him defensively during the 2013–14 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/hector-olivera-showcase-report/|title=Hector Olivera Showcase Report|first=Ben|last=Badler|work=Baseball America|date=January 26, 2015|access-date=March 24, 2015}}

In addition, he played for the Cuba national baseball team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2007 and 2009 Baseball World Cups, the 2010 Intercontinental Cup, the 2011 Pan American Games and the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

=Defection from Cuba=

Olivera defected from Cuba in September 2014 to pursue a career in Major League Baseball,[http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/hector-olivera-leaves-cuba/ Hector Olivera Leaves Cuba]{{Cite web |url=http://cafefuerte.com/deportes/18080-escapa-de-cuba-el-estelar-pelotero-hector-olivera/ |title=Escapa de Cuba el estelar pelotero Héctor Olivera |access-date=September 24, 2014 |archive-date=September 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926125258/http://cafefuerte.com/deportes/18080-escapa-de-cuba-el-estelar-pelotero-hector-olivera |url-status=dead }} establishing his residence in Haiti. His potential drew many scouts to his showcase in the Dominican Republic, where he was said to be in good physical condition with a quick bat and above-average power.

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

On March 24, 2015, he agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers for six years and $62.5 million, including a $28 million signing bonus.{{cite web|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/114627400/dodgers-agree-to-deal-with-cuban-infielder-hector-olivera|title=Dodgers land Cuban second baseman Olivera for six years|work=MLB.com|first=Jesse|last=Sanchez|date=March 24, 2015|access-date=March 24, 2015|archive-date=March 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326020955/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/114627400/dodgers-agree-to-deal-with-cuban-infielder-hector-olivera|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Hector Olivera signs for $62.5M|url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/12551752/los-angeles-dodgers-sign-cuban-infielder-hector-olivera-six-year-625-million-deal|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=ESPN.com|date=March 25, 2015}} His contract also reportedly included a clause that would allow the Dodgers to add on a seventh year for $1 million if Olivera required Tommy John surgery.{{cite news|last1=Shaikin|first1=Bill|title=Dodgers' Hector Olivera hasn't made it to U.S. yet|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-dodgers-hector-olivera-cuba-20150402-story.html|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 2, 2015}} This clause was the result of several MRIs that showed Olivera had a minor UCL tear.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/los-angeles-dodgers-hector-olivera-ucl-tear-elbow-injury-cuban-infielder-contract-032515|title=Report: Olivera has slightly torn UCL -- and team-friendly 7th year|work=Fox Sports|date=March 25, 2015|first=Brandon|last=Wise|access-date=March 25, 2015}}

Olivera worked out at the Dodgers training facility in the Dominican Republic while waiting for his visa to travel to the United States to be approved, which finally happened on May 11, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/olivera-661328-dodgers-travel.html|title=Dodgers' Hector Olivera and Pablo Fernandez cleared to travel to U.S.|work=OC Register|first=Bill|last=Plunkett|date=May 11, 2015|access-date=May 11, 2015}} He passed his physical on May 19 and officially signed his contract.{{cite news|last1=Plunkett|first1=Bill|title=Dodgers finalize $62.5M deal with Hector Olivera, plan to fast-track him|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ryu-662406-season-dodgers.html|access-date=March 5, 2015|work=OC Register|date=May 19, 2015}} The physical also revealed that, contrary to previous reports, he did not need elbow surgery.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsworldnews.com/articles/39376/20150519/los-angeles-dodgers-rumors-hector-olivera-gets-an-answer-on-tommy-john-surgery.htm|title=Los Angeles Dodgers Rumors: Hector Olivera Gets An Answer On Tommy John Surgery|work=Sports World News|first=Raimundo|last=Ortiz|date=May 19, 2015|access-date=May 19, 2015}} The team announced that Olivera would spend several weeks at their spring training facility in Arizona before joining a minor league team.{{cite news|last1=Hernandez|first1=Dylan|title=Dodgers sign Cuban infielder Hector Olivera|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-olivera-20150520-story.html|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 19, 2015}} On June 3, he was assigned to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League to begin his professional baseball career.{{cite web|url=http://www.insidesocal.com/dodgers/2015/06/03/hector-olivera-will-make-his-long-awaited-debut-thursday-at-double-a-tulsa/|title=Hector Olivera will make his long-awaited debut Thursday at Double-A Tulsa.|first=J.P.|last=Hoornstra|work=Los Angeles Daily News|date=June 3, 2015|access-date=June 3, 2015}} He made his debut with the Drillers the next day and had one hit in four at-bats with two walks in a game against the Midland RockHounds. This was his first game action since the 2013-14 Cuban season and manager Razor Shines said, "For a guy that hasn't played in that long, his at-bats were really good."{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-128715862|title=Olivera debuts with single, two walks|publisher=Minor League Baseball|first=Jake|last=Seiner|date=June 5, 2015|access-date=June 5, 2015}} In six games for the Drillers, Olivera batted .318 and hit a grand slam.{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Josh|title=Olivera has grand ole time for Drillers|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-129647920|access-date=March 5, 2016|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=June 10, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Plunkett|first1=Bill|title=Olivera update|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/greinke-666345-dodgers-baseball.html|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=OC Register|date=June 12, 2015}} He was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers on June 12.{{cite news|last1=Dilbeck|first1=Steve|title=Dodgers designate Darwin Barney, promote Hector Olivera to triple-A|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/dodgersnow/la-sp-dn-dodgers-barney-olivera-20150612-story.html|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 12, 2015}} His advancement was hampered by a hamstring injury on June 20.{{cite web|url=http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/137075138/hector-olivera-working-way-back-to-triple-a|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721084924/http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/137075138/hector-olivera-working-way-back-to-triple-a|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2015|title=Dodgers won't rush Olivera back to Triple-A|work=mlb.com|first=Andrew|last=Simon|date=July 17, 2015|access-date=July 18, 2015}}

