Héctor Luna

Héctor R. Luna (born February 1, 1980) is a Dominican Republic former professional baseball infielder. He last played for the Hiroshima Carp in Nippon Professional Baseball. He is primarily an infielder, but has played every position at the major league level except pitcher and catcher.

Career

Cleveland Indians
Luna was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Indians in 1999 and played from 2000 to 2003 with the Indians farm system, reaching as high as AA with the Akron Aeros in 2003.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays drafted Luna from the Indians in the 2002 Rule 5 Draft. He returned to the Indians in April 2003.

St. Louis Cardinals
Luna was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Indians in the Rule 5 Draft in December . He made his major league debut with the Cardinals on April 8, . He hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat, against Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano.

In the 2004 World Series, while playing against the Boston Red Sox, Luna appeared in one game. In the eighth inning of the Game 4, he pinch hit for second baseman Tony Womack and struck out.

Return to Indians
On July 30, , Luna was traded by the Cardinals to the Cleveland Indians for second baseman Ronnie Belliard. He split second base duties with Joe Inglett for the remainder of the season.

After the 2006 season, the Indians acquired Josh Barfield from the San Diego Padres to be the team's everyday second baseman, leaving Luna to fight for a utility infield role with three other candidates during the team's  spring training. He performed poorly during spring training, committing eight errors and batting just .012 in 28 spring games. The Indians kept Mike Rouse as their utility infielder and Luna began 2007 with the AAA Buffalo Bisons.

Toronto Blue Jays
On August 3, 2007, the Toronto Blue Jays claimed Luna off waivers, and he played in 22 games in 2007 and two in 2008 with Toronto.

Los Angeles Dodgers
Luna became a free agent after the  season and signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Luna was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes for the 2009 season. He had a successful year for the Isotopes, hitting .351 with 17 home runs and 62 RBI in 92 games.

Florida Marlins
On December 4, 2009, Luna signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins. He spent the majority of the season in the Marlins system and appeared in 27 games for the Marlins late in the season, hitting .138 with two home runs and 4 RBI.

Boston Red Sox
On January 3, 2011, Luna signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Philadelphia Phillies
On December 21, 2011, Luna signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.  After opening the  season with the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs, his contract was purchased by the Phillies on May 11.  Luna replaced the injured Laynce Nix on the Phillies' 25-man roster.  He hit a grand slam in his first official at-bat as a Phillie five days later against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He was released by the Phillies on August 30, 2012.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Luna signed with the Pirates on August 31, 2012. In November 2012, Luna became a free agent.

Chunichi Dragons
In November 2012, Luna signed with the Chunichi Dragons worth $450,000 with up to $200,000 in incentives. With the conclusion of the 2015 NPB season, his third year with the Chunichi Dragons, Luna had batted .316 with 34 home runs and 184 RBIs in 346 games played.

Hiroshima Carp
On December 18, 2015 as a free agent, Luna signed with the Hiroshima Carp on a one-year deal. In 2016, Luna played in 67 games for the Carp, batting .272 with five home runs and 34 RBI.  At the end of the season, Luna was one of 3 foreign players cut by the Carp including Jason Pridie and Steve Delabar.

Through four seasons in NPB, Luna had a career batting average of .309.

See also
List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their first major league at bat
Rule 5 draft results

References

External links

1980 births
Living people
Águilas Cibaeñas players
Albuquerque Isotopes players
Arizona League Dodgers players
Akron Aeros players
Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
Burlington Indians players (1986–2006)
Chunichi Dragons players
Cleveland Indians players
Columbus RedStixx players
Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Canada
Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Japan
Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States
Florida Marlins players
Hiroshima Toyo Carp players
Indianapolis Indians players
Kinston Indians players

Lehigh Valley IronPigs players
Mahoning Valley Scrappers players
Major League Baseball infielders
Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic
Memphis Redbirds players
New Orleans Zephyrs players
Nippon Professional Baseball first basemen
Nippon Professional Baseball third basemen
Pawtucket Red Sox players
Philadelphia Phillies players
St. Louis Cardinals players
Syracuse Chiefs players
Toronto Blue Jays players