Winston Llenas

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Llenas and the second or maternal family name is Dávila.
Winston Llenas
Utility player
Born: (1943-09-23) September 23, 1943 (age 81)
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 15, 1968, for the California Angels
Last MLB appearance
September 14, 1975, for the California Angels
MLB statistics
Batting average.230
Home runs3
Runs batted in61
NPB statistics
Batting average.227
Home runs6
Runs batted in19
Teams
Member of the Caribbean
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction2008

Winston Enriquillo Llenas Dávila (a.k.a. Chilote) (born September 23, 1943) is a former Major League Baseball infielder/outfielder who played for the California Angels from 1968 to 1969, and again from 1972 to 1975. He also played one season in Japan for the Taiheiyo Club Lions in 1976.

Early life and family

Llenas was born to Rafael Antonio Llenas Díaz (the son of Enrique Llenas Domínguez and Mercedes Díaz Andreu) and Magda Aracelis Dávila; he had 4 brothers and 5 sisters.[1] Winston’s paternal grandparents had Catalan roots.[2][3]

Career

Llenas signed with the Kansas City Athletics as an amateur free agent before the 1961 season, then was released by them on June 16, 1962. He had played in 153 games for the A's organization in the Sophomore League and the Florida State League, batting .232 and committing 60 errors. About 5+1⁄2 months later, at age 19, he signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Angels. (December 2, 1962)

As Llenas grew older, he became a solid minor league hitter. He made his major league debut on August 15, 1968 against the Washington Senators at Anaheim Stadium. He started at third base, batted sixth in the lineup, and went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored in a 3–1 win over starting pitcher Frank Bertaina. Typically, he made a throwing error on the first ground ball hit to him.

His best season was 1973, when he led the American League in pinch-hits (16) and pinch-hit at-bats (56). He also had career highs in games played (78), batting average (.269), and runs batted in (25). He was used quite often as a pinch-hitter throughout his MLB career. The most games he started at any one position was at third base. His best position, however, was second base, where he handled 111 total chances without making a single error.

Career totals for 300 games include a .230 batting average (122-for-531), 3 HR, 61 RBI, and 50 runs scored.

In the Dominican Winter League he has been a champion in 19 of the 20 crowns of Aguilas Cibaeñas as a player, manager, general manager and president.

In 2008, Llenas gained induction into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame as part of its 12th Class.

Facts

Minor league highlights

References

  1. ^ Irizarri, Evelyn (August 1, 2012). "Winston (Chilote) Llenas: "Detrás de cada éxito hay más de 20 fracasos" - Periódico El Caribe - Mereces verdaderas respuestas".
  2. ^ Espinal Hernández, Edwin Rafael (May 24, 2014). "Catalanes en República Dominicana en 1854 (1 de 4)" (in Spanish). Dominican Institute of Genealogy. Retrieved June 11, 2016.
  3. ^ González Hernández, Julio Amable (March 12, 2005). "La Familia Llenas" (in Spanish). Dominican Institute of Genealogy. Retrieved June 11, 2016.