Gil Rondon
Encyclopedia
Gilberto Rondón is a retired Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for the Houston Astros
in and the Chicago White Sox
in . He batted and threw right-handed.
in the 14th round of the 1972 amateur draft, but did not sign. He was then drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
in the 3rd round of the 1973 amateur draft. He spent the 1973 season with the rookie league Bluefield Orioles
, and part of the 1974 season with the Single-A Miami Orioles
before being released by the Orioles on June 12, 1974. He signed with the California Angels
before the 1975 season, and spent the season with the Single-A Salinas Packers
and the Double-A El Paso Diablos
.
Following the 1975 season Rondón was drafted by the Houston Astros
in the Rule 5 draft
. He spent the entire 1976 season
with the Astros, appearing in 19 games and starting
in 7. He spent 1977 in the minor leagues, spending part of the season with the Double-A Columbus Astros
and part with the Triple-A Charleston Charlies
. His tenure with the Astros organization ended after the 1977 season, when he was drafted by the New York Yankees
in the 1977 minor league draft.
Rondón spent the entire 1978 season in the Yankees organization, playing for the Single-A Fort Lauderdale Yankees
and later the Double-A West Haven Yankees
. Following the season he was purchased from the Yankees by the Leones de Yucatán
of the Mexican League, where he spent the 1979 season. On August 1, 1979, the Chicago White Sox
purchased him from the Leones, and he played for the Iowa Oaks, the White Sox Triple-A affiliate. He was called up to the major leagues again that September, and appeared in 4 games in relief
for the White Sox. Following the season he was purchased back by the Leones. He then signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers
and appeared in a few games for the Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes
, but he never appeared in a major league game again.
Rondón was a coach
for Puerto Rico
during the 2009 World Baseball Classic
.
and the nephew of Chi-Chi Olivo
, both of whom played in MLB in the 1960s.
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in and the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in . He batted and threw right-handed.
Playing career
Rondón was first drafted by the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in the 14th round of the 1972 amateur draft, but did not sign. He was then drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in the 3rd round of the 1973 amateur draft. He spent the 1973 season with the rookie league Bluefield Orioles
Bluefield Orioles
The Bluefield Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. Beginning in 2011, Bluefield will be affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The team plays their home games at Bowen Field, a...
, and part of the 1974 season with the Single-A Miami Orioles
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
before being released by the Orioles on June 12, 1974. He signed with the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
before the 1975 season, and spent the season with the Single-A Salinas Packers
Salinas Packers
There were two incarnations of the team known as the Salinas Packers. The first existed from 1954 to 1958, and was affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955 and the Milwaukee Braves from 1956 to 1958. The second incarnation existed from 1973 to 1975, and was affiliated with the California...
and the Double-A El Paso Diablos
El Paso Diablos
The El Paso Diablos are a professional baseball team based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The Diablos are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2005 season to the...
.
Following the 1975 season Rondón was drafted by the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. He spent the entire 1976 season
1976 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros' 1976 season was a season in American baseball. The team finished third in the National League West with a record of 80-82, 22 games behind the first-place Cincinnati Reds.- Offseason :...
with the Astros, appearing in 19 games and starting
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in 7. He spent 1977 in the minor leagues, spending part of the season with the Double-A Columbus Astros
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
and part with the Triple-A Charleston Charlies
Charleston Charlies
The Charleston Charlies was the name of the third and most recent Class AAA minor league baseball franchise that was located in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. The Charlies played in the International League from 1971 to 1976 as the relocated Columbus Jets franchise. In 1977 the franchise...
. His tenure with the Astros organization ended after the 1977 season, when he was drafted by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in the 1977 minor league draft.
Rondón spent the entire 1978 season in the Yankees organization, playing for the Single-A Fort Lauderdale Yankees
Fort Lauderdale Yankees
The Fort Lauderdale Yankees, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was an American minor league baseball franchise that existed from 1962 through 1992. The team was a Class A Florida State League affiliate of the New York Yankees and won seven FSL championships during its 31 years of existence.The...
and later the Double-A West Haven Yankees
West Haven Yankees
The West Haven Yankees were a minor league baseball team located in West Haven, Connecticut from 1972 until 1982. The team played in the Eastern League. Their home stadium was Quigley Stadium....
. Following the season he was purchased from the Yankees by the Leones de Yucatán
Leones de Yucatán
The Leones de Yucatán are a AAA-level baseball team playing in the Mexican League. Their homefield is the Estadio De Béisbol Kukulkán in Mérida, Yucatán.Former Major League Baseball player Oscar Azócar played for Yucatán in 2001....
of the Mexican League, where he spent the 1979 season. On August 1, 1979, the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
purchased him from the Leones, and he played for the Iowa Oaks, the White Sox Triple-A affiliate. He was called up to the major leagues again that September, and appeared in 4 games in relief
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...
for the White Sox. Following the season he was purchased back by the Leones. He then signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and appeared in a few games for the Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
, but he never appeared in a major league game again.
Rondón was a 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...
for Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico national baseball team
The Puerto Rico National Baseball Team is a team that is selected by the Puerto Rican Baseball Federation to compete in major international events in representation of Puerto Rico...
during the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
.
Family
Rondón is the son of Diomedes OlivoDiomedes Olivo
Diomedes Antonio Olivo Maldonado was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of three seasons in the majors, between and , for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals...
and the nephew of Chi-Chi Olivo
Chi-Chi Olivo
Federico Emilio "Chi-Chi" Olivo Maldonado was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of four seasons in the majors, between and , for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. He appeared in 96 games during his career, all in relief.Chi-Chi's brother, Diomedes Olivo, was also a major...
, both of whom played in MLB in the 1960s.
External links
- Minor league statistics at Baseball-Reference