51-736: Willians Astudillo (born October 14, 1991), nicknamed "La Tortuga" , is a Venezuelan professional baseball utility player who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and Miami Marlins , and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks . He made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2018, and has appeared at every position except shortstop in
102-519: A diverse population that reflects its colorful history and the peoples that have resided there throughout. The historic amalgam of the different main groups forms the basics of Venezuela's current demographics: European immigrants, Amerindian peoples , Africans , Asians (including the Arabs/West Asians ) and other recent immigrants. The autosomal DNA genetic composition of population in Venezuela,
153-620: A game in 2013, and spent the 2014 season with the Single-A Lakewood BlueClaws , posting a slash line of .333/.366/.434 in 117 games. In 2015, he played for the High-A Clearwater Threshers , slashing .314/.348/.384 with 3 home runs and 49 RBI in 107 games. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2015. On November 19, 2015, Astudillo signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves . He spent
204-636: A high number of other Europeans brought in were from Portuguese , Italian , and German immigrants to the region in the middle 20th century by the Petroleum Growth , and in much smaller numbers of French , English , Portuguese , Polish , Russian , Greek , Scandinavian , Romanian , Ukrainian and Hungarian communities who immigrated during the Second World War and the Cold War . 300,000 Italians and an equal numbers of Spaniards and immigrated in
255-476: A major league game. Willians Astudillo was born in Barcelona, Venezuela , located on the country's Caribbean coast. Astudillo's father, a professional baseball player in Venezuela, and his grandfather taught him from an early age how to play baseball. Drills included flicking corn kernel projectiles for the young Astudillo to hit with a broomstick. Astudillo signed his first professional baseball contract with
306-564: A major wave of 2.1 million European immigrants, being the third country in Latin America to have received Europeans, behind Argentina and Brazil. Writing was not used in pre-Columbian times, a historical stage where various groups began to move throughout the Americas, thus making it difficult to find evidence of the people who began to populate this land. However, archaeological excavations show evidence of certain periods that were taking place on
357-411: A process of "fusion" between the different racial groups: The "brown" were descendants of the unions between Whites, Indians and Blacks and by the 18th century were the largest racial and social group being more than 60% of the population. This process is currently responsible for the majority of Venezuelans who are of mixed race. This number, however, would continue to decrease after the economic boom in
408-511: A scoreless 8th inning against the Boston Red Sox . Astudillo ended the year hitting .236/.259/.375 with a career-high 7 home runs and 21 RBI in 72 games. On November 19, 2021, the Twins designated Astudillo for assignment. He cleared waivers and was released on November 24. On March 13, 2022, Astudillo signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins . He began the 2022 season with
459-565: A trend of using lighthearted names to show warmth and familiarity. They add a modern and friendly twist to Venezuelan identity, being introduced by local communities in english speaking countries as they welcome newcomers from Venezuela. Venezuela is a diverse and multilingual country, home to a melting pot of people of distinct origins, as a result, many Venezuelans do not regard their nationality with ethnicity, but with citizenship or allegiance. Venezuela as Argentina and Brazil, received most immigrants, during 1820s to 1930s Venezuela received
510-599: Is 60.60% of European contribution, 23% of Amerindian contribution, and 16.30% of African contribution. Many of the indigenous peoples were absorbed into the Moreno population, because of the heavy mixture of European and African people. They represent over half of the country's population (about 51.6%). This proportion is beginning to decrease, though, as mixed lower income Venezuelans are more likely to flee to other South American countries. Early European settlers and post-independence immigrants were mostly Spanish colonists, but
561-650: Is around 60,000 Syrian-Venezuelans living in Syria. More than 200,000 people from the Sweida area carry Venezuelan citizenship and most are members of Syria's Druze sect, who immigrated to Venezuela in the past century. According to a 2011 poll, 88.3 percent of the population is Christian, primarily Roman Catholic (71%), 17 percent Protestant , and the remaining 0.03 percent Mormons ( LDS Church ). The Venezuelans without religion are 9% ( atheist 2%, agnostic or indifferent 6% and doesn't know/doesn't respond 1% ), almost 3% of
