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). His teams included the New York Mets, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Chicago Cubs.
Contents
Early Life and Journey to the U.S.
Rey Ordóñez was a very talented young baseball player in Havana, Cuba. He played for a team called the Havana Industriales. He was so good that he was chosen to play for the Cuban national team. In 1993, his team traveled to Buffalo, New York, for a big sports event.
While in Buffalo, Rey made a big decision. He chose to stay in the United States. This was a brave move, as it meant leaving his home country. He was one of only a few Cuban baseball players to do this at the time. Many years later, in 2013, Rey was able to visit Cuba again.
Playing Professional Baseball
Starting with the St. Paul Saints
Before joining a major league team, Rey Ordóñez played for the St. Paul Saints. This team was part of a league called the Northern League. He played 15 games with them in 1993. He hit well, with a batting average of .283.
After this, the New York Mets signed him as a free agent. This happened on October 29, 1993. Rey stopped playing baseball professionally in 2007. This was after several years away from the major leagues due to injuries.
Time with the New York Mets
Rey Ordóñez started his journey with the Mets in 1994. He played for their minor league teams, the St. Lucie Mets and the Binghamton Mets. He then made his big league debut in 1996.
Rey quickly became known for his amazing defense. He won three Gold Glove Awards in a row. These awards are given to the best defensive players. He won them from 1997 to 1999. In 1999 and 2000, Rey set a special record. He played 101 games in a row without making a fielding error. This is a huge achievement for a shortstop. In 1999, he made only four errors all season. Many people consider this one of the best defensive seasons ever for a shortstop.
While Rey was a defensive star, he wasn't known for his hitting. His career batting average was .246. He didn't hit many Home runs or get many walks. He was great at not striking out and could lay down sacrifice bunts. But his main value was always his incredible glove.
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In May 2000, Rey broke his left arm. This happened while he was trying to tag a player out. This injury was very serious. It meant he couldn't play in the 2000 World Series that year. After this injury, his defense was not quite the same. Since his hitting wasn't his strong point, his value to the team changed. Fans sometimes showed their frustration during the 2002 season.
Playing for the Devil Rays and Cubs
On December 15, 2002, Rey Ordóñez was traded. He went to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He missed most of the 2003 season because of more injuries.
In 2004, he signed with the Chicago Cubs. He played his first game for the Cubs on May 28. He got his first hit with the Cubs on June 2. Rey played 23 games for the Cubs. He had 10 hits before the Cubs released him on July 23, 2004.
Time with the Padres and Mariners
In 2004, Rey tried out for the San Diego Padres. However, a new player named Khalil Greene won the shortstop position. Rey didn't play in Major League Baseball during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
On November 14, 2006, the Seattle Mariners signed him to a minor league contract. In April 2007, Rey was sent to the Mariners' minor league camp. He hoped to play for another major league team, but it did not happen.
Personal Life
Rey Ordóñez has a son named Rey Jr. He has always supported his son.
See also
- List of baseball players who defected from Cuba
- List of Gold Glove Award winners at shortstop
