Milwaukee’s Best, Part 3: The 50 Best To Play For Braves, Brewers: 30-21
By Phil Watson
May 25, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez (27) connects for an RBI single during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
21. Carlos Gomez, CF
Brewers 2010-14
It took Carlos Gomez some time to put it together, but once he did, he’s been an incredibly entertaining player who is a threat offensively and defensively. Acquired from the Minnesota Twins in November 2009 in exchange for shortstop J.J. Hardy, Gomez didn’t emerge as a regular player until 2012.
But he was an All-Star in both 2013 and 2014, providing a combination of speed, power and defense. He was a Gold Glove winner in center field in 2013 and was ninth in the MVP voting that year despite Milwaukee’s sub-.500 finish.
Gomez led the National League in WAR in 2013, was second in triples and seventh in slugging. In 2014, he was fourth in the NL in runs scored and ninth in total bases. He’s finished in the top five in stolen bases each of the last three seasons.
Gomez signed as an international free agent with the New York Mets from the Dominican Republic in July 2002 and debuted in the majors with the Mets in May 2007.
He was part of the February 2008 trade that sent former Cy Young winner Johan Santana from the Twins to the Mets and is under contract with the Brewers through the 2016 season.
Here are Gomez’s statistics from his five seasons with the Brewers:
| Year | Age | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 24 | 97 | 318 | 291 | 38 | 72 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 18 | 3 | 17 | 72 | .247 | .298 | .357 | .655 | 76 |
| 2011 | 25 | 94 | 258 | 231 | 37 | 52 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 24 | 16 | 2 | 15 | 64 | .225 | .276 | .403 | .679 | 82 |
| 2012 | 26 | 137 | 452 | 415 | 72 | 108 | 19 | 4 | 19 | 51 | 37 | 6 | 20 | 98 | .260 | .305 | .463 | .768 | 101 |
| 2013 ★ | 27 | 147 | 590 | 536 | 80 | 152 | 27 | 10 | 24 | 73 | 40 | 7 | 37 | 146 | .284 | .338 | .506 | .843 | 128 |
| 2014 ★ | 28 | 148 | 644 | 574 | 95 | 163 | 34 | 4 | 23 | 73 | 34 | 12 | 47 | 141 | .284 | .356 | .477 | .833 | 130 |
| TOTALS | 623 | 2262 | 2047 | 322 | 547 | 102 | 24 | 79 | 245 | 145 | 30 | 136 | 521 | .267 | .324 | .456 | .780 | 110 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 3/19/2015.
Coming Friday: Players 20 through 11.