Ramón Vázquez

Ramón Vázquez
Ramón during batting practice at the Rangers home opener on April 8, 2008.
Boston Red Sox – No. 84
Infield Coach
Born: (1976-08-21) August 21, 1976
Aibonito, Puerto Rico
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 7, 2001, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
October 4, 2009, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Batting average .254
Home runs 22
Run batted in 176
Teams

As player

As coach

Ramón Luis Vázquez (born August 21, 1976) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball infielder and current coach for the Boston Red Sox. In that role, he will coordinate statical analysis and advanced scouting data and serve as a uniformed member of new manager Alex Cora's staff.[1]

Vázquez played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners (2001), San Diego Padres (2002–04), Red Sox (2005), Cleveland Indians (2005–06), Texas Rangers (2007–08) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2009). He batted left-handed and throws right-handed, and was listed as 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and 195 pounds (88 kg). He spent 2017 as a coach for the Padres, working primarily with infielders.[1]

Playing career

Vázquez attended Barrio Valle Real High School in Cidra, Puerto Rico and Indian Hills Community College in Centerville, Iowa. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 27th round (734th overall) of the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.

Vázquez debuted with the Mariners in 2001. Following the 2001 season, he was traded with Tom Lampkin, Brett Tomko and cash to the San Diego Padres for Alex Arias, Ben Davis and Wascar Serrano.

Following the 2004 season, Vázquez was traded with David Pauley, Jay Payton and cash to the Boston Red Sox for Dave Roberts. On July 7, 2005, he was traded by the Red Sox the Cleveland Indians for Alex Cora, now his manager in Boston.

Vázquez became a minor league free agent after the 2006 season, and on November 17, 2006, signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. Midseason injuries to Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock and second baseman Ian Kinsler forced Vázquez into an everyday role for the first time since the 2003 season.

On August 22, 2007, Vazquez had seven RBI with two homers in a record-setting 30–3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.[2]

On May 12, 2008, against his former team, the Seattle Mariners, Vázquez hit a walk-off home run in the 10th inning off Brandon Morrow.

On July 29, 2008, Vázquez victimized the Mariners again with last at bat heroics. After his third error of the game allowed the Mariners to take a 10–9 lead in the top of the 9th, Vázquez doubled to right-center field off Mariners closer J. J. Putz, just out of Ichiro's reach, to drive in 2 runs as the Rangers won the game 11–10. In a postgame interview with Jim Knox, broadcast over the stadium speakers, Vázquez thanked all the fans that were cheering him on despite his three errors, and also told those fans who booed him to "Take that, *BLEEP*!" (Vázquez did not curse, but rather sounded out the bleep.)

On December 12, 2008, Vázquez signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ramón also participated in the 2009 World Baseball classic representing Puerto Rico in the spring of 2009 where he played 3rd base.[3] His only home run of 2009 came against the Florida Marlins. He finished the season with 17 runs, 7 doubles, no triples, 1 home run, 16 runs batted in, 1 stolen base, to go along with a .230 average, a .335 on-base percentage, and a .279 slg percentage in 204 at bats.

On April 4, 2010, in a last-minute roster move, Vazquez was designated for assignment by the Pirates, and was released four days later. Vazquez signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on April 16, 2010. He was later released on June 16, 2010. He signed on to play with the Houston Astros AAA affiliate Round Rock Express on June 24, 2010.

After signing a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals for 2011, he was released on June 1.[4] He signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on June 19.[5] He was released on July 22.[6] On August 15, he signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins.[7]

Managing career

After retiring as an active player, Vázquez was recruited as a minor league instructor by the Houston Astros. During the 2014 season, he served as the hitting coach of the Rookie-class Gulf Coast League Astros.[8] The following season, Vázquez served as an infield development specialist for the Lancaster JetHawks of the A-Advanced Class California League.[9]

On November 19, 2015, Vázquez was named interim manager of the Cangrejeros de Santurce of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente, replacing Pedro López in the office.[10] Despite being the defending champions, the team had stalled and was last in the standings with a record of 4-10 when he took charge of it.[11] Under Vázquez, the Cangrejeros made a comeback and were able to classify to the postseason in second place, guaranteeing him the office for the rest of the season.[12][13][14] There, the team was paired against the Criollos de Caguas in the semifinals, winning a series of close games to advance.[15] In the finals, Vázquez managed the team to its second consecutive championship, defeating the Indios de Mayagüez despite falling behind early in the series. Ultimately, Santurce managed to clinch the series by picking up the first visitor win of the series, allowing them to play a decisive outing in their home field, the Hiram Bithorn Stadium.[16]

In 2016, he returned to the Lancaster JetHawks as their manager for their 20th anniversary season. He then joined the 2017 Padres as a coach.

Personal life

He and his wife, Griselda, have two children, son Nomar and daughter Sofia. They reside in Cayey, Puerto Rico.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 Browne, Ian (8 November 2017). "Red Sox hire three to join MLB coaching staff". Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  2. ↑ "Rangers break record". MLB.com. August 22, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Pirates sign infielder Ramon Vazquez". MLB.com. December 12, 2008.
  4. ↑ Goold, Derrick. "Shuffling Cards: Vazquez released, minor movements abound". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  5. ↑ Links, Zach. "Minor Deals: Castillo, Vazquez". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  6. ↑ Axisa, Mike. "Minor Moves: Vazquez, Diamond". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ Dierkes, Tim. "Marlins Notes: Ramon Vazquez, Morrison, Fernandez". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Astros announce Minor League coaching staff". Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  9. ↑ "JetHawks Announce 2015 Field Staff - Lancaster". Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  10. ↑ "El Nuevo Día". Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  11. ↑ jjvazq (November 20, 2015). "Ramón Vázquez es el nuevo dirigente de los Cangrejeros". Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  12. ↑ "El Nuevo Día". Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Cangrejeros apalean y terminan segundos". Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  14. ↑ "PR: Cangrejeros vencen a Criollos; van a postemporada". Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Cangrejeros eliminan a los Criollos y pasan a la final". January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  16. ↑ Rodriguez, Manolo (January 30, 2016). "'Back to Back' histórico de Santurce". Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Bio: Ramón Vázquez". MLB.com. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
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