Former A.L. Rookie of the Year & One Time New York Met: Angel Berroa (2009)

Angel Maria Berroa was born January 27, 1978 in Santa Domingo. The shortstop was originally signed by the Oaklnad A’s and got traded to the Kansas City Royals in a three team deal that included Johnny Damon & Roberto Hernandez. He had two September cups of coffee in his first two seasons, getting a hit in his first MLB game in 2001.

In 2002 he played in the Futures Game & Pacific Coast All Star Games. By 2003 he was given the job as the Kansas City Royals everyday shortstop replacing Neifi Perez, starting out by making 19 errors in the first two months and was batting under .200 in the ninth spot. Manager Tony Pena moved him to the leadoff spot and Berroa turned his season around.

He won the Rookie of the Year Award in one of the closest races for the Award in years. He ended up with a .287 batting average, hitting 17 HRs with 28 doubles 21 stolen bases 13 sac hits (2nd in the AL) & 73 RBIs. He led the league in errors at short (24) put outs (264) & was second in assists (473).

He became the fourth Royal to win the ROY Award joining the likes of Lou Pinella (1969) Bob Hamelin (1994) & Carlos Beltran (1999). In 2003 Berroa helped the Royals to one of their best seasons in years as they went 83-79 finishing third, after making a good summer playoff run.

In 2004 he hit a HR with two hits & drove in three runs helping the Royals beat the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, in an interleague game. Berroa dropped to .264 that year & never matched his rookie numbers again. In four more seasons in Kansas City he hit a best .270 with 11 HRs 55 RBIs in 2005. 

He struck out often, over 100 times twice, didn’t hit much and hardly ever drew a walk. His walk ratio was the worst in baseball. By 2007 he lost his job and was shipped to the minors where he spent most of the year.

He started 2008 at AAA then got traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Juan Rivera. He hit .230 there and was released at the end of the season. He was signed by the AL New York club in 2009 but was released after 21 games batting just .136.

The New York Mets signed him as a free agent when Jose Reyes, Alex Cora and anyone else who could play short stop got hurt in 2009. Berroa played in 14 games for the ’09 Mets going only 4-27 (.148 batting average) with two RBIs. 

Both runs came at Citi Field at the end of July against the Colorado Rockies in two Met wins. He made two errors & turned four double plays in eight games at the short stop position. He was designated for assignment by August 7th.

The Dodgers signed him to a minor league contract for 2010 but was released in March & then he was signed by the San Francisco Giants. That season he batted .205 in just 26 games at AAA Fresno in the Pacific Coast League. In July 2011 he signed with the Arizona D-backs, playing briefly in their AAA Reno team.

He completed his career with stints in both the Mexican League (2015) & the Independent New Jersey Jackals in 2012.

In his career he posted a .965 fielding % at shortstop playing 706 games there as well as 17 games at second base.

In a nine year career he hit .258 with 665 hits 118 doubles 21 trriples 46 HRs 254 RBIs 50 steals & a .303 on base % with 329 runs scored.

Family: He is the son in law of former Kansas City Royal player (1978) Luis Silverio, who played in just eight games at the MLB level but has spent over 30 years in their organization.