Franklin Rafael Gutiérrez (born February 21, 1983 in
Caracas, Venezuela) is an outfielder in Major League
Baseball who currently plays for the Cleveland
Indians. He bats and throws right handed.
Gutiérrez was acquired by the Cleveland Indians
prior to the 2004 season for outfielder Milton
Bradley and was assigned to Double-A Akron after the
transaction. He entered the season ranked by
Baseball America as the No. 3 prospect in the Los
Angeles Dodgers organization and the top position
prospect, possessing five-tool ability. Previously,
Los Angeles refused to include Gutiérrez in a deal
over the winter that would have landed the Dodgers
first baseman Richie Sexson.
In 2005, Gutiérrez posted a 261 batting average with
11 home runs and 42 RBI for Akron, and hit .254 with
seven RBI in 19 games with Triple-A Buffalo. Between
his two minor league stops, he stole 16 bases in 22
attempts. In the minors, he showed one of the
sweetest swings in the game and tremendous fielding
abilities with a strong and accurate throwing arm.
The Indians called up Gutiérrez on August 31 to give
them more flexibility in the outfield and more speed
on the bases.
