Esteban German...was signed by the A's as a non-drafted free agent on July 4, 1996 by Santiago Villalona...played amateur baseball in his native Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
2011
Versatile veteran completed his 3rd straight and 4th overall season in the Texas organization, logging time at the major league level for the 9th straight campaign...led Triple-A Round Rock in several offensive categories, while ranking among the Pacific Coast League's top base stealers for a 2nd straight campaign.
TEXAS: Was a September call up for 3rd straight season, joining Texas on Sept. 1...appeared in 11 of 25 possible games (2 starts)...entered as a pinch-hitter 3 times, pinch-runner 3 times, and def. replacement 3 times...was 1-for-2 with a HR and 2 RBI as a PH...homered as PH in first PA of season Sept. 3 at BOS, first ML HR since Sept. 28, 2007 vs. CLE...drew pinch-hit, bases-loaded walk Sept. 4 at BOS...made back-to-back starts following club's division clincher, Sept. 24-25 vs. SEA, going 4-for-9 with a 2B and 2 RBI.
ROUND ROCK: Opened the year at Triple-A...was successful on 44 of 53 steal attempts, 2nd-most steals in the PCL...also ranked among leaders in runs (4th, 94) and walks (5th, 72)...led the club in stolen bases, runs, and walks, while ranking among the Express leaders in batting (2nd, .301), 2B (3rd, 29), 3B (T4th, 3), RBI (6th, 56)...paced club with 41 multi-hit efforts, incl. 15 games with 3 or more hits...saw time at every defensive position except C,1B, and RF...appeared in 56 games at 3B, 43 at 2B, 16 in LF, 6 in CF, and one at SS...also made one start at DH... batted .329 (48-146) with 16 XBH (13 2B, 3 HR) vs. LH pitching and .290 (105-362) with 23 XBH (16 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR) vs. RHP...hit .296 (37-125) w, RISP...landed on DL with left oblique strain, June 11-19...hit safely in a season-high 11 straight from July 22-Aug. 1, batting .417 (20-48) with 6 multi-hit efforts and a season-best 5 hits on July 31 at Nashville.
2010
The next-to-last position player addition to the roster in September, German had his contract purchased on Sept. 6 when Alex Cora was designated for assignment and spent the final month with Texas...was on the club's ALDS roster, but did not appear in that series against Tampa Bay...spent the rest of the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
TEXAS: Arrived in Toronto prior to club's series opener there on Sept. 6 and was officially purchased prior to the game...batted .231 (3-13) in 13 games/3 starts for the Rangers...entered his first 7 games as a pinch-runner, and did not make a start until Sept. 26 at Oakland, day after division was clinched...started 3 of club's last 8 games...was 4-for-5 in stolen base attempts.
OKLAHOMA CITY: Spent the entire season with Oklahoma City (AAA), batting .280 with 5 home runs, 27 doubles, 5 triples, and 55 RBI in 126 games for the RedHawks...had a .313 (51-163) average after the Pacific Coast League All-Star break in mid-July... was 50-for-57 (87.7%) in stolen base attempts, as his 50 steals ranked 2nd in the PCL and T10th among all full season minor league players...recorded 50th steal in final game with OKC, Sept. 5 vs. Omaha...led OKC in runs scored (79), hits (136), and triples (tied-5), ranking among team leaders in total bases (2nd, 188), walks (2nd, 64), doubles (3rd), and RBI (T4th)...at Triple-A, saw action at second base (54 games), third base (51), outfield (15) and shortstop (11)...also appeared in both CF and LF.
2009
Went to spring training with Kansas City before release on March 8...signed with the Chicago Cubs on March 13 but was released on April 3...signed an Oklahoma City (AAA) contract with Texas on April 9 and spent most of the season with the
RedHawks...saw action at third base (84), second base (8), left field (8), and shortstop (6)...finished third in the PCL in on-base percentage
(.419) and ninth in batting (.319)...led OKC in RBI (59), walks (65), stolen bases (35), and sacrifice flies (8) and was second
in runs (63)...hit .346 at home...reached base safely in 25 straight games, June 12-July 10...played in Triple-A All-Star Game, going
3-for-4 with a home run and 4 RBI.
Was purchased by Texas on August 5 and started 8 games at
third base and 3 at second base the rest of the season...also
saw action at first base and in left field...batted .343 (12-35) over
first 10 games but went 2-for-11 over final 9 contests...was on
15-day DL from August 18-31 (retroactive to Aug. 14) with a
strained right groin...had a career-high 5 hits while batting ninth
on Sept. 9 at Cleveland, the 10th time since 1954 that a player
had 5 hits in a 9-inning game while batting ninth and the second Ranger, Toby Harrah, Aug. 6, 1986 at Baltimore...was fourth third
baseman in Texas history with 5+ hits in a game, first since Buddy Bell on August 1, 1980 vs. Boston...batted .237 with one homer,
10 RBI, and 10 steals in 39 games for Toros in Dominican Winter League.
2008
Started 25 games in left, 23 at second, 5 at third, and 3 at short in final year with Kansas City...hit just .176 through July 7 before batting .282 over final 48 games.
2007
Made the Royals Opening Day roster for the 2nd-straight season...his average fell to .264, off from .326 in 2006...but he set career highs in games (121), at bats (348), runs (49), hits (92), triples (6), home runs (4), RBI (37), walks
(43), strikeouts (60) and stolen bases (11)...Hit well at Kauffman Stadium, posting a .302 (49-for-162) mark with 26 RBI
at home vs. a .231 (43-for-186) mark with 11 RBI on the road...After hitting .389 (7-for-18) as a pinch hitter in 2006, hit just .091 (2-for-22)
in the pinch in 2007...Hit .299 (52-for-174) while playing at second base and .230 (40-for-174) when
he was not at second...The Royals went 42-43 in his 85 starts including 31-21 in his fi nal 52 starts...KC was 26-14 when he scored a run and 20-8 when he drove in a run...Hit 3 of his 4 home runs against A.L. Central opponents (2 vs. DET, 1 vs. CLE)...
has hit 5 of his 7 home runs in his KC career against the division...Drove in all of the Royals 3 runs with a home run in the 7th inning on May 2
vs. Los Angeles to give KC the 3-1 win...the homer was his fi rst since Sept. 6,
2006, a span of 144 at bats...the 3 RBI matched a career high (also Sept. 14,
2006 vs. Seattle)...Equaled his career high by recording 4 hits, including 3 infi eld singles, on May
24 vs. Cleveland...also had 4 hits on Sept. 12, 2006 at Cleveland...Immediately following his 4-hit effort, went just 2-for-32 (.063) in his next 9
games, dropping his average from .301 to .244...Equaled his career best with 3 RBI in a 3-for-5 night on June 12 vs. St.
Louis...Hit .404 (21-for-52) with 3 doubles and 2 triples from June 24 to July 14 while
getting regular duty as the Royals second baseman with Mark Grudzielanek
on the D.L...Made 23 starts (18 at second, 5 at third) between June 10 and July 14, with
the Royals going 16-7 in those games.
2006
Was acquired from the Texas Rangers in exchange for Rule 5 pick Fabio Castro on Dec. 8, 2005...spent his 1st full season at the Major Leagues and hit a team-best .326 (91-279) with 18 doubles, 5 triples, 3 homers and 34 RBI in 106 games...Hit .389 (7-18) as a pinch-hitter and recorded a .500 on-base percentage,
both marks were 2nd-best in the Majors
(min. 20 plate appearances) and ranked
4th-best in club history behind Kevin
Seitzer's .550 average in 1991 (11-20),
Keith Lockhart's .400 average in 1996
(8-20) and Dave McCarty's .391 average
in 2000 (9-23)...Had an impressive .347 average (41-
118) against left-handed pitching,
while hitting at a .311 clip (50-161) off
righties...was hit by 6 pitches, all courtesy of right-handers...Hit .363 (33-91) in day games, while batting .309 (58-188) at night...was a .347
hitter (26-75) with 27 RBI with runners in scoring position, including a .571
hitter with the bases loaded (4-7)...Enjoyed his most success against Cleveland, posting a .415 average (17-41)...
his 17 hits were the most against any team...Batted in every spot in the lineup for the Royals during the season...logged his
most at bats in the 2nd spot (128), recording a .289 average (37-128)...hit .467
(21-45) in 14 games in the leadoff spot and hit .429 (15-35) in the 9th spot...Went 3-for-4 with his 3rd career double and an RBI in his 1st start for the Royals
April 13 at New York...Reached base in 7 straight plate appearances (4 singles, 3 walks) May 13-20...Posted his 1st career 4-hit game at Cleveland on Sept. 12 in a 5-3 win, going
4-for-4 with 2 doubles, a triple, a single, a walk and a RBI...notched 4 of KC's
11 hits and scored 3 of the 5 runs...the win snapped an 11-game losing streak
at Jacobs Field...Had 10 extra-base hits (8 doubles, 2 triples) in a 7-game span from Sept. 8-15...
went 15-for-31 (.484) with 8 runs and 8 RBI during the stretch...Had an 8-game hitting streak from April 13-May 3, batting .579 (11-for-19)...
added a career-high 9-game streak from Sept. 12-22, batting .472 (17-for-36)...Was named the Royals Player of the Month for September/October by hitting
.330 (30-91) and tying the team lead with 11 doubles.
