Edwin Encarnacion

Edwin Elpidio Encarnación (born January 7, 1983) is a Dominican professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians, and Seattle Mariners. Encarnación is a three-time All-Star.\n', ' Encarnación was born in the Dominican Republic to Elpidio Encarnación, a track and field coach, and Mireya Rivera. He is the third of three sons, including Richard and Julio, and four children, including younger sister, Evelin. Encarnación also had twelve half-siblings via his father. Encarnación split time as a high school student between his native country and Puerto Rico after his father took a job coaching at a Puerto Rican college. His Puerto Rican residence made him eligible for the Major League Baseball draft.\n', ' The Texas Rangers selected Encarnación in the ninth round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed with them. On June 15, 2001, the Rangers traded him and Rubén Mateo to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for pitcher Rob Bell. He made his Major League Baseball debut on June 24, 2005, and played in 69 games. He finished with a .232 batting average, nine home runs, and 31 runs batted in (RBIs).\n', '