Euclides Rojas
Encyclopedia
Euclides Rojas is a Cuba
n-born coach
and player development official in Major League Baseball
. On November 24, 2010, he was named bullpen coach
of the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
Rojas spent the previous six seasons as the Pirates' Latin America
n field coordinator of instruction. He spent the full seasons of 2003
–2004
as the bullpen coach of the Boston Red Sox
, a period during which the Red Sox went to Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series
and won the 2004 American League pennant
and the 2004 World Series
.
Rojas was a right-handed relief pitcher
in his playing days. He was the Cuban National Team's all-time leader in saves before he and 12 others left their homeland by raft in 1994, were rescued by the United States Coast Guard
, and eventually emigrated to the United States
. Rojas played independent league baseball in 1995 before being acquired by the Florida Marlins
in his adopted city of Miami, Florida
. Rojas pitched for two seasons in the Marlins' system — including service with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights
for eight games — before injuries ended his active career. He won four games and lost six, appearing in 29 games with an earned run average
of 4.56. He batted right-handed and stood 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and weighed 210 pounds (95 kg) as an active player.
In 1997, he became a full-time coach in the Marlins' system, a post that he held through . In 2000
, he was briefly a member of the Marlins' MLB coaching staff, serving as interim bullpen coach. He spent the season with the Pirates as Latin American pitching coordinator, and rejoined the Pittsburgh system in .
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n-born coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and player development official in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. On November 24, 2010, he was named bullpen coach
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
Rojas spent the previous six seasons as the Pirates' Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n field coordinator of instruction. He spent the full seasons of 2003
2003 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox' 2003 season included the Red Sox attempting to win the American League East division, the ALDS, and the American League.-Offseason:...
–2004
2004 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox 2004 season was the 103rd Major League Baseball season for the Boston Red Sox franchise. Managed under Terry Francona, the team finished with a 98–64 record...
as the bullpen coach of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, a period during which the Red Sox went to Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series
2003 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 8, 2003 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkBacked by three home runs, Tim Wakefield shut the Bombers down in Game 1.-Game 2:Thursday, October 9, 2003 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York...
and won the 2004 American League pennant
2004 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since , ending the Curse of the Bambino.*With 262 hits, Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners breaks George Sisler's record of 257. Suzuki also sets the record for most singles in a season, with 225.*2004 also marked the final...
and the 2004 World Series
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
.
Rojas was a right-handed relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in his playing days. He was the Cuban National Team's all-time leader in saves before he and 12 others left their homeland by raft in 1994, were rescued by the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
, and eventually emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Rojas played independent league baseball in 1995 before being acquired by the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
in his adopted city of Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. Rojas pitched for two seasons in the Marlins' system — including service with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
for eight games — before injuries ended his active career. He won four games and lost six, appearing in 29 games with an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 4.56. He batted right-handed and stood 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and weighed 210 pounds (95 kg) as an active player.
In 1997, he became a full-time coach in the Marlins' system, a post that he held through . In 2000
2000 Florida Marlins season
The Florida Marlins' 2000 season started off with the team trying to improve on their season from 1999. Their manager was John Boles. They played home games at Pro Player Stadium...
, he was briefly a member of the Marlins' MLB coaching staff, serving as interim bullpen coach. He spent the season with the Pirates as Latin American pitching coordinator, and rejoined the Pittsburgh system in .