Vladimir Guerrero

Vladimir Guerrero

Vladimir Alvino Guerrero (born February 9, 1975) is a Dominican baseball player who has spent 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). A right fielder and designated hitter, he has played for the Montreal Expos (1996–2003), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2004–2009), Texas Rangers (2010), and Baltimore Orioles (2011). His most recent team was Tigres del Licey.

In 2004, he was voted the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP). He helped lead the Angels to five AL West championships (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009), and was voted as one of the most feared hitters in baseball in a 2008 poll of all 30 major league managers.

A nine-time All Star, he is widely recognized as one of the best all-around players in the game because of his impressive offensive production, regularly hitting for power and average, and, prior to injuries that robbed him of range, stellar defense and strong throwing arms. He is also regarded as the game's premier "bad ball hitter," for his ability to consistently hit balls thrown well outside of his strike zone, a skill made evident on August 14, 2009, when Guerrero hit a pitch which bounced in front of home plate.

On September 26, 2011, Guerrero became the all-time MLB leader in hits among players from the Dominican Republic, surpassing Julio Franco. Through 2011, he was the leader among active major league outfielders in errors, with 125, and was second in assists, with 126.