Raúl Mondesí facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raúl Mondesí |
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Mondesí signing autographs at Spring Training in 1998
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| Right fielder | |||
| Born: March 12, 1971 San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic |
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| debut | |||
| July 19, 1993, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 27, 2005, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .273 | ||
| Home runs | 271 | ||
| Runs batted in | 860 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Raúl Ramón Mondesí Avelino, born on March 12, 1971, is a famous former baseball player from the Dominican Republic. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 13 seasons. Most of his time was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Raúl Mondesí was a great player known for hitting powerful home runs and being very fast.
He was named the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year in 1994. He also became an MLB All-Star and won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award twice. Mondesí was even part of the special 30–30 club twice! This means he hit 30 home runs and stole 30 bases in the same season. After his baseball career, Mondesí became involved in politics in the Dominican Republic.
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Baseball Career Highlights
Starting with the Dodgers
Raúl Mondesí first joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988. He was signed as a young player from the Dominican Republic. In 1990, playing for the Great Falls Dodgers, he hit very well and stole 30 bases. He was even chosen for the Pioneer League All-Star team.
He continued to play in minor leagues, showing off his skills. In 1993, he played for the Albuquerque Dukes. He hit 12 home runs and stole 13 bases that year.
Major League Debut
Mondesí played his first MLB game for the Dodgers on July 19, 1993. It was against the Philadelphia Phillies. He got his first major league hit as a pinch hitter. A few days later, on July 31, he hit his first home run. It was a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs.
He played in 42 games for the Dodgers in 1993. He hit .291 with four home runs.
Rookie of the Year
In 1994, Mondesí became a regular player for the Dodgers. He played in 112 games. He hit .306 with 16 home runs and 56 RBI. He also stole 11 bases. Because of his amazing first full season, he was chosen as the National League Rookie of the Year.
All-Star and Gold Glove Winner
In 1995, Mondesí had another fantastic year. He was named the National League Player of the Week twice. He also won his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award. This award is given to the best defensive players.
He was also selected to play in the 1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He even took part in the Home Run Derby, which is a fun competition where players try to hit as many home runs as possible. That season, he hit 26 home runs and had 88 RBI.
Joining the 30–30 Club
Mondesí made history for the Dodgers in 1997. He hit 30 home runs and stole 32 bases. This made him the first Dodger player ever to join the special 30–30 club. He also won his second Rawlings Gold Glove Award that year.
In 1999, he joined the 30–30 club again! He hit 33 home runs and stole 36 bases. This showed his amazing mix of power and speed.
Playing for Other Teams
After his time with the Dodgers, Mondesí played for several other teams.
- Toronto Blue Jays: In 1999, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. He played for them for two and a half seasons. He hit 66 home runs while with the Blue Jays.
- New York Yankees: In 2002, he moved to the New York Yankees. He played in 71 games for them that season. He helped the Yankees in the playoffs that year.
- Arizona Diamondbacks: In 2003, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played 45 games for them and hit eight home runs.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: In 2004, Mondesí signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Anaheim Angels: Later in 2004, he joined the Anaheim Angels.
- Atlanta Braves: His last team was the Atlanta Braves in 2005. He played 41 games before ending his baseball career.
Career Statistics
Over his 13 seasons in Major League Baseball, Raúl Mondesí played in 1525 games. He had a batting average of .273. This means he got a hit about 27.3% of the time he was at bat. He hit 271 home runs and had 860 RBI. He also stole 229 stolen bases.
He was a great defensive player too. He mainly played right fielder, and he was known for his strong arm and many assists.
Life After Baseball
After his successful baseball career, Raúl Mondesí decided to get involved in politics.
Becoming a Politician
In May 2006, he was elected to a position in the Dominican Republic's government. He became a member of the Chamber of Deputies. This is like being a representative for his home area, San Cristóbal.
In 2010, he was elected as the mayor of his hometown, San Cristóbal. He served as mayor for six years.
Family Life
Raúl Mondesí has a son named Adalberto Mondesí. Adalberto is also a professional baseball player! He made his MLB debut for the Kansas City Royals in the 2015 World Series.
See also
In Spanish: Raúl Mondesí para niños
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- 30–30 club
