Placed on the 15 Day DL on Tuesday, March 25th, retroactive to March 21st. An administrative move, Juan will miss the 2008 season due to his serious injury and his career may be over.

Current Contract
Signed a three-year, $15 million contract on December 23, 2005.

2006: $3,500,000
2007: $5,000,000
2008: $6,500,000

Agent: Michael Moline

Became a Cardinal
Signed as a free agent on December 23, 2005.

2007 Season
Encarnacion suffered multiple fractures of his left eye socket and a serious eye injury when he was hit by a foul ballwhile standing in the on-deck circle in August, causing him to miss the rest of the season and maybe ending his career.

Prior to the season ending injury, Encarnacion had mild knee tendinitis that kept him out of several games and he was recovering from off-season wrist surgery.

In 78 games for St. Louis, he hit .283/.324/.445 with nine home runs and 47 RBI.

The Birdhouse asks you to remember Juan in your prayers.

2006 Season
Encarnacion hit .278 with 19 home runs, 25 doubles, and 79 RBI in his first season with the Cardinals. He hit just .182 in the postseason and went hitless in eight World Series at-bats. Following the season, in December, Encarnacion underwent minor surgery on his left wrist.

Career Notes
Signed by the Detroit Tigers as a non-drafted free agent in 1992, Encarnacion has posted a career batting mark of .268 with 128 home runs and 541 RBI in seven-plus seasons in the majors with Detroit (1997-2001), Cincinnati (2002), Florida (2002-2005) and Los Angeles (2004). The Tigers traded him to Cincinnati with Luis Pinedaon on December 11, 2001, for Dmitri Young. The Reds sent him packing to Florida on July 11, 2002, with Wilton Guerrero and Ryan Snare for Ryan Dempster. He was then traded to Los Angeles in December, 2003, for Travis Ezi. On July 30, 2004, the Dodgers sent him back to Florida along with Paul Lo Duca and Guillermo Mota for Hee Seop Choi, Brad Penny, and Bill Murphy. He became a free agent and signed with the Cardinals following the 2005 season.

Photo: MLB Photos