By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer
He viewed the trade as another opportunity and another chance. "I haven't had the luck that a lot of people have had," D'Angelo Jimenez says.
"So I never thought this would happen. This is the best."
When the Reds traded a minor-league pitcher to the White Sox on July 6, they expected Jimenez would provide a serviceable glove and switch-hitting bat off the bench.
They instead found a leadoff hitter and starting second baseman, who when he talks about luck isn't referring solely to baseball.
"I didn't really know much about him," Reds manager Bob Boone said. "I had seem him in the minor leagues three or four years ago. I liked him as a player then.
"He's probably done more than I thought, than I really expected coming in."
Monday's start against the Brewers was Jimenez's 11th since the trade and 10th in which he batted from the leadoff spot.
His single to right field to lead off the game extended his career-best hitting streak to 11 games.
"I enjoy being at the top of the order," Jimenez said. "It makes me feel like I have to get on base, that I have to do a lot of good things to help my team win."
He had a .333 batting average and .404 on-base percentage through his first 10 games. In the field, where the Reds have had so many problems this season, Jimenez had not made an error.
The Reds are Jimenez's fourth team, third since he survived a serious car crash in his native Dominican Republic in January 2000.
The crash broke the second cervical vertebra in his neck. It was an injury that threatened not only his baseball career but also his life. Jimenez returned to baseball in 2001 and played 56 games for Columbus before the Yankees traded him to San Diego.
After playing in 173 games for the Padres in the 2001 and 2002 seasons, he was traded to the White Sox last July. Chicago designated him for assignment July 2, after the White Sox acquired Roberto Alomar from the Mets.
Jimenez batted .255 with seven homers and 26 RBI in 73 games for the White Sox.
"I'm trying to forget about what happened over there in Chicago and just come here to Cincinnati and enjoy it," Jimenez said. "I'm just trying to play the way I have normally. Every time that I'm going to hit, I just prepare to get on base and wait for the right pitch."
Return to Reds front page...
