Javier Zabalza

Javier Zabalza Vergara (Chiqui)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 140 lb.

• Born April 9, 1977 in Pamplona, Navarre Spain

BR Minors Page

Biographical information

Javier Zabalza began playing for the Spanish national team as a teenager.

Zabalza was the starting shortstop for Spain in the 1995 Intercontinental Cup at age 18. He hit .214/.267/.429 and fielded .885 in five games. Despite his youth and small frame, he had the second-longest Spanish hit of the event, a triple. Javier again fielded .885 in the 1997 Intercontinental Cup, while batting a similar .214/.389/.286. In the 1998 Baseball World Cup, Javier was one of the top Spanish threats, batting .429/.520/.524 with 3 steals in 3 tries and 8 runs in 6 games; defense remained iffy as he fielded .864 with 6 errors in six games at shortstop.

Zabalza hit .333/.478/.389 and fielded .923 in the 1999 European Championship. In the 2001 European Championship, Zabalza batted .367/.457/.500, fielding .897. He had 7 runs and 8 RBI in 7 games to lead Spain in RBI and tie for the most runs.

In 2002, Zabalza became one of the first Spanish-trained players to make it to the US professional ranks, joining countrymates Carlos Ros and Manny Olivera on the Alexandria Aces, hitting a respectable .256.

Zabalza was 5 for 16 with 3 walks, 4 runs and 3 steals in the 2003 European Championship to help Spain win a Bronze Medal. He lost his starting job at short, though, with the addition of Cuban defector Nestor Perez, who had played in the US minors for several years.

Javier hit .390/.449/.511 in the 2004 Division Honor season, playing for the Marlins Puerto Cruz. In the 2005 European Championship, the international veteran hit .313/.436/.500 and was among the tourney leaders in runs (13 in 9 games, one behind former major leaguer Ivanon Coffie) and RBI (11, 2nd to Coffie). His four steals were one behind leader Sébastien Hervé. He helped Spain win a Bronze, going 1 for 5 with two RBI in the Bronze Medal Game triumph over Germany. Zabalza was surprisingly left off the All-Tournament team; Luc Piquet of France was chosen at second base. Zabalza was far worse in the 2005 Baseball World Cup, going just 3 for 28 and hitting .107/.242/.179; he was caught stealing in his lone try. He fielded .978 at second base, as the Perez-Zabalza middle infield combined for just two errors in the tournament.

In the 2006 Division Honor, Zabalza batted .263 and fielded .935 at shortstop. During 2007, he hit .341 and slugged .443. He did not play in either the 2007 European Championship or 2007 Baseball World Cup. He was back with Spain for the 2008 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament, going 3 for 15 with 3 walks while splitting second base duties with Daniel Sanchez.

In the 2008 Division Honor, the 31-year-old hit .250/.365/.317.

Primary Sources

• Spanish baseball federation
• IBAF
• Harry Wedemeijer's international tourney stats
• Wayback Archive of the 2005 European Championship site