Full name: Raul Ramon Mondesi Born: 03/12/71 Birthplace: San Cristobal,D.R. Height: 5'11" Weight: 230 Position: RF Bats: Right Throws: Right MLB Debut: 07/19/93 College: None 2002 Salary: $11,000,000

   

The Yanks acquired Raul Mondesi early July of the 2002 season, hoping to get a good right fielder, after Paul O'Neill had retired. Shane Spencer and John Wander Wal weren't that great at the plate. So the Yanks got Mondesi. Although his average was quite low, he added a great bat to the lineup, and he has a terrific arm.

He has recorded 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in the same season on two occasions (1997 and '99 with the Los Angeles Dodgers) and just missed doing so again in 2001. Raul fell three homers shy, but had 57 extra-base hits and tied Philadelphia's Pat Burrell for the major-league lead in outfield assists (18). A dead pull hitter, Raul hit 20 of his 27 homers off right-handed pitchers.Raul, who lists former Blue Jay George Bell as his boyhood idol, broke into the majors with the Dodgers in 1993. That year he earned a Players Choice Award as the Outstanding Rookie in the National League. Raul produced seasons of 30, 30 and 33 homers for Los Angeles from 1997-99 before being traded to Toronto in the deal that brought Shawn Green to Chavez Ravine.Raul is a great supporter of athletics in his native Dominican Republic. He supplies uniforms and baseball equipment for approximately 500 children (ages 6 to 14) in a league that bears his name. Raul also sponsors softball and basketball leagues.

Hitting:
Mondesi's approach is to go up there hacking, which makes him dangerous on the first pitch but increasingly vulnerable on longer counts. Always looking to pull, he can be made to chase breaking balls or pitches out of the strike zone. Though he's continued to bat in the middle of the order on the strength of his reputation, he no longer hits righthanders well enough to help there.

Baserunning & Defense:
Mondesi has surprising speed for a man his size, and his stolen bases are not mere window dressinga good chunk of them do come at opportune times. He runs the bases with abandon and it can be far from pleasant to get in his way. His throwing arm is one of the most respected in the majors, and baserunners almost never challenge him. He has good range in right and can fill in in center if needed.

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