2005
Hit .313 (153-489) in 117 games for Oklahoma (AAA) with 68 RBI, 27 doubles, 6 triples, 5 home runs, 43 stolen bases and 65 walks...Was a September call-up for the Rangers and went 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and 2 stolen bases in 5 games for Texas...had his contract purchased on Sept. 12...Hit a game-winning RBI double in his 1st plate appearance with the Rangers on Sept. 27 at Seattle...was his 1st M.L. hit since Sept. 14, 2004 vs. Texas (with Oakland) and 1st RBI since Sept. 5, 2004...Made his lone start at 2nd base in season fi nale on Oct. 2 vs. Los Angeles, going 2-
for-3 with a stolen base...recorded a hit in his 1st 3 at-bats with the Rangers... Established a RedHawks club record with a Pacific Coast League-leading 43 stolen bases and matched a club record with 153 hits (Bret Barbarie, 1998)...Ranked 4th in the PCL with 103 runs scored...recorded season-high 16-game hit
streak from May 12-30...posted 42 multi-hit games, including four 4-hit contests...Started at shortstop for the PCL in the Triple-A All-Star game, going 1-2 with a double, walk and run scored from the leadoff spot...Played for Azucareros in the Winter League and ranked 2nd in average (.331), 1st in stolen bases (30), 1st in on-base percentage (.442) and 4th in runs (35).
2004
Had 3 stints with the A's, appearing in 31 games with 10 starts at 3rd base and 3 at 2nd base...Made Oakland's Opening Day roster for the 1st time, but appeared in just 3 games, going 1-for-7...was optioned to Sacramento (AAA) on April 22...Hit .329 with 29 RBI in 55 games for Sacramento...added 19 walks for a .380 on-base percentage...
ranked 2nd on club with 18 stolen bases...Was recalled on June 2 when Eric Chavez went on the disabled list...Was on the 15-day D.L. from July 4-31 with a left oblique strain...was activated from the D.L. on July
31 after 4-game rehab stint at Sacramento...Was optioned to Sacramento on Aug. 11 and was recalled on Sept. 1 when rosters expanded...went
3-for-8 (.375) with 4 runs in 10 games in September...Made his 1st Major League start at 3rd base on June 4 vs. Toronto, his 1st start at a position other
than 2nd base...Played for Azucareros in the Dominican Winter League and batted .269 (47-175) in 46 games.
2003
Hit .306 in 115 games with Sacramento (AAA) and led the River Cats in triples (8), stolen bases (32) and sacrifice hits (13) while tying for the team lead in runs scored (86) and hits (143)...Tied for 3rd in the PCL in runs scored and led the A's farm system in stolen bases and finished 2nd in
average...Had 2 stints with the A's, appearing in just 5 games...did not play in his 1st stint from July 24-27...Returned to Oakland on Sept. 14 after Sacramento (AAA) won the Pacific Coast League
Championship...Collected his 1st Major League RBI on Sept. 24 vs. Texas...Appeared in only 7 games in April as he was on the D.L. from April 5-24 with a right oblique strain...Reached base safely via hit or walk in 28 consecutive games from May 1-30...had a season-high 18-
game hitting streak from May 12-30, hitting .394 (28-71) during the streak...Batted .350 (7-20) with a homer and 4 RBI in 4 playoff games for Sacramento...played for Azucareros
in the Dominican Winter League and hit .253 with 3 home runs and 17 RBI in 48 games...added a
team-high 12 stolen bases which ranked 3rd in the league.
2002
Recalled from Sacramento on May 21 and went 0-6 with a walk and 4 strikeouts in his Major League
debut that night vs. Baltimore...Collected his 1st Major League hit on May 22 vs. Orioles, a leadoff single in the 1st inning off Calvin
Maduro...was optioned back to Sacramento on June 6...Led Sacramento with 4 triples and 26 stolen bases and ranked 2nd in games (121), at-bats (458), runs
(72) and walks (78)...his 26 steals were 3rd-most in the A's organization, while his walk total ranked
5th in the Pacific Coast League.
