Rey Ordóñez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rey Ordóñez |
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Ordóñez holding a Beanie Baby with the New York Mets
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| Shortstop | |||
| Born: January 11, 1971 Havana, Cuba |
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| debut | |||
| April 1, 1996, for the New York Mets | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 19, 2004, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .246 | ||
| Home runs | 12 | ||
| Runs batted in | 287 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Reynaldo Ordóñez Pereira (born January 11, 1971) is a former professional baseball player from Cuba. He was a shortstop, a key defensive position in baseball. Rey played for nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the New York Mets, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Chicago Cubs. He was known for his amazing defensive skills.
Contents
Early Life and Journey to the U.S.
Rey Ordóñez was a very talented young baseball player in Havana, Cuba. He played for the Industriales club in the Cuban National Series. He was even chosen to play for the Cuban national team. This was for a big sports event called the 1993 Summer Universiade in Buffalo, New York.
During this tournament, Rey made a big decision. He decided to stay in the United States. This was a rare event for a Cuban baseball player at that time. Years later, in 2013, Rey was able to visit Cuba again.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minors
Before joining a major league team, Rey played for the St. Paul Saints. This was a team in a league called the Northern League. He played 15 games and hit well, with a .283 batting average. After this, he signed with the New York Mets in 1993. He officially retired from baseball in 2007.
Time with the New York Mets
Rey started playing for the Mets' minor league teams in 1994. He played for the St. Lucie Mets and then the Binghamton Mets. He made his big league debut in 1996.
Rey Ordóñez quickly became famous for his incredible defense. He won three Gold Glove Awards in a row from 1997 to 1999. These awards are given to the best defensive players in baseball.
He also set a special record for shortstops. In 1999 and 2000, he played 101 games in a row without making a fielding error. In 1999, he made only four errors all season. This was an amazing defensive performance for a shortstop.
While Rey was a defensive star, he wasn't known for his hitting. He didn't hit many Home runs or get many walks. His main strength was his glove, not his bat.
In 2000, Rey broke his left arm while playing. This injury was very serious. It meant he couldn't play in the 2000 World Series against the New York Yankees. After his injury, his defense was not quite the same. This made him less valuable to the team since his hitting wasn't his strong suit.
Playing for Other Teams
In 2002, Rey was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He missed most of the 2003 season because of injuries. In 2004, he signed with the Chicago Cubs. He played 23 games for the Cubs before being released later that year.
Later Career Attempts
In 2004, Rey tried out for the San Diego Padres. However, a new player, Khalil Greene, won the shortstop position. Rey did not play in Major League Baseball during 2005 and 2006.
In 2006, the Seattle Mariners signed Rey to a minor league contract. He hoped to make it back to the big leagues. However, he was sent back to the minor league camp in 2007. Rey never played for another major league team after that.
Personal Life
Rey Ordóñez has a son named Rey Jr. He supports his son.
See also
- List of baseball players who defected from Cuba
- List of Gold Glove Award winners at shortstop
