Irving Falú

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Irving Falú

|image=Irving Falu on May 25, 2012.jpg

|image_size=240

|caption=Falú with the Kansas City Royals in 2012

|position=Second baseman

|team=

|number=

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1983|6|6}}

|birth_place=Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

|bats=Switch

|throws=Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate= May 6

|debutyear= 2012

|debutteam= Kansas City Royals

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = July 12

|finalyear = 2014

|finalteam = San Diego Padres

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.277

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=0

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=8

|teams=

Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}})
Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2014}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2014}})

|medaltemplates=

{{Medal|Country | {{PUR}} }}

}}

Irving Falú (born June 6, 1983) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Diego Padres from 2012 to 2014.

Career

=Kansas City Royals=

After playing college baseball at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa, the Kansas City Royals selected Falú in the 21st round of the 2003 MLB draft. He was called up to the major league level for the first time on May 3, 2012.{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/royals-put-yuniesky-betancourt-on-dl-with-sprained-ankle-call-up-irving-falu-from-triple-a/2012/05/03/gIQA7JTjzT_story.html |title=Royals put Yuniesky Betancourt on DL with sprained ankle, call up Irving Falu from Triple-A – The Washington Post |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 3, 2012 |issn=0190-8286 |access-date=May 3, 2012}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He made his debut on May 6 against the New York Yankees at shortstop, and hit a triple in his first major league at-bat, as well as a base hit with his second at bat.{{cite news|title=Robinson Cano's grand slam keys Yanks' trouncing of Royals|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320506107|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508174605/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=320506107|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2012|access-date=June 29, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=May 6, 2012}} He was released by the Royals on November 25, 2013.{{cite news|last1=Kaegel|first1=Dick|title=Royals request release waivers for Falu|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/royals-request-release-waivers-for-irving-falu?ymd=20131125&content_id=64209880&vkey=news_mlb|access-date=June 29, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=November 25, 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Dutton|first1=Bob|title=Royals release Irving Falu, send Noel Arguelles to Omaha on outright assignment|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article332733/Royals-release-Irving-Falu-send-Noel-Arguelles-to-Omaha-on-outright-assignment.html|access-date=July 19, 2014|work=Kansas City Star|date=November 27, 2013|archive-date=June 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606224326/http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article332733/Royals-release-Irving-Falu-send-Noel-Arguelles-to-Omaha-on-outright-assignment.html|url-status=live}}

=Milwaukee Brewers=

Falú signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers on December 4, 2013.{{cite news|last1=Haudricourt|first1=Tom|title=Brewers sign minor-leaguers Irving Falu, Matt Pagnozzi|url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/234512651.html|access-date=June 29, 2014|publisher=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|date=December 4, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003914/http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/234512651.html|url-status=live}}

=San Diego Padres=

Falu was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres on June 26, 2014.{{cite news|title=Padres make room for Falu, option Peterson|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11150700|access-date=June 29, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=June 28, 2014}}

=Milwaukee Brewers (second stint)=

On July 17, 2014, Falu was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers.{{cite news|last1=Fordin|first1=Spencer|title=Infielder Falu rejoins Brewers' organization|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mil/infielder-irving-falu-rejoins-milwaukee-brewers-after-11-days?ymd=20140717&content_id=85010352&vkey=news_mil|access-date=July 19, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=July 17, 2014}}

=Cincinnati Reds=

File:Irving Falú, 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game.jpg]]

On December 3, 2014, Falú signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds, and was assigned to the Double–A Pensacola Blue Wahoos.{{cite web|title=Reds sign IF Irving Falu and RHP Jose De La Torre to minor league deals|url=http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/reds_sign_if_irving_falu_and_rhp_jose_de_la_torre_to_minor_league_deals/17833708|publisher=Yardbarker|access-date=3 December 2014}} He instead spent the 2015 campaign with the Triple–A Louisville Bats, hitting .270/.337/.350 with three home runs, 43 RBI, and 19 stolen bases across 121 games. Falú elected free agency on November 6, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=117|title=International League Transactions|page=November 2015|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=November 6, 2015|archive-date=October 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009052057/http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=117|url-status=dead}}

=Guerreros de Oaxaca=

On March 4, 2016, Falu signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican Baseball League.

=Kansas City Royals=

On June 5, 2016, Falú signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals organization. In 46 games for the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers, he batted .267/.297/.404 with four home runs and 27 RBI. Falú elected free agency following the season on November 7.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=July 22, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en|archive-date=September 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915010232/https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|url-status=live}}

=Washington Nationals=

On January 12, 2017, Falu signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.

Falu re–signed with Washington on a new minor league contract on October 31, 2017. He spent the entirety of the 2018 season with the Triple–A Syracuse Chiefs, playing in 108 games and hitting .276/.337/.360 with four home runs, 53 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. Falu elected free agency following the season on November 2, 2018.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|access-date=April 30, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en|archive-date=June 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624231938/https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|url-status=live}}

Personal life

Falú is the cousin of former Royals player and Boston Red Sox first base coach Luis Alicea.{{cite news|last1=Kaegel|first1=Dick|title=Royals place Betancourt on DL, promote Falu|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120503&content_id=30314126&vkey=news_kc&c_id=kc|access-date=June 29, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=May 3, 2012}}{{cite news|last1=Gruman|first1=Andrew|title=Brewers notebook: Minor-league signing Falu gets chance with Brewers|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/brewers-notebook-minor-league-signing-falu-gets-chance-with-brewers-052814|access-date=June 29, 2014|work=Fox Sports|date=May 28, 2014}}

His brother, Melvin Falú, was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 28th round of the 2002 MLB June Amateur Draft from Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas.{{cite news|title=Bears sign Abraham Ayala and Melvin Falu|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3118216|access-date=June 29, 2014|publisher=Our Sports Central|date=January 19, 2005}}