Victor Mercedes

Victor A. Mercedes Cuello

Note: This page links to 2000s minor leaguer Victor Mercedes. For the amateur player of the same name, click here.

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 190 lb.

• Born April 15, 1979 in La Romana D.R.

BR Minors page

Victor Mercedes has played a decade in the minor leagues.

Mercedes signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in November 1999. In 2001, he hit .278/.328/.413 for the Williamsport Crosscutters and .220/.242/.254 for the [{Hickory Crawdads]]; he stole 34 bases in 41 tries between the two clubs. His 28 swipes for Williamsport put him two shy of the New York-Penn League's co-leaders, Chris Duffy and Angel Pagan.

Victor missed most 2002 with a fractured left foot; his batting line in 11 games for Williamsport when healthy was .273/.304/.477. In 2003, he returned to the field with Hickory and hit .285/.341/.401 with 76 runs and 22 steals (but was caught stealing 15 times). He fielded .971 at second base. He led South Atlantic League second basemen in putouts (278) and assists (329) and Baseball America ranked him as the best defensive second sacker in the circuit.

Mercedes batted .273/.322/.401 for the 2004 Lynchburg Hillcats and fielded .970 at second; he was 29-for-44 in steal attempts. He legged out 7 triples, tying for second in the circuit behind Gregor Blanco. He paced Carolina League second basemen in putouts (262), assists (380) and double plays (92). Baseball America rated him as the league's best defender at his position once more.

The La Romana native played for five different teams in 2005. In the Pirates chain, he appeared for Hickory (4 for 8), Lynchburg (.264/.339/.396 in 13 G) and the Altoona Curve (.326/.356/.558 in 12 G) before being let go by the Bucs. The Washington Nationals signed him and he finished the year on a poor note with the Potomac Cannons (4 for 30) and Harrisburg Senators (.206/.250/.265 in 29 G; he also pitched two innings, allowing a hit, walk and unearned run).

For 2006, Mercedes signed with the Chicago White Sox system. He had a good year, hitting .273/.323/.436 with 34 doubles, 8 triples, 10 homers and 20 steals for the Winston-Salem Warthogs. He led Carolina League shortstops in putouts (190), assists (445), double plays (97) and errors (35) and led the entire league in hits (142), triples and total bases (222, tied with Jordan Brown). He tied for third in the league in extra-base hits (6 behind Francisco Caraballo) and doubles (6 shy of co-leaders Neil Sellers and Caraballo). He led the White Sox chain in doubles. He lost out All-Star honors in the Carolina League to Brian Bixler.

Victor split 2007 between the Birmingham Barons (.276/.323/.402 in 83 G) and the Warthogs (.245/.300/.408). He again had eight triples, but was caught stealing in 16 of 28 tries. He was one triple shy of organizational leader John Shelby III. With the 2008 Barons, he batted .272/.302/.442 with 29 doubles and 12 homers. He hit for the cycle on August 19.

Mercedes spent 2009 with the Newark Bears (.289/.308/.423 in 56 G) and the Chattanooga Lookouts (.148/.199/.211 in 36 G). In 2010, he moved to the Mexican League with the Guerreros de Oaxaca. Moving to third base, he put up a line of .336/.386/.479 with 29 doubles, 83 runs and 81 RBI. He finished third in the LMB in runs behind Oscar Robles and Sandy Madera and tied Ramon Orantes for 10th in RBI.

Victor is with the Dominican national team for the 2010 Pan American Games Qualifying Tournament.