Pedro Julio Feliz (born April 27, 1975 in Ázua de
Compostela, Dominican Republic) is a Major League
Baseball third baseman for the Philadelphia
Phillies. Feliz has hit 20 or more home runs in his
least 4 seasons and is an above average fielder at
third base.[1] He spent the first 8 years of his
major league career with the San Francisco Giants.
Feliz had been with the Giants since 2000, and was
their only homegrown position player from 2002 to
2007. He became a semi-regular in 2004. He filled in
for regular Edgardo Alfonzo for 51 games at third
base, played 70 games for the injured J.T. Snow at
first base, appeared in 20 at shortstop and four in
the outfield. With the bat, Feliz posted career
highs in batting average (.276), home runs (22), RBI
(84), at bats (503), and games played (144).
Feliz has been moved around defensively throughout
his career, especially during the Giants'
injury-riddled 2005 season. By 2007, he settled in
as the Giants' starting third baseman.
Although Feliz is a decent power hitter, his career
batting average prior to the 2006 season was only
.255, and he draws few walks, having never posted an
on-base percentage above .305 or an OPS above .793.
He has often been criticized for his lack of
patience at the plate. In 2005, he struck out a
career-high 102 times.
On June 8, 2007, in a game against the Oakland A's,
Feliz played catcher for the first time in his major
league career. During that game, the Giants'
starting catcher Bengie Molina left on a double
switch. Their backup catcher, Eliézer Alfonzo, was
injured on a play at the plate and had to leave the
game in the 10th inning. With the Giants out of
position players, Feliz moved to catcher, Randy Winn
moved from center field to third, Dan Ortmeier moved
from right field to center, and pitcher Noah Lowry
came into the game in right.
He was seeking a 3-year contract extension with the
Giants following the conclusion of his contract
after the 2007 season, but the Giants decided
against such an offer. Feliz declined salary
arbitration and filed for free agency.
On January 31, 2008, Feliz signed a two year deal
with the Philadelphia Phillies. Feliz was offered
more guaranteed money by the Giants but was
alienated by the way the Giants treated him during
negotiations.
