Nelson Santovenia
Encyclopedia
Nelson Gil Santovenia Mayol (born July 27, 1961 in Pinar del Río
, Cuba
), is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a catcher
from 1987 to 1993. He played college baseball at the University of Miami
.
, graduating in 1979. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
in the 29th round of the 1979 amateur draft, but did not sign with them. Santovenia played college baseball for Miami Dade College
for two years, then transferred to the University of Miami
. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos
in the 3rd round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign with the team. In his one year at Miami, Santovenia was a member of the Miami Hurricanes baseball
championship team in 1982. In the final game of the 1982 College World Series
, Miami beat Wichita State University
, 9–3, and Santovenia was named to the all-tournament team for his role in the series. As a result of his playing he was drafted in the secondary phase of the 1982 draft, again by the Expos, with the 19th pick in the first round.
, playing alongside future star Andrés Galarraga
. He played 40 games in West Palm Beach in 1982, and spent the full 1983 season with the Memphis Chicks
. After spending the 1984 season with the Jacksonville Suns
, he spent the next two seasons moving between the AA-level Suns and the AAA-level Indianapolis Indians
. Santovenia spent most of the 1987 season with the Suns, playing 117 games for them. He had a batting average
of .279, hit 19 home run
s, and had a slugging percentage of .467.
Santovenia made his major league debut on September 16, 1987 against the New York Mets
. He came in to give regular catcher Mike Fitzgerald some rest, and caught the ninth inning; his second and final appearance of the season came two days later against the Philadelphia Phillies
, when he came in as a pinch hitter
, getting his only at-bat of the season.
The following two seasons saw Santovenia splitting time at catcher with Fitzgerald. On July 28, 1989, Vince Coleman
of the St. Louis Cardinals
was caught stealing
by Santovenia, ending Coleman's Major League streak of 50 consecutive stolen base
s. He played in 92 games during the 1988 Montreal Expos season
with a .236 batting average and eight home run
s, and played in 97 games during the 1989 Montreal Expos season
with a .250 batting average. However, by 1990 Santovenia's average had dipped below the mendoza line
. He hit .190 that season in 59 games, and in 1991 he split time between Indianapolis and Montreal, hitting .261 and .250, respectively.
On December 9, 1991, Santovenia was released by the Montreal Expos, and on February 3, 1992, he signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox. He played in two games for the White Sox and played 91 games with the Vancouver Canadians
in 1992, then was released. He signed with the Kansas City Royals as a free agent on December 10, 1992. Santovenia spent most of the season with the Omaha Royals
, and spent four games with Kansas City in 1993, his final major league appearance coming on October 2, 1993. After another season with Omaha, where he hit .164 in 45 games, he retired.
Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río is a city in Cuba. It is the capital of Pinar del Río Province.Inhabitants of the area are called Pinareños.Neighborhoods in the city include La Conchita, La Coloma, Briones Montoto and Las Ovas.-History:...
, Cuba
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...
), is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
from 1987 to 1993. He played college baseball at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
.
High school and college
Santovenia attended high school at Miami Southridge High SchoolMiami Southridge High School
Miami Southridge Senior High School is a secondary school located at 19355 SW 114 Avenue in Miami, Florida, USA . Its principal is David K. Moore...
, graduating in 1979. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the 29th round of the 1979 amateur draft, but did not sign with them. Santovenia played college baseball for Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College, or simply Miami Dade or MDC, is a state college with eight campuses and twenty-one outreach centers located throughout Miami-Dade County, Florida in the United States. It is part of the Florida College System. Miami Dade College is the largest school in the Florida College...
for two years, then transferred to the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in the 3rd round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft
1981 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1981 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*John Elway was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1981 amateur draft...
, but did not sign with the team. In his one year at Miami, Santovenia was a member of the Miami Hurricanes baseball
Miami Hurricanes baseball
The Miami Hurricanes baseball team is the college baseball program that represents the University of Miami.Since 1973, the program has been one of college baseball's elite with 23 College World Series appearances, winning four national championships and advancing to the NCAA regionals a record 39...
championship team in 1982. In the final game of the 1982 College World Series
1982 College World Series
The 1982 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska from June 4 to June 12. The thirty-sixth tournament's champion was the University of Miami, coached by Ron Fraser...
