Estrada recalls life-altering event that helped shape MLB career

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It hasn't been an easy journey through the majors for Thairo Estrada. 

The former New York Yankees prospect and current starting second baseman for the Giants already has overcome major obstacles in his career. 

In February of 2018, when Estrada was just 21 years old, the infielder was involved in an attempted robbery back in his home country of Venezuela. He recalled two teenagers demanding he give up cash or his phone, and when he said he had neither on him, they shot him in the right hip, where the bullet was lodged for six months after the incident. 

Estrada joined NBC Sports Bay Area and Telemundo 48's Carlos Ramírez for an exclusive interview, where he discussed the incident and how it impacted his outlook on life afterward. 

"I come from a humble family," Estrada said. "No one thinks something like that might happen to them. I see it as a second chance that God gave me. Every morning I wake up, feeling healthy and happy, being able to play. That's the Thairo Estrada you'll see every day, because God gave me this second chance. 

"It's just things you can't control. So, I'm just happy and after that event, I've been really blessed."

After his recovery, Estrada returned to the field that same 2018 season and went on to play in 18 combined games for both the Yankees Single-A and Triple-A teams towards the end of the year. Estrada played 19 additional games in the Arizona Fall League that year before returning to Triple-A in 2019, where he played 60 games before being called up to the major league squad. 

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Since then, Estrada continued to establish himself as a potential everyday player until the Giants acquired him in a trade with the Yankees in April of last season. 

In 51 games this season, the 26-year-old is hitting .274/.313/.381 with two home runs and 20 RBI in 168 at-bats as an everyday player for the Giants

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