Mario Encarnación

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Mario Encarnación

|position=Outfielder

|image=

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1975|9|24|mf=y}}

|birth_place=Baní, Dominican Republic

|death_date={{death date and age|2005|10|3|1975|9|24}}

|death_place=Tamsui, Taiwan

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=August 26

|debutyear=2001

|debutteam=Colorado Rockies

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=April 14

|finalyear=2002

|finalteam=Chicago Cubs

|debut2league = CPBL

|debut2date=April 16

|debut2year=2005

|debut2team=Macoto Cobras

|final2league = CPBL

|final2date=September 30

|final2year=2005

|final2team=Macoto Cobras

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.203

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=0

|stat3label=Hits

|stat3value=14

|stat2league = KBO

|stat21label=Batting average

|stat21value=.283

|stat22label=Home runs

|stat22value=13

|stat23label=Runs batted in

|stat23value=46

|stat3league = CPBL

|stat31label=Batting average

|stat31value=.307

|stat32label=Home runs

|stat32value=17

|stat33label=Runs batted in

|stat33value=45

|teams=

Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2001}})
Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2002}})
Lotte Giants ({{by|2003}}–{{by|2004}})
Macoto Cobras ({{by|2005}})

|highlights=

CPBL All-Star (2005)

}}

Mario González Encarnación (September 24, 1975 – October 3, 2005) was a Dominican baseball outfielder. He played for the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs for a brief duration—23 games in {{By|2001}} and {{By|2002}}.

Early life

Encarnación grew up in Baní where he was friends with Miguel Tejada.{{cite book |last1=Bretón |first1=Marcos |last2=Villegas |first2=José Luis |title=Away Games: The Life and Times of a Latin Baseball Player |date=2000 |publisher=UNM Press |isbn=978-0-8263-2232-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P8EuDTw_80cC |access-date=7 August 2021 |language=en}} Encarnación dropped out of school at 15 years old to focus on baseball.{{rp|114}} In 1994, he signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics at the purported age of 16.{{cite news |last1=Knapp |first1=Gwen |title=Encarnacion impresses Howe |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Encarnacion-impresses-Howe-3329495.php |access-date=7 August 2021 |work=SF Gate |date=3 March 1999}} Before traveling to the United States to play in Oakland's farm system, Encarnación borrowed and read psychology textbooks so that he could learn "how to talk to gringos". He also bought his mother her first telephone.{{rp|167}}

Professional career

=Minor League Baseball=

Encarnación was assigned to the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Midwest League to begin his professional career in 1996.{{cite web |title=Mario Encarnacion Minor, Korean, Mexican & CPBL Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=encarn001mar |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=7 August 2021 |language=en}} In 1999, he won the Triple-A World Series with the Vancouver Canadians.{{cite magazine |last1=Pearlman |first1=Jeff |title=Something Old, Something New At the Triple A series, Vancouver's youth was too much for Charlotte's veterans |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1999/10/04/something-old-something-new-at-the-triple-a-series-vancouvers-youth-was-too-much-for-charlottes-veterans |access-date=8 August 2021 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=October 4, 1999 |language=en-us}} By that December, he was described in the Los Angeles Times as Oakland's "best position-player prospect."{{cite news |last1=Digiovanna |first1=Mike |title=Edmonds Remains an Angel for Now |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-dec-17-sp-44958-story.html |access-date=7 August 2021 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=17 December 1999}} He was so highly regarded by the Athletics that they declined a trade for All-Star outfielder Jim Edmonds in December 1999 reportedly because it would have required them to part with Encarnación.{{cite news |last1=Schulman |first1=Henry |title=A's Still Dickering for Edmonds |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/BASEBALL-NOTES-A-s-Still-Dickering-for-Edmonds-2890339.php |access-date=7 August 2021 |work=SF Gate |date=15 December 1999}} Prior to the 2000 season, Baseball America ranked him the 90th-best prospect in baseball and the best position player prospect in the Oakland system.{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=J. J. |title=1983-2000 Top 10 Prospects Rankings Archive |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/1983-2000-top-10-prospects-rankings-archive/ |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=Baseball America |date=January 22, 2019}} Shortly before the trade deadline in 2001, the Athletics traded Encarnación to the Colorado Rockies in a three-team deal that netted them Jermaine Dye from the Kansas City Royals.{{cite news |last1=Mossman |first1=John |title=BASEBALL TRADE: A's deal for Dye in 3-team shuffle |url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2001/07-26/0037_baseball_trade__a_s_deal_for_dye_.html |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=Kitsap Sun |agency=Associated Press |date=July 26, 2001}}

=Major League Baseball=

On August 26, 2001, the Rockies added Encarnación to their Major League roster for the first time following an injury to outfielder Mark Little.{{cite news |title=Transactions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/27/sports/transactions-891789.html |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=27 August 2001}} He made his debut that afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.{{cite web |title=Mario Encarnacion Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/encarma01.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=8 August 2021 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Colorado Rockies at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, August 26, 2001 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL200108260.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=8 August 2021 |language=en}} Though hitless in his debut, he walked in his first plate appearance against Rubén Quevedo and later walked and stole a base against Chad Fox and Henry Blanco. He would be a regular in Colorado's outfield for the remainder of the season alongside Juan Pierre and future Baseball Hall of Famer Larry Walker.{{cite web |title=2001 Colorado Rockies Lineups and Defense |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/COL/2001-lineups.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=8 August 2021 |language=en}}

Encarnación entered spring training with the Rockies in 2002. During camp, amidst increased scrutiny from the Immigration and Naturalization Service following the September 11 attacks, it was discovered that Encarnación was actually two years older than he had represented. His listed age increased from 24 to 26 years old.{{cite news |authorlink=Jayson Stark |last1=Stark |first1=Jayson |title=Age issues brought on by Sept. 11 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/stark_jayson/1339359.html |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |date=February 23, 2002}}

