The St. Louis Cardinals selected Oscar Mercado in the second round of the amateur draft in 2013. He started his career with the GCL Cardinals, hitting.209 in 42 games as the team’s primary shortstop.
Despite his poor BA and OBP, he scored 41 runs and drove in 25 for the Johnson City Cardinals in 60 games in 2014. (.303).
He hit 9 doubles and 3 home runs while also stealing 26 bases in 33 attempts after going 12 for 16 in his rookie year.
In 2015, he was promoted to the full-season Midwest League’s Peoria Chiefs, where he hit.254/.297/.341 in 117 games while also making 41 mistakes at shortstop.
He joined the Palm Beach Cardinals of the Florida State League in 2016 and split his time between shortstop and outfield. He hit.215 with a.296 on-base percentage.
He only hit 50 home runs and was caught 20 times while stealing 33 bases.
Despite his inability to translate his potential into actual productivity thus far, he was a late selection to the Colombian national squad for the 2017 World Baseball Classic, owing to his Colombian background.
The squad needed outfielders, as Tito Polo and Efrain Contreras were the only true fly-chasers on the team, but Oscar’s foot speed was particularly appealing.
He was utilized as a pinch-runner twice during the tournament, both times replacing DH Jhonatan Solano. He was outstanding against Canada, scoring a key insurance run in the ninth inning.
With nobody out and the score tied 3-3 in the ninth inning against the Dominican Republic, he replaced Solano at first base.
He advanced to third base and ran full speed to challenge Jose Bautista’s arm after Reynaldo Rodriguez hit a line shot to shallow left with one out.
What Nationality Is Oscar Mercado?
Oscar Mercado has two nationalities. He is Colombian and American. He was born in Cartagena, Colombia.