Roger Cedeno was a Venezuelan professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on August 16, 1974, in Valencia, Venezuela, and began his professional baseball career in 1992 when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent.
Cedeno made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 1995 and played for them until 1998. He then played for the New York Mets from 1999 to 2001, the Detroit Tigers in 2002, the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003, the Houston Astros from 2004 to 2005, and the Washington Nationals in 2005.
Cedeno was primarily an outfielder and was known for his speed and base-stealing ability. He was a switch-hitter and had a career batting average of .273 with 40 home runs, 271 runs batted in (RBIs), and 484 stolen bases. He led the National League in stolen bases in 1999 and 2001 and was a member of the 2000 National League All-Star team.
Cedeno was also known for his defensive skills and was a finalist for the Gold Glove Award in 1999 and 2001. He played all three outfield positions during his career and had a career fielding percentage of .985.
Despite his success on the field, Cedeno's career was not without controversy. In 2001, he was arrested for driving under the influence and was suspended for two games by the Mets. In 2002, he was involved in a brawl with his Tigers teammate, Robert Fick, during a game against the Chicago White Sox.
Cedeno's career began to decline after he left the Mets in 2001. He struggled with injuries and inconsistency and was released by the Astros in 2005. He signed with the Nationals later that year but played in only 16 games before being released again.
After his release from the Nationals, Cedeno played in the minor leagues for a few years before retiring from baseball in 2009. He currently resides in Valencia, Venezuela, and is involved in youth baseball coaching.
In conclusion, Roger Cedeno was a talented outfielder who played in the MLB for over a decade. He was known for his speed, base-stealing ability, and defensive skills. Despite some off-field controversies and a decline in his performance later in his career, Cedeno remains a respected figure in the baseball community.
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