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#1732844154192612-557: Is the fact that virtually there are no pure blacks nor indigenous people in Venezuela. With the exception of direct descendants of immigrants or specific indigenous tribes. In addition, according to a genetic autosomal DNA study conducted in 2008 by the University of Brasilia (UNB), the composition of the population of Venezuela is: 60.60% European, 23% of Native American contribution and 16% of Africa's contribution. The population of approximately 28 million people (in 2011) made Venezuela
663-742: The Aroa Valley , Litoral varguense , Eastern Falcon state ; Gibraltar , Bobures and Palmarito in the Sur del Lago Region; and in areas where slaves would run away during Colonial Venezuela and formed cumbes, communities in mountainous and isolated areas, such as, the Sierra de Falcón , Barlovento Region ( Acevedo , Andrés Bello , Brión , Buroz and Páez municipalities), Ocumare de La Costa , Choroní ; El Callao and Paria Peninsula (where Afro-Trinidadian also migrated); and through Los Llanos , well dispersed in small to decent percents. They represent 3.6% of
714-577: The Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional (LVMP). He also played for Venezuela in the 2021 Caribbean Series . He has thrice been a relief pitcher . On April 17, 2021, he took the Los Angeles Angels' 8th inning three up, three down in seven pitches, with his slowest tracked strike being at 46 mph. Two other of his seven pitches were so slow that the radar gun failed to track them. He again pitched in relief on August 26, 2021, when he pitched
765-584: The Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent on December 15, 2008. In 2009, Astudillo made his professional debut for the VSL Phillies , and spent the following season with the team as well, hitting .250 and .312, respectively. He improved his performance for the team in 2011, slashing .361/.424/.449 in 52 games. He spent the 2012 season with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Phillies , hitting .318/.327/.419 in 45 contests. Astudillo did not play in
816-696: The Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League . In 40 games for Aguascalientes, he slashed .319/.385/.438 with three home runs and 19 RBI. Astudillo was released by the Rieleros on October 22. Several prevalent distinctions about Astudillo have helped create popularity with fans: his non-athletic build, multi-positional flexibility, and a highly aggressive batting style that yields few strikeouts or walks. At 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) tall and 225 pounds (102 kg), his determination helped propel him to
867-718: The Roman Catholic , Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholic Churches . There are few Muslims . Israel has been chosen by many Venezuelan Jews , along with the United States and other countries. According to the Venezuelan Institute of Statistics, about one million Venezuelans have Syrian origins and more than 20,000 Venezuelans are registered in the Venezuelan Embassy in Damascus. Other sources stated that there
918-479: The United States , Canada and Peru . Arab immigration to Venezuela started as early as the 19th and 20th centuries. They came mostly from Western Asia, particularly Lebanon , Syria , and Palestine . They are mostly located in the most important urban areas and Margarita Island , representing around 5% of the population in Venezuela. In religion, the majority of Arab-Venezuelans are Christians who belong to
969-560: The 1940s and 1950s, and earlier who were fleeing from the Spanish Civil War (1930s). Up to 95% of Venezuelans live principally in important urban areas like Greater Caracas , Maracaibo , Maracay , Valencia , Lecheria , Barquisimeto / Cabudare , Colonia Tovar , Punto Fijo ; the Andean States , Margarita Island and Araya Peninsula . They represent almost half of the population with 43.6% self-identifying as ‘blanco’ (white) in
1020-478: The 2011 census. African people were brought as slaves , mostly to the coastal lowlands, beginning early in the 16th century, and continuing into the mid 19th century. Although they are located in almost the entire country, the Black and African population are concentrated in places where they used to be enslaved and worked as farm hands on subsistence farms of plantains , cocoa , tobacco , sugar cane and cotton in
1071-710: The 2016 season with the Double-A Mississippi Braves , batting .267/.293/.332 with 4 home runs and 30 RBI in 89 games. Astudillo elected free agency following the year on November 7, 2016. On April 4, 2017, Astudillo signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks , and was assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces . He spent the year with the Aces, posting a slash of .342/.370/.558 with 4 home runs and 22 RBI in 36 games. He elected free agency following
