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Taveras left lasting impact on River Bandits fan

When one of Major League Baseball’s top prospects played for the Quad City River Bandits, he acquired the nickname, “El fenomeno,” Spanish for...

When one of Major League Baseball's top prospects played for the Quad City River Bandits, he acquired the nickname, "El fenomeno," Spanish for "The phenomenon."

Oscar Taveras played one season for the Quad City River Bandits in 2011. At the time, the young prodigy was 19 years old.

During his tenure in the Quad Cities, some fans got to know the slugger off the field.

"No one who ever met Oscar will forget him," said Jon Popham, who contributes to a blog covering the River Bandits.

Popham remembers Taveras as a bright star who shined on and off the field. A man of great faith, Popham said Tavaras took great pride in playing baseball.

"I never spoke to Oscar when he wasn't showing his thankfulness to God for being allowed to play the game of baseball," Popham recalled.

While playing for the River Bandits, Taveras hit eight home runs, 62 RBIs, and reeled in a .386 batting average. He was a two-time Midwest League Player of the Week and was crowned the Midwest League Batting Champion.

"He was an exemplary player," Popham said. "His fielding was amazing."

After five years in the minor league, Taveras landed in St. Louis as a backup right fielder for the Cardinals. In his limited playing time in 2014, the 22-year-old had a batting average of .239, rang in 22 RBIs and slugged three home runs, one which came in Game 2 of the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants.

Aside from the flash of his game, Popham said Taveras left a legacy worth remembering.

"Baseball lost a good player, but humanity lost a great man."

The Quad City River Bandits tweeted these pictures of Taveras on Monday, October 27, 2014.

River Bandits Tweet

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