On April 4, 2002, the Chicago Cubs claimed Encarnación off waivers from the Rockies and designated Julio Zuleta for assignment.{{cite news |title=SPORTS TRANSACTIONS FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 4 |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/2002/04/04/SPORTS-TRANSACTIONS-FOR-THURSDAY-APRIL-4/7401017896400/ |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=United Press International |date=April 4, 2002 |language=en}} The following day, they added him to their active roster when outfielder Moisés Alou was placed on the disabled list.{{cite news |title=Alou on disabled list |url=https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2002/04/05/Alou-on-disabled-list/80111018037715/ |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=United Press International |date=April 5, 2002 |language=en}} He would appear in only three games for the Cubs before, on April 15, Alou returned from the disabled list and Encarnación was designated for assignment.{{cite web |title=Mario Encarnacion 2002 Batting Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=encarma01&t=b&year=2002 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=8 August 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Kahrl |first1=Christina |title=Transaction Analysis: April 14-15, 2002 |url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/16580/transaction-analysis-april-14-15-2002/ |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=Baseball Prospectus |date=17 April 2002}} He would not return to the Major Leagues again in his career. He spent the remainder of the season in Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs.

In January 2003, Encarnación signed with the Montreal Expos.{{cite news |last1=Sun |first1=Baltimore |title=Transactions |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2003-01-24-0301240033-story.html |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=Baltimore Sun |date=January 24, 2003}} In May 2003, the St. Louis Cardinals traded a player to be named later to the Montreal Expos for Encarnación and assigned him to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.{{cite web |title=St. Louis Cardinals Transactions |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/?c_id=stl&year=2003&month=5 |website=MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=8 August 2021 |language=en}} They released him later that month.

=KBO League=

Encarnación finished the 2003 season with the Lotte Giants of the KBO League, beginning a career in Asian professional baseball. He was paired in the outfield with Venezuelan player Robert Perez under KBO rules which only allowed two foreign players per team to play at any one time.{{cite news |authorlink=Jaffe Wins Above Replacement Score |last1=Jaffe |first1=Jay |title=Tyler White Heads to South Korea, Where He'll Buck a Trend |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/tyler-white-heads-to-south-korea-where-hell-buck-a-trend/ |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=FanGraphs |date=July 17, 2020}} Although the Giants would win 39 games and lose 91, he would lead them in both home runs and runs batted in.{{cite web |title=2003 Lotte Giants Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=571ddf23#all_team_batting |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=8 August 2021 |language=en}} Encarnación returned to the Giants in 2004, albeit for only four games.

=Chinese Professional Baseball League=

Encarnación traveled to Taiwan to play for the Macoto Cobras of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in the 2005 season. He was a CPBL All-Star and helped lead the team to a first half title.{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Paul |title=All-Stars dazzle Kaohsiung |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2005/07/25/2003265057 |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=Taipei Times |date=25 July 2005}}{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Paul |title=Cobras take 1st-half crown |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2005/07/23/2003264750 |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=Taipei Times |date=23 July 2005}}

Death

On October 3, he was found dead in his team dormitory room by a team employee after he missed a practice.{{rp|112}} There were no signs of forced entry in his room.{{rp|113}} He was survived by his wife, Rosana, and son, Mario. He was the first former Major League Baseball player to have died in Taiwan.{{cite web |title=Players by place of death: Taiwan Baseball Stats and Info |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/bio/Taiwan_died.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=6 August 2021 |language=en}}

Earlier in the season, he was briefly suspended for testing positive for steroids, leading to speculation regarding the role of drugs in his death. It had also been reported that he had been suffering from a bout of gastroenteritis and had asked to be excused from that weekend's practices.{{cite news |last1=Chang |first1=Rich |title=Baseball player found dead in dormitory room |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/10/04/2003274373 |access-date=7 August 2021 |work=Taipei Times |date=4 October 2005}} Autopsy reports later showed that he had died from a congenital medical condition.[http://asianbb.sabr.org/newsletters/asian%20newsletter%204.pdf SABR Asian Baseball Committee Newsletter] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202220537/http://asianbb.sabr.org/newsletters/asian%20newsletter%204.pdf |date=2007-02-02 }}, Vol. 3 No. 2. December 2005. According to his father, however, the doctors at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo who conducted the autopsy variously told him that the body was too decomposed to determine a cause of death and that he had died of a heart attack. Speculation abounded in the Dominican Republic that his death may have been related to a match-fixing operation, something for which the Chinese Professional Baseball League was known. His family called on the Dominican government to conduct an inquiry into his death but, according to his father, "they didn't do anything."{{cite book |last1=Gedda |first1=George |title=Dominican Connection: Talent from the Tropics Changes Face of National Pastime |date=2009 |publisher=Strategic Book Publishing |isbn=978-1-60693-023-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HguFw66Z_y0C |access-date=7 August 2021 |language=en}}{{rp|113}}

Encarnacion's body was transported back to the Dominican Republic from Taiwan by his team, while Miguel Tejada paid for his headstone at a cemetery in Baní.{{rp|113}}{{cite news |last1=Zirin |first1=Dave |title=Say It Ain't So, Big Leagues |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/say-it-aint-so-big-leagues/ |access-date=7 August 2021 |work=The Nation |date=26 October 2005}}

=Legacy=

In 2006, the Sacramento River Cats and Sacramento Bee writer Marcos Breton established the Mario Encarnacion Humanitarian Award which is given annually to "athletes who inspire others through their story, lead by example, and are role models to others."{{cite news |title=Nominations open for 2016 Mario Encarnacion Award |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-189557838 |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=MiLB.com |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=July 13, 2016 |language=en}}