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#17328441541921122-468: The 2018 season, he had put the ball in play in 2,400 of 2,571 plate appearances. His brother, Wilfred, is also a professional baseball player. Venezuelans Irreligion , Deism , Agnosticism and Atheism : (8.0%) Venezuelans ( Spanish : venezolanos ) are the citizens identified with the country of Venezuela . This connection may be through citizenship, descent or cultural. For most Venezuelans, many or all of these connections exist and are
1173-753: The Caribes have won four titles ( 2010–11 , 2014–15, 2017–18 and 2020–21) in seven finals (2003–04, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2019–20 and 2020–21). On May 14, 2013, former Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers and Caribes de Anzoátegui player Magglio Ordoñez became a co-owner of the team. Since the 2010–11 season, they have not missed the playoffs once, the longest such stretch in team history. Pitchers [1] updated on 14 May 2021 Catchers Infielders Outfielders Manager Coaches 30 seasons totals Most Valuable Player (Víctor Davalillo Award): Magglio Ordoñez 1996–97, Eliezer Alfonzo 2007–08. Overall Offensive Performer of
1224-589: The Cold War. Black Africans were brought as slaves, mostly coastal lowlands, beginning early in the sixteenth century and continuing into the nineteenth century. Other immigrant populations are Asian and Middle East, particularly Lebanon, Syria and the Arab world, some Jews from southern Spain, Israel and Central European nations, Dominicans, Trinidadians and Tobagonians, Haitians, Cubans, Peruvians, Argentines, Uruguayans, Chileans, Ecuadorians, Guyaneses and Colombians, this being
1275-600: The Hawks in 2023, he batted .136/.220/.227 with one home run and 3 RBI. On December 4, SoftBank announced that Astudillo would not return to the team, making him a free agent. On February 8, 2024, Astudillo signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League . In 29 games for Saltillo, he batted .252/.304/.311 with no home runs and 10 RBI. On June 4, Astudillo was released by the Saraperos. On June 11, 2024, Astudillo signed with
1326-450: The Marlins selected his contract and he was promoted to the major leagues. He was designated for assignment on July 29. Astudillo cleared waivers and was sent outright to Jacksonville on August 1. He elected free agency on October 6, 2022. On November 11, 2022, Japanese media reported that Astudillo was signing with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball . In 20 games for
1377-621: The Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp . On May 25, 2022, Astudillo was selected to the active roster. He made his Marlins debut that same day against the Tampa Bay Rays . Astudillo was the winning run for the Marlins' contest against the Washington Nationals on June 8, scoring from second base in the bottom of the 10th inning. He was designated for assignment on June 26 and was sent outright to Triple-A. On July 24,
1428-411: The Twins in 2018, batting .355, .371 on-base percentage, .516 slugging percentage, three home runs, 21 RBI, two walks and three strikeouts over 93 plate appearances. The Twins announced their selection of Astudillo for his first major league 25-man Opening Day roster on March 27, 2019 , as one of five bench players. One month later, he was placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. He
1479-523: The Venezuelans live in urban areas – a figure significantly higher than the world average. The literacy rate (98 percent) in Venezuela is also well above the world average, and the rate of population growth slightly exceeds the world average. A large proportion of Venezuelans are young, largely because of recent decreases in the infant mortality rate. While 30 percent of the people are 14 years old or younger, just 4 percent are aged 65 or older. The country has
1530-630: The coast and spread to some nearby islands, trying to find new feeding alternatives. On August 2, 1498 (516 years), Christopher Columbus , and the Spanish colonizers' ships, first landed on the American mainland in what is currently Venezuelan territory. Colonization was rapid despite small local indigenous rebellions, and the Spaniards manage to conquer the territory. During this period, the most significant crossbreeding process took place. One that will later define
1581-469: The continent were probably from East Asia to 15,000 years. C. These early migrants (called forth by the generic name "Indians") came at first to be located in North America, later moving to the territory of present Venezuela. During this period, various mammals were disappearing by climatic changes already beginning to take place from 5000 years ago, so the population in the mainland, starts to move towards
