Orestes Destrade
Encyclopedia
Orestes Cucuas Destrade (born May 8, 1962), is a former Major League Baseball
infielder
.
, Cuba
, but emigrated to the United States
with his family at the age of six. During his youth, he played Khoury League at Flagami Park (Today's Brother's to the Rescue Park) in Miami. He graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami
. He later attended Florida College
.
, called up with the Pittsburgh Pirates
, and and for the Florida Marlins
. He also played 5 seasons (1989–1992 and 1995) for the Seibu Lions
of the Japanese Pacific League, where he led the league in home runs for three consecutive years. Randy Johnson
struck out Destrade for Johnson's first major league strikeout.
's Baseball Tonight
. He provided color commentary for the 2006 World Baseball Classic
and broadcasted again with the 2009 World Baseball Classic for ESPN. He helped broadcast the 2007
, 2008
& 2009
Little League World Series
. Until April he was co-host of XM Radio's Baseball This Morning show on MLB Home Plate
, XM channel 175, along with Buck Martinez and Mark Patrick
. Destrade also worked as an on-field reporter during the Tampa Bay Rays
' 2010 postseason celebration after clinching a playoff spot. As of May 2011, he is a contributor to Rays radio and TV broadcasts as an analyst.
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...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
.
Biography
Destrade was born in Santiago de CubaSantiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
, 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...
, but emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his family at the age of six. During his youth, he played Khoury League at Flagami Park (Today's Brother's to the Rescue Park) in Miami. He graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami
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...
. He later attended Florida College
Florida College
Florida College is a small, regionally accredited, coeducational Christian college located in the City of Temple Terrace, Florida, eight miles northeast of the City of Tampa, Florida...
.
Professional baseball career
After college, he played many seasons in the minor leagues before a his career at the major league level: Called up in September of with the New York YankeesNew 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...
, called up with 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...
, and and for 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...
. He also played 5 seasons (1989–1992 and 1995) for the Seibu Lions
Seibu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based west of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Prince Hotels, which in turn is owned by the Seibu Group...
of the Japanese Pacific League, where he led the league in home runs for three consecutive years. Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
struck out Destrade for Johnson's first major league strikeout.
Broadcasting career
Destrade appeared on ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight is a program that airs on ESPN. The show, which recapitulates the day's Major League Baseball action, has been on the air since 1990.-Air times:...
. He provided color commentary for the 2006 World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
and broadcasted again with the 2009 World Baseball Classic for ESPN. He helped broadcast the 2007
2007 Little League World Series
-Pool play:The top two teams in each pool move on to their respective semifinals. The winners of each met on August 26 to play for the Little League World Championship. Teams marked in green qualified to the knockout stage, while teams marked in red were eliminated.Ties are broken based on records...
, 2008
2008 Little League World Series
The Little League World Series, was held in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It began on August 15 and ended August 24. Eight teams from the United States and eight from throughout the world competed to decide the winner of the 62nd installment of the Little League World Series...
& 2009
2009 Little League World Series
-Pool play:The top two teams in each pool move on to their respective semifinals. The winners of each will meet on August 30 to play for the Little League World Championship. Teams marked in green qualified to the knockout stage, while teams marked in red were eliminated.Ties are broken based on...
Little League World Series
Little League World Series
The Little League Baseball World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 to 13 years old. It was originally called the National Little League Tournament and was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. It was first held in 1947 and is held every August in South...
. Until April he was co-host of XM Radio's Baseball This Morning show on MLB Home Plate
MLB Home Plate
MLB Network Radio is an American sports talk radio station on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio that features Major League Baseball related talk shows, as well as archives and live reports....
, XM channel 175, along with Buck Martinez and Mark Patrick
Mark Patrick
Mark Patrick is an American radio personality based in Indianapolis. Starting out on satellite radio, he was part of MLB Network Radio as the co-host of Baseball This Morning along with Buck Martinez. Patrick also hosted the Hoosier Lottery game show Hoosier Millionaire for 14 years...
. Destrade also worked as an on-field reporter during the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
' 2010 postseason celebration after clinching a playoff spot. As of May 2011, he is a contributor to Rays radio and TV broadcasts as an analyst.