Ezequiel Manuel Carrera Reyes (born June 11, 1987) is a

Venezuelan Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professiona ...

outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to cat ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...

(MLB) for the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central division. Since , they have ...

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

, and

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

Professional career

New York Mets

Carrera signed with the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major lea ...

as a non-drafted free agent on April 4, 2005. He spent the 2005 season in the

Venezuelan Summer League The Venezuelan Summer League (VSL) was a professional baseball sports league that operated in Venezuela from 1997 to 2015, primarily in the state of Carabobo. Teams in the league served as academies for Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations, a ...

and batted .227 with eight RBIs and 19 runs scored in 45 games. In 2006, he hit .301 with one home run, 19 RBIs, 41 runs scored and 22 stolen bases in 57 games in the Venezuelan Summer League. He went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base on June 2. Carrera stole three bases on June 13. He started and spent most of the 2007 season with the Rookie-League

Gulf Coast League Mets The Florida Complex League Mets are a Rookie-level affiliate for the New York Mets, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Mets. The team plays its home games ...

of the

Gulf Coast League The Florida Complex League (FCL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Before 2021, it was known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL). Together with the Arizona Complex League (ACL), it forms the l ...

but also played with the Short-Season

Brooklyn Cyclones The Brooklyn Cyclones are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, and play at Maimonides Park, just off the Coney Islan ...

. He hit .329 between the two clubs with 82 hits, 10 doubles, three triples, one home run, 32 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. In 2008, he spent the season with the Class-A St. Lucie Mets where he served as the primary leadoff hitter and ranked fourth in the

Florida State League The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A followi ...

with 28 stolen bases.

Seattle Mariners

The Mets traded Carrera along with

Endy Chávez Endy de Jesus Chávez Meza (; born February 7, 1978), is a Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, Philadelphia Phillies, New ...

Aaron Heilman Aaron Michael Heilman (born November 12, 1978) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Heilman was drafted by the New York Mets out of Notre Dame in 2001. He came up through the Mets system as a starting pitcher, but was converted to ...

Mike Carp Christopher Michael Carp (born June 30, 1986) is an American professional baseball first baseman and left fielder who is currently a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers. ...

, and

Jason Vargas Jason Matthew Vargas (born February 2, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals, New York Mets and Ph ...

to the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion team ...

in a 12-player deal on December 10, 2008. Carrera had a break-out 2009 season batting .337 with two home runs, 38 RBIs and 27 steals batting lead-off for the Double-A

West Tenn Diamond Jaxx The Jackson Generals were a professional baseball team located in Jackson, Tennessee. From 1998 to 2020, they were a part of Minor League Baseball's Southern League (SL) as the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (1998–2006), Seattle Mari ...

of the

Midwest League The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...

. He was named to the Southern League Mid-Season All-Star Team on June 29. He was placed on the disabled list on July 9 with a right thumb injury. He was reinstated on August 1. Carrera and teammate Greg Halman were selected to the 2009 Southern League Postseason All-Star Team as voted upon by the league's field managers, radio broadcasters and

print media Mass media refers to a diverse array of media technologies that reach a large audience via mass communication. The technologies through which this communication takes place include a variety of outlets. Broadcast media transmit informatio ...

. Carrera was also a mid-season All-Star selection as well is leading the league in batting average.

Cleveland Indians

On June 26, 2010 he was traded to the

along with Juan Díaz for

Russell Branyan Russell Oles Branyan (born December 19, 1975) is an American former professional baseball first baseman, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians (two occasions), Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers (two occasions), Ta ...

. Carrera was called up by the Indians on May 20, 2011. He made his major league debut that night as a pinch hitter. In his first major league plate appearance, he reached first base safely on a drag bunt, driving in the game-winning run in the eighth inning. Carrera was optioned back to Triple-A Columbus on May 26, 2011. In a series of recalls and options, Carrera spent 68 games of the 2011 season with the Indians, hitting .243 with 14 runs batted in and ten stolen bases. On March 25, 2013, Carrera was designated for assignment.