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1632-526: The continent. Venezuela was probably first settled by humans 16,000 years ago, due to migration flows from other indigenous cultures of America, from the south to the Amazon, from the west through Los Andes and north by the Caribbean Sea . There are four periods of diversity that develop in the current Venezuela, which also entering a new period, it did not mean the end of the previous. The first migrations to
1683-521: The crown, representing only 15% of the population. Another group of whites who were born in Venezuela were originally called "Creole", representing 20% of the population: they were mostly from the Canary Islands and they worked mainly in petty trade. The other two smaller groups were the original inhabitants and indigenous blacks brought from Africa: they were about 5% of the population. Soon the original groups started to have interbreedings and this created
1734-566: The franchise was founded with 21 stockholders and begun a struggle for finding a second expansion team for it was a league requirement. It was not until 1990 that the Venezuelan league awarded the Puerto la Cruz-based franchise, and the Caribes de Oriente debuted in the 1991–92 season. The team's name remained until 2005, when it changed to Caribes de Anzoátegui up to the present. Throughout their history,
1785-567: The greatest social impact due to a large number of displaced individuals who entered the Venezuelan territory during the armed conflict in that country; which generated a high supply of labor, personnel and domestic economy informal. As of 1981, according to the critic D'Ambrosio and other academics, about 51.6% of Venezuelans are mestizos or mulattos (called Criollos : the 40% of them are with mostly white features, 20% with mostly black features and 10% with mostly Indians features), 45% are white, 2% are black and 1% Indians. According to these scholars,
1836-493: The lowest of all at 0.9% in Venezuela in 2011, second-lowest at 1.8% in Venezuela in 2010, and fourth-lowest at 2.4% in the Florida State League in 2015. On July 3, 2020, it was announced that Astudillo had tested positive for COVID-19 . Astudillo appeared in just 8 games in 2020, gathering only 16 at-bats and batting .250/.250/.500 with 1 home run and 3 RBI. After the 2020 season, he played for Caribes de Anzoátegui of
1887-459: The major leagues. “All my minor league career I heard I was not going to be a big leaguer because I did not 'look' like one. I was too short. I was too stocky. I did not have the physical traits customary associated with a Major League player,” he noted on Instagram . “Well here I am.” Combining his professional careers in both the American minor leagues and Venezuela, Astudillo has played at every position except shortstop. He then accomplished
1938-508: The mid 20th century. The country has a diverse population that reflects its rich history and the people that have lived here since antiquity to the present. The historic amalgam of different principal groups form the basis of the current demographics of Venezuela: the European immigrants, the Amerindian peoples, African, and other recent immigrants. Many of the indigenous peoples were absorbed by
1989-472: The mixed population, but the remaining 500,000 currently represent more than 85 different cultures. European immigrants were mainly Spanish colonists, but another large and growing number are descendants of Europeans ( Portuguese , Italians , Germans and Americans ) who migrated to the region in mid-twentieth century during the oil growth in the country. Small numbers are descendants of French , English and Polish , as they emigrated during World War II and
2040-701: The population follow other religions (1% of them are of santeria ). Caribes de Anzo%C3%A1tegui The Caribes de Anzoátegui ( Spanish pronunciation: [kaˈɾiβes ðe ansoˈateɣi] ; Anzoátegui Caribs ) is a baseball team in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League based in Puerto la Cruz , in the eastern state of Anzoátegui . In January 1987, a local businessmen group based in Puerto la Cruz , Venezuela stated their intention to Venezuelan Professional Baseball League to pursue an expansion franchise. Finally on July 15, 1987,
2091-462: The population. Before the Spanish colonization of the region that would become the country of Venezuela, the territory was the home to many different indigenous peoples . Today more than fifty different indigenous ethnic groups inhabit Venezuela. Most of them speak languages belonging to the Arawakan , Cariban , and Chibchan languages families. Pure indigenous Amerindians comprise around 2 percent of
