Felipe Crespo

Felipe Javier Crespo Claudio

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 195 lb.
• High School Colegio Catolico Notre Dame
• Debut April 28, 1996
• Final Game September 28, 2001
• Born March 5, 1973 in Rio Piedras, P.R.

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Biographical Information

Felipe Crespo was an infielder-outfielder who made the playoffs with the San Francisco Giants, was involved in a statistical quirk and played in Japan.

Crespo was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 3rd round (95th overall) of the 1990 amateur draft. The Puerto Rican infielder-outfielder advanced at a steady pace through the Blue Jays' farm system, showing a good average and eye and some power. His final minor league numbers were .283/~.378/.443. In 1996, Crespo looked like a lock at second base to start the season for the Jays but suffered an injury.

Crespo reached the majors in 1996, but only played in 22 games, batting .184 in 49 at bats. He played ten games at second base, six games at third base, and two games at first base. In 1997 he split time between the Blue Jays and the AAA Syracuse Sky Chiefs. With the Blue Jays, he played seven games at third base, two at DH and one at second base. The 1998 season saw Crespo playing predominantly in the outfield (25 games in right field, 19 in left field, 10 in the infield). He finished with an adequate line of .262/.342/.362 in 66 games. In spring training 1999, he was released and signed a month later with the San Francisco Giants.

Crespo spent the entire 1999 season with the AAA Fresno Grizzlies. He enjoyed a breakout season with 24 home runs, 84 RBI and 17 stolen bases and a batting line of .332/~.447/.616. He had a 20 game streak where he batted .514. That year, he led the Pacific Coast League in OPS. Crespo re-signed with the Giants for the 2000 season, earning $232,000. He appeared in 89 games with 131 at bats, batting .290/.351/.443 with four homers and 29 RBI, spending 27 games in the outfield, 11 games at first base, seven games at second base and a game at DH. In 50 at bats with RISP in 2000, he drove in 24 runs. That season also saw his only playoff action, appearing as a pinch hitter in four games, hitting .250 (1-for-4). The Giants lost to the New York Mets in the NLDS. The Giants brought back Crespo for the 2001 season at a price of $425,000 and he filled in for 16 games at first base and two at second base. On June 7, the San Diego Padres beat the Giants, 10–7. Felipe's brother, Cesar, hit his first major league homer for San Diego, while Felipe, playing first in J.T. Snow's absence, hit a pair. It was the 9th time that brothers on opposing teams both homered in the same game, following Aaron and Bret Boone one season prior.

Crespo was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on July 27 for former closer Wayne Gomes. Despite his .197 average with the Giants, Crespo was one of the top pinch-hitters that season. He was 10-for-43 in the role with three doubles, two homers homers and seven RBI while drawing six walks. Crespo continued to serve as a pinch-hitter for the Phillies, with 44 at bats in 33 games, hitting only .171/.234/.293. His poor hitting may have been caused by plantar fasciitis, a painful foot injury for which he was placed on the disabled list by the Giants in April.

For the 2002 season, Crespo joined the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Pro Baseball. He continued to hit poorly, hitting .122 with a .533 OPS in only 24 games. Crespo returned to America in 2003, earning an invitation to spring training with the Cincinnati Reds. He went 2-for-8 with an RBI in the Grapefruit League, then spent the rest of the season at AAA Louisville, hitting .244/.330/.350. In 2004, Crespo was a non-roster invitee with the Florida Marlins in spring training. He went 1 for 6 with a run scored and, when the Marlins reassigned him to the minor league camp, he retired.

Felipe later ran a real estate business in his hometown, Caguas, Puerto Rico. He played in the country's winter league with the Caguas Creoles, Carolina Giants and Santurce Crabbers.

Related Sites

• Baseball Library: Felipe Crespo
• The Baseball Cube: Felipe Crespo Statistics