Philadelphia Phillies

Carrera was claimed off of waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies on April 2, 2013. The Phillies subsequently designated Carrera for assignment on April 30 in order to activate

Delmon Young Delmon Damarcus Young (born September 14, 1985) is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter for the Melbourne Aces of the Australian Baseball League. He played in Major League Baseball for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Ray ...

from the 15-day disabled list.

Second stint with the Cleveland Indians

Carrera was claimed off waivers by the Indians on May 2, 2013. He appeared in two games before being designated for assignment yet again on May 5, 2013.

Detroit Tigers

Carrera signed a minor league deal with the

in December 2013. He made his Tigers debut on August 1, 2014. During the 2014 season, Carrera batted .261 with two RBI's in 45 games. On November 20, 2014, he was designated for assignment by the Tigers. He declined his minor league assignment, and elected to become a free agent.

Toronto Blue Jays

On December 3, 2014, Carrera signed a minor league contract with the

. He opened the season with the Triple-A

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen ...

, and was promoted to the major leagues on May 2, 2015. On August 1, Carrera was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Buffalo on August 3. On August 17, Carrera was called up again by the Blue Jays. He remained with the team through the end of the regular season, and finished the year with a .273 batting average, 3 home runs, and 26 RBI in 91 games. On March 30, 2016, John Gibbons announced that Carrera would open the 2016 season as the Blue Jays fourth outfielder. Carrera recorded his first-career four-hit game on April 23, helping the Blue Jays to a 9–3 victory over the Oakland Athletics. On September 12, Carrera hit a

pinch hit In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead (not in active play); the manager may use any player who has not yet entered the game as a substitute. Unlike basketball, Americ ...

solo home run to give the Blue Jays a 3–2 lead over the

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...

, which they would not relinquish. Carrera played in a career-high 110 regular season games in 2016, batting .248 with six home runs and 23 RBI. On January 12, 2017, Carrera avoided salary arbitration with the Blue Jays by agreeing to a one-year, $1.1625 million contract. He suffered a broken foot in a game on June 13, and was placed on the disabled list. On June 27, Carrera was activated by the Blue Jays. Carrera hit a career-high eight home runs in 2017, and added 20 RBI and a .282 batting average in 131 games. Carrera signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract with Toronto on January 12, 2018. He was designated for assignment on February 26, and cleared waivers on March 1. The Blue Jays assigned him to Triple-A Buffalo and invited him to spring training. On March 11, the Blue Jays released him.

Atlanta Braves

On March 13, 2018, Carrera signed a minor league contract with the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bos ...

and was invited to spring training. He was released from the organization on May 17, 2018.

Second stint with the New York Mets

On May 18, 2018, Carrera signed a minor league contract with the

, before he became a free agent again at the end of the season.">"Zach Borenstein Stats, Highlights, Bio",
milb.com

Los Angeles Dodgers

On January 30, 2019, Carrera signed a minor league contract with the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...

. He was released on May 7, 2019.

Independent baseball

On May 31, 2019, Carrera signed with the

Rockland Boulders The New York Boulders are an American Independent baseball league, independent professional baseball team playing in the Frontier League based in Pomona, New York, Pomona, Rockland County, New York (state), New York. The team was founded as a mem ...

of the independent

Can-Am League The Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, commonly known as the Can-Am League, was a professional, independent baseball league with teams in the Northeast United States and Eastern Canada, founded in 2005 as a reorganization ...

. On June 8, 2019, Carrera was traded to the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He became a free agent following the season. Carrera announced his retirement from professional baseball on March 24, 2022.

References

External links

Ezequiel Carrera
at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Carrera, Ezequiel 1987 births Living people People from Güiria Arizona League Indians players Brooklyn Cyclones players Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Cleveland Indians players Columbus Clippers players Detroit Tigers players Gulf Coast Mets players Gwinnett Stripers players Las Vegas 51s players Long Island Ducks players Major League Baseball players from Venezuela Major League Baseball outfielders Navegantes del Magallanes players Oklahoma City Dodgers players Philadelphia Phillies players Rockland Boulders players St. Lucie Mets players Tacoma Rainiers players Tigres de Aragua players Toledo Mud Hens players Toronto Blue Jays players Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Canada Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States Venezuelan Summer League Mets players West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx players