Raúl Mondesí
Encyclopedia
Raúl Ramón Mondesí Avelino (born March 12, 1971, in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
) is a former Major League Baseball
player and the current mayor of San Cristóbal Province in the Dominican Republic
. He was the National League