José Viera

Note: This page discusses 1990s and 2000s minor league infielder José Viera. For the Venezuelan national team pitcher of the same name, click here.

Jose J. Viera Mendoza

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.

• Born February 23, 1971 in Arecibo Puerto Rico

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Jose Viera played in the minor leagues and CPBL. He led his leagues in doubles three times and once had a 40-homer season, but injuries cut short any shot at MLB.

Viera began his professional career with the Chicago Cubs, and he hit .331/.375/.527 with 8 homers in his first season for the Huntington Cubs in 1990. He was among the Appalachian League leaders in average (7th, between Tom Gavin and Brian Kowitz), hits (81, tied Aaron Ledesma for 3rd), doubles (22, 1st, 3 ahead of Pat Dando), homers (tied Kowitz and Beto Rodriguez for 10th), RBI (37, 7th), slugging (6th, between Tracy Sanders and Ron Lockett) and OPS (6th, between Tim Sandy and Rodriguez). He was named the league's All-Star third baseman. Baseball America rated him as the #3 prospect behind fellow third sacker Jim Thome and Todd Ritchie, right ahead of Tony Clark.

He hit .265/.326/.372 with the Peoria Chiefs in 1991 (his 37 doubles being one behind Midwest League pacesetter Rich Becker), and he crushed 18 homers with a .274/.335/.486 batting line for the Winston-Salem Spirits in 1992. He led the Carolina League with 32 doubles, 3 ahead of Kevin Jordan, and he tied Ozzie Timmons for 8th in dingers. He was 4th in slugging, between Manny Ramirez and Andy Hartung. He won his second league All-Star third base award in three years. Among Cubs farmhands, he led in two-baggers (one ahead of Joe Biasucci) and was 4th in circuit clouts (between Scott Bryant and Chris Ebright).

Viera stayed with the Orlando Cubs in the next three years, but he only played 15 games combined as shoulder injuries derailed a promising career. He did not return to playing summer ball in the US until he recorded a .308/.356/.579 for the Newburgh Black Diamonds in 1998, finishing 9th in the Atlantic League in average (between Milt Cuyler and Danny Perez), 5th in homers (15) and third in slugging (behind Félix José and Kinnis Pledger). He did not make the All-Star team as former major leaguer Craig Worthington won the nod at third base. The Mercuries Tigers of Taiwan then signed him; he hit .222/.250/.296 in 7 games.

He then had a .249/.310/.447 batting line for the Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds in 1999 after Newburgh had moved (again finishing 5th in the Atlantic League in dingers, this time with 23), and he improved to .283/.332/.609 in 2000. Viera also recorded a .338/.418/.600 batting line in 21 games for Somerset Patriots in '00 after being traded for Cirilo Cruz. His 40 long balls were second in the Atlantic, 8 behind Ozzie Canseco; he was the only player in the top four who never got a chance in the majors, thanks to his shoulder injuries at a crucial period of his career. His 121 RBI were 8 shy of leader Canseco and he was .037 behind slugging leader Canseco. Fellow Puerto Rican Héctor Villanueva beat him out for All-Star honors at first base.

He signed with the Algodoneros de Union Laguna of the Mexican League in 2001, but he struggled there as his batting line was .202/.250/.368. Viera's batting line was .237/.291/.441 with the Long Island Ducks after leaving Mexico, and he crushed 18 homers with a .337/.370/.590 batting line for the Sioux Falls Canaries in 2002. He was 4th in the Northern League Central in average (between Pete Rose Jr. and Bryan Warner), first in doubles (34), tied Ryan Sienko for 4th in homers (18) and was second in slugging (though .107 behind Kevin Roberson). Brent Sachs won the All-Star nod at third base. He announced his retirement after the 2002 season.

Viera had batted .278/.332/.489 with 143 homers and 502 RBI in 807 games as a pro.

Sources

• 1991, 1993, 1999, 2001 and 2003 Baseball Almanacs
• Greatest 21 Days
• Taiwan Baseball Wiki