, Miami beat Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
, 9–3, and Santovenia was named to the all-tournament team for his role in the series. As a result of his playing he was drafted in the secondary phase of the 1982 draft, again by the Expos, with the 19th pick in the first round.
Professional career
Upon signing with the Expos, Santovenia spent his first season as a member of the West Palm Beach ExposWest Palm Beach Expos
The West Palm Beach Expos were a Florida State League minor league baseball team that existed from 1969 to 1997. Located in West Palm Beach, Florida, they were affiliated with the Montreal Expos and they played their home games at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium. They were one of the longest...
, playing alongside future star Andrés Galarraga
Andrés Galarraga
Andrés José Padovani Galarraga is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Montreal Expos , St. Louis Cardinals , Colorado Rockies , Atlanta Braves , Texas Rangers , San Francisco Giants and Anaheim Angels...
. He played 40 games in West Palm Beach in 1982, and spent the full 1983 season with the Memphis Chicks
Memphis Chicks
The Memphis Chicks were an American minor league baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Chicks were charter members of the Southern Association from 1901 until November 18, 1960, when the club folded and was transferred to Macon, Georgia for 1961.The Chicks suffered a...
. After spending the 1984 season with the Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
, he spent the next two seasons moving between the AA-level Suns and the AAA-level Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
. Santovenia spent most of the 1987 season with the Suns, playing 117 games for them. He had a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .279, hit 19 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and had a slugging percentage of .467.
Santovenia made his major league debut on September 16, 1987 against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. He came in to give regular catcher Mike Fitzgerald some rest, and caught the ninth inning; his second and final appearance of the season came two days later against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, when he came in as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
, getting his only at-bat of the season.
The following two seasons saw Santovenia splitting time at catcher with Fitzgerald. On July 28, 1989, Vince Coleman
Vince Coleman
Vincent Maurice Coleman is an American former Major League Baseball player, best known for his years with the St. Louis Cardinals. Primarily a left fielder, Coleman played from to and set a number of stolen base records. He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.-Biography:Coleman attended...
of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
was caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
by Santovenia, ending Coleman's Major League streak of 50 consecutive stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s. He played in 92 games during the 1988 Montreal Expos season
1988 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:* December 7, 1987: Dave Engle was signed as a free agent by the Expos.* December 16, 1987: Bryn Smith was signed as a free agent by the Expos.* December 18, 1987: Rex Hudler was signed as a free agent by the Expos....
with a .236 batting average and eight home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and played in 97 games during the 1989 Montreal Expos season
1989 Montreal Expos season
-Offseason:* December 8, 1988: Tracy Jones was traded by the Expos to the San Francisco Giants for Mike Aldrete.* December 8, 1988: John Dopson and Luis Rivera were traded by the Expos to the Boston Red Sox for Spike Owen and Dan Gakeler.-Regular season:...
with a .250 batting average. However, by 1990 Santovenia's average had dipped below the mendoza line
Mendoza Line
The Mendoza Line is an expression in baseball in the United States, deriving from the name of shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of incompetent hitting...
. He hit .190 that season in 59 games, and in 1991 he split time between Indianapolis and Montreal, hitting .261 and .250, respectively.
On December 9, 1991, Santovenia was released by the Montreal Expos, and on February 3, 1992, he signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox. He played in two games for the White Sox and played 91 games with the Vancouver Canadians
Vancouver Canadians
The Vancouver Canadians are a minor league baseball team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Canadians are the Northwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The C's have previously affiliated with the Oakland Athletics between 2000-2010. They are the only Canadian team in the...
in 1992, then was released. He signed with the Kansas City Royals as a free agent on December 10, 1992. Santovenia spent most of the season with the Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
, and spent four games with Kansas City in 1993, his final major league appearance coming on October 2, 1993. After another season with Omaha, where he hit .164 in 45 games, he retired.