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2142-874: The population. There are 101 languages listed for Venezuela in the Ethnologue database, of which 80 are spoken today as living languages. Today, they're mostly located south of the Orinoco , in the Guayana Region , an area that covers half of the country but the population represents just 2.7% of Venezuelans; other important regions where they're located are on Zulia state, Apure state, the Eastern Region and Orinoco Delta . The largest sub-groups are immigrants or descendants of immigrants from Mainland China, Philippines, India, Japan and Korea. The first wave of immigrants began in 1847 and consisted of mainly Cantonese immigrants; then
2193-611: The same feat within his first two major league seasons. Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey commented that team scouts were perplexed by Astudillo as projection systems failed to find any closely comparable hitters, and were also amused when he informed them that he could play center field. To prove it, Astudillo played footage of himself robbing a home run in a Venezuelan winter league game. In an era notable for its rising strikeout rates and where high walk rates are prized, Astudillo's aggressive batting approach yields an unusually low number of both. In his minor league career through
2244-569: The season on November 6. On November 30, 2017, Astudillo signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins and was assigned to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings . Astudillo was called up to the majors for the first time on June 29, 2018. He made his major league debut at Wrigley Field the following afternoon versus the Chicago Cubs as a defensive replacement in left field in the fifth inning, later switching to center field. In
2295-415: The second wave during beginning of the 1940s and 1950s, consisted of Chinese and Japanese immigrants; reaching a peak in the mid-1970s in connection with the oil boom , where Korean and Indian immigrants (mostly Indo-Caribbeans ) formed a new group to the country. Asian people represent around 1% of the Venezuelan population. The Chinese in Venezuela are the 4th largest diaspora in the Americas after
2346-547: The sixth inning, he singled on a ground ball to second base to score Robbie Grossman for his first major league hit. On July 14, 2018, he made his major league pitching debut, completing the final inning of a 19–6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Target Field . He allowed five runs on five hits and two home runs for a 45.00 earned run average (ERA) in his lone pitching entry of the season. Astudillo spent most of his playing time at catcher and third base and made other appearances at second base. He appeared in 30 games total for
2397-616: The sixth-most populous country in Latin America (after Brazil , Mexico , Colombia , Argentina and Peru ). Approximately more than one million (4-6% of the total population) are living in other countries. Due to the worsening economic conditions in Venezuela, there are 100,000 Venezuelans living in neighbouring Guyana and larger numbers living in Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, the USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Chile and Panama. More than ninety percent of
2448-572: The social profile of the country. With the passage of time, and the introduction of the African continent, a third race, the Africans, started to integrate into the population, creating heterogeneity in the faces of the society of the time. During colonial centuries in Venezuela began to settle the "peninsular whites", coming directly from the Iberian Peninsula and which were those who held positions in
2499-533: The source of their Venezuelan citizenship or their bond to Venezuela. In recent years, after mass emigrations, the term " Venzies " has emerged as a playful and affectionate nickname for Venezuelan men, while " Venuzzies " is sometimes used to refer to Venezuelan women, drawing inspiration from the Roman goddess Venus to emphasize elegance and femininity. These terms parallel other friendly demonyms like “Aussies” for Australians or “Kiwis” for New Zealanders, reflecting
2550-593: The year: Scott Cepicky 1992–93, Magglio Ordoñez 1997–98, Eliezer Alfonzo 2007–08. Comeback Player of the Year: Pedro Chávez 1992–93, José Francisco Malavé 2000–01, Alex Herrera 2005–06, José Castillo 2012–13. Manager of the Year (Chico Carrasquel Award): Marco Davalillo 2007–08, Alfredo Pedrique 2012–13, Alfredo Pedrique 2013–14. Pitcher of the Year (Carrao Bracho Award): Alex Herrera 2007–08, Andrew Baldwin 2010–11, Renyel Pinto 2011–12. Closer of
2601-472: Was batting .327 with two home runs. He ended the season hitting .268 in 58 games. He has also played for the Caribes de Anzoátegui in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League annually since the 2015–16 season. Known for an extremely high contact rate, Astudillo produced eight of the 30 lowest strikeout rates with a minimum of 100 plate appearances according to Baseball Prospectus ' catalog of over 42,000 individual seasons from 2005–2018. He produced
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