=Atlanta Braves=

On July 30, 2015, in a three-team trade, the Atlanta Braves acquired Olivera, Paco Rodriguez, minor-league pitcher Zachary Bird and a competitive balance draft pick for the 2016 MLB Draft, while the Dodgers acquired Mat Latos, Michael Morse, Bronson Arroyo, Alex Wood, Jim Johnson, Luis Avilán and José Peraza, and the Miami Marlins acquired minor-league pitchers Victor Araujo, Jeff Brigham and Kevin Guzman.{{cite web|url=http://www.sgvtribune.com/sports/20150730/dodgers-get-pitchers-mat-latos-alex-wood-in-three-team-deadline-deal|title=Dodgers get pitchers Mat Latos, Alex Wood in three-team deadline deal|work=San Gabriel Valley Tribune|first=J.P.|last=Hoornstra|date=July 30, 2015|access-date=July 30, 2015}} He was called up to the majors for the first time on September 1, 2015.{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=Patience needed as Olivera tries to maximize potential|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/146695962/braves-3b-hector-olivera-makes-mlb-debut|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904222658/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/146695962/braves-3b-hector-olivera-makes-mlb-debut|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 4, 2015|access-date=September 8, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=September 2, 2015}} Six days later, Olivera hit his first major league home run in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies.{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|last2=Zolecki|first2=Todd|title=Perez, Braves find win column vs. Phillies|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/147961034/braves-beat-phillies-snap-12-game-losing-skid|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908203242/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/147961034/braves-beat-phillies-snap-12-game-losing-skid|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2015|access-date=September 8, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=September 7, 2015}} In the off-season, Olivera played in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente based in Puerto Rico, where he began a transition to left field. The Braves continued starting Olivera in left field during spring training.{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=Braves looking to get Olivera accustomed to left field|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/166229380/hector-olivera-getting-comfortable-in-lf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306111117/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/166229380/hector-olivera-getting-comfortable-in-lf|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 6, 2016|access-date=March 5, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=March 4, 2016}}

On April 13, 2016, Olivera was arrested outside Washington, D.C., after a domestic dispute. Although convicted of misdemeanor assault and battery and sentenced to a 90-day prison term, he was released after serving 10 days. He was subsequently placed on the MLB restricted list, and in his absence, the Braves recalled Daniel Castro from Triple-A Gwinnett as an infielder replacement.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/braves/news/braves-daniel-castro-could-start-at-shortstop/c-172101948|title=Braves' Hector Olivera arrested for assault, placed on leave by MLB|last1=Perez|first1=AJ|publisher=USA Today|access-date=April 13, 2016}}

On May 26, 2016, Olivera was ultimately suspended for 82 games without pay for violating MLB's off-the-field personal conduct policy that consists of domestic violence and other known violations, meaning that Olivera would not be eligible to play until August 1. The suspension applied retroactively on April 30, and Olivera decided not to appeal it.{{cite news|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/180418032/braves-hector-olivera-suspended-for-82-games|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528133830/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/180418032/braves-hector-olivera-suspended-for-82-games|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2016|title=Braves' Olivera suspended through Aug. 1|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|date=May 26, 2016|access-date=May 27, 2016|work=MLB.com}}

=San Diego Padres=

On July 30, 2016, the Braves traded Olivera to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Matt Kemp and cash considerations.{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Dennis|title=Padres trade Kemp to Braves for Olivera|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/jul/30/padres-braves-nearing-kemp-olivera-trade/|access-date=August 24, 2016|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=July 30, 2016|archive-date=July 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731160339/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/jul/30/padres-braves-nearing-kemp-olivera-trade/|url-status=dead}} Upon the completion of his MLB suspension, the Padres designated Olivera for assignment on August 2.{{cite news|last1=Sanders|first1=Jeff|title=Pregame: Olivera designated for assignment|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/aug/02/padres-dfa-hector-olivera/|access-date=August 24, 2016|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=August 2, 2016|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817133932/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/aug/02/padres-dfa-hector-olivera/|url-status=dead}} On August 9, 2016, Olivera was released.{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Dennis|title=Padres request release waivers on Hector Olivera|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/aug/10/padres-request-release-waivers-hector-olivera/|access-date=August 24, 2016|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=August 10, 2016|archive-date=August 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828190344/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/aug/10/padres-request-release-waivers-hector-olivera/|url-status=dead}}

=Sugar Land Skeeters=

On May 30, 2017, Olivera signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|url=http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2017/05/30/hector-olivera-signs-with-an-independent-league-team/|title = Hector Olivera signs with an independent league team|date = May 30, 2017}} On November 1, 2017, he became a free agent and retired from professional baseball at age 32.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=oliver000hec|title=Hector Olivera Cuban, Winter, Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics & History|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-01}} In 45 games he hit .289/.322/.376 with 2 home runs and 15 RBIs.