Robinson Cano

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Canó and the second or maternal family name is Mercedes.

Robinson José Canó Mercedes (Spanish pronunciation: [kaˈno]; born October 22, 1982) is a Dominican baseball player who currently plays as a second baseman for the New York Yankees.

His father, José Canó, signed with the Houston Astros in 1980, and pitched in six games for the Astros in 1989. Robinson was named after baseball legend Jackie Robinson.

Canó grew up in the Dominican Republic though he lived in New Jersey for three years. He spent seventh, eighth and ninth grades in the Newark school system, attending Barringer High School for one year.

When his family moved back to the Dominican Republic, Canó attended San Pedro Apostol High School in San Pedro de Macoris, where he played for the school's baseball and basketball teams.In the Dominican Winter Baseball League he plays for his hometown team Estrellas Orientales.

After graduating high school, Canó was signed by the Yankees in 2001 as an amateur free agent and began playing in their minor league system. He was viewed as a top prospect during his time in the minor leagues.

He was one of five prospects offered to the Texas Rangers to complete the Yankees' acquisition of Alex Rodriguez in 2004.

The Rangers selected Joaquín Árias instead. Canó was nearly traded two other times by the Yankees in its attempts to obtain Carlos Beltrán from the Kansas City Royals, which was never realized, and Randy Johnson from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Even though the later deal was made, Canó was not part of it because he was rejected by the Diamondbacks. As a child he was often given the nickname the "beastly geek" for his prowess in the school and the field.