Just 27 years old, Vladimir continues to improve offensively, as he established career bests last year in hits, steals (40), walks (84) and on-base percentage (.417). Once criticized as a free swinger with no idea of the strike zone, Vladimir drew more walks than strikeouts (70) in 2002. A notorious "bad ball" hitter, opposing pitchers have no obvious weaknesses to exploit. In the field, Vladimir has a cannon for an arm. He has registered 76 assists in the past six seasons, reaching double-digits every year.
Signed by the Expos in 1993, Vladimir was the MVP of the Eastern League in 1996. He made his major-league debut that same year and has been a fixture in right field in Montreal since 1997. Vladimir's older brother Wilton is a seven-year, major-league veteran, and the two were reunited on the field last year, when Montreal reacquired him from Cincinnati.
--BigLeaguers.com
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC