Full Name: Wilin Arismendy Rosario Hernández
Career Stats:
| YR | Team | AVG | GP | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | R | K | BB | HBP | S | SF | SB | CS | GIDP | OBP | SLG | OPS | RISP | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Tigers | .242 | 75 | 302 | 281 | 68 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 105 | 40 | 28 | 71 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .285 | .374 | .658 | .217 | 9 |
| Career | .242 | 75 | 302 | 281 | 68 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 105 | 40 | 28 | 71 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .285 | .374 | .658 | .217 | 9 |
Brief Biography
Wilin Rosario signed with the Colorado Rockies in 2006 as a free agent. He played through various levels in the minors before making his MLB debut on September 6, 2011. As a rookie in 2012, he set a new club record with 28 home runs (breaking the record set by Todd Helton in 1998). The following year, he played in 121 games and while his power numbers dipped (21 HRs), his average spiked (.292). In 2014, he continued to see a lot of time at catcher with the Rockies, but neither his average (.267) nor his power numbers (13 HRs) were up to the level he had set in his first two seasons. Furthermore, he led the league in passed balls for the third straight season.The result was that he did not get nearly as much playing time in 2015. In fact he only wore the catcher’s mask in two games, and started to see more action at first base. He also spent a good part of the season in the minors. He became a non-tendered free agent at season’s end, and played Winter League ball in his home country.
On January 22, 2016, the Hanwha Eagles of KBO (South Korea) announced a deal with Rosario. In his two seasons there, he hit a combined 63 home runs, knocking in 233 and even putting up double digits in stolen bases in 2017. Though the Eagles hoped he would stay for another year, Rosario other plans.
On December 13, 2017, the Hanshin Tigers announced that they had reached a one-year deal with Rosario worth 340 million yen (approximately USD 3M). The team also held option rights for a second year.
Rosario’s arrival was surrounded by a lot of hope and hype. Hope, because the team had lacked a true slugger in the lineup since Mauro Gomez’s release after the 2016 season. Hype, because Rosario put on a display of his immense power early in spring training. Media measured the distance on his batting practice blasts, and he even hit a few over the fence in early scrimmages and friendly matches with other NPB teams. However, it would not last. Once the exhibition schedule started and he had to face more experienced pitchers, his weaknesses started to show.
Still, despite his .143 preseason batting average, he started the year batting cleanup. He got his first hit and RBI in Game 1 against the Yomiuri Giants, and his first home run came two days later against Ryoma Nogami. Unfortunately, aside from a few fireworks the rest of the way (an extra-innings game-winning home run against the Carp on April 30 and a monstrous billboard-denting home run against the Giants on May 8), this would be the best things would get. Just over 30 games into the season, he was dethroned from the cleanup spot, and on June 3, he got demoted to the farm.
Rosario was ordered not to touch a bat for three days while he refreshed himself, and although he hit .313 (4 HRs, 13 RBI) on the farm, the team had already acquired Efren Navarro to fill the void in case Rosario struggled to turn his season around. He got called back up to the top squad on July 17, and hit a grand slam home run against the Giants on August 7. In the end, though, he continued to struggle to hit (or lay off of) low outside breaking pitches, and opposing hurlers mercilessly bullied him with the pitch. On August 27, he got farmed again, and although he tried to maintain a positive attitude, insisting he would rise again, he finished the season without getting called up to the top squad.
On October 31, the team announced that they would not exercise their option on Rosario for 2019.
Related Articles:
Baby Bull Still Baffled By Breaking Balls (June 13, 2018)
Rosario Demoted to Second Squad (June 3, 2018)
Rosario Exudes Confidence – “I’ll be the Leader” (March 27, 2018)
Rosario’s Press Conference (January 28, 2018)
It’s Official – “Baby Bull” Rosario is a Tiger! (December 13, 2017)