2001
Played for both Double-A Midland and Triple-A Sacramento and combined for career highs in runs (119), doubles (28), home runs (10) and hit by pitches (18)...led all of minor league baseball in runs scored and ranked second in the A's farm system in batting (.311) and stolen bases (48)...added 81 walks for a .427 on-base percentage...began the year at Double-A Midland and ranked second in the Texas League in on-base percentage (.415) and fifth in walks (63) and stolen bases (31)...finished second on the Rockhounds in walks and stolen bases despite appearing in just 92 games before he was moved up to Sacramento on July 25...hit .373 in 38 games with the River Cats and added 17 stolen bases...batted .465 (20 for 43) against left handed pitching with Sacramento and combined for a .325 (41 for 126) average against left handers at both levels...hit .238 (24 for 101) with runners in scoring position at Midland but that number improved to .343 (12 for 35) at Sacramento for an overall mark of .265...combined to appear in 113 games at second base at both levels...also hit .238 (15 for 63) in 18 games at designated hitter...batted .418 (51 for 122) when hitting second and all of those at bats came with Sacramento...batted .294 in April with 13 stolen bases in 17 games...stole 11 bases over a five-game span from April 27 to May 1, including consecutive three-steal games on April 27 at Arkansas and April 28 at Shreveport...started May 1 for 27 over his first seven games to drop his average to .205...then hit .337 (28 for 83) over his next 24 games to boost his average to the .273 mark on June 4...had a season best 15-game hitting streak from June 7 to 25 (21 for 61, .344) which saw his average peak at .288 on June 21...that was a part of a 39-game streak from May 15 to June 27 where he reached base via hit or walk in each game (47 for 148, .318, 33 walks)...posted his best batting average in July as he hit .326 (28 for 86) in 22 games before he was moved up to Sacramento on July 25...hit .357 (10 for 28) in seven July games with the River Cats for an overall mark of .333...then went on to bat .372 (42 for 113) in August and .444 (4 for 9) in September...had his first of two four-hit games on August 10 at Las Vegas...his second four-hit game on August 19 against Oklahoma boosted his Sacramento average to a season high .417...scored 31 runs in 29 August games...hit .300 (6 for 20) with four walks in five post-season games for the River Cats...ranked 10th in the Dominican Winter League with a .305 batting average at Azucareros...also ranked fourth in stolen bases (10).
2000
Began the year at Double-A Midland but, after hitting .213 in 24 games, he was moved back to the California League and spent the remainder of the season with Single-A Visalia...stole a league leading 78 bases at Visalia after swiping five at Midland...his 83 combined steals were a career high, led the A's farm system and ranked third in all of minor league baseball...tied for third in the Cal League with 10 triples...hit .264 in 109 games with the Oaks and combined for a .256 average in 133 games overall...led Visalia in triples and steals and tied for the lead in runs (82)...was caught stealing just eight times at Visalia for a stolen base percentage of 90.7...was voted the best baserunner in the Cal League...led league second basemen with 21 errors...added four errors in two games at shortstop in his first professional appearance at a position other than second base...opened the year at Midland and was hitting .261 after 14 games...then went 4 for 29 (.138) over his next 10 games and was transferred to Visalia on May 4...continued to struggle offensively, batting just .145 in May with the Oaks...was 30 for 168 (.179) over his first 45 games with Visalia but had 27 stolen bases over that span...ended that streak with a 4 for 5 performance on June 25 against Lancaster and hit .319 (83 for 260) with 51 steals over his final 64 games...was named California League Player of the Week, July 24-30...hit .476 (10 for 21) with six runs and four stolen base...had five stolen bases on August 30 against San Jose...finished August with a .339 batting average, 25 runs and 25 stolen bases in 28 games...hit .182 (8 for 44) in 11 playoff games.
1999
Led the California League and tied for fifth in all of minor league baseball with 102 walks...tied for second in the Cal League in runs (107), triples (12) and stolen bases (40) and was fourth in on-base percentage (.428)...also led Cal League second basemen in errors (38)...had career highs in hits (156), triples, RBI (52) and walks...led Modesto in runs, walks and stolen bases...tied for sixth in the A's farm system with a .311 batting average and ranked second with 40 steals...average improved to .358 (44 for 123) with runners in scoring position...batted exclusively in the leadoff spot...hit .347 with 25 walks in 28 games in May...batted .345 with 29 runs and 23 walks in 28 games in July...had his first of two four-hit games on July 3 against Stockton...the other came on July 19 against San Jose in the midst of a season high 17-game hitting streak from July 15 to August 1 (24 for 63, .381)...hit .316 (6 for 19) with three stolen bases in five playoff games.
1998
Began the year in the Dominican, hitting .313 in 10 games...was transferred to the A's affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League on June 24 and was named to the Arizona League All-Star team as a second baseman...led the league in games (55), runs (52), triples (10) and stolen bases (40), tied for fourth in hits (62) and was fifth in walks (33)...led AL second basemen in putouts (87), assists (116) and errors (13).
1997
Batted .317 in his first professional season with the A's affiliate in the Dominican League...added 58 stolen bases in 69 games...his 73 walks fueled a .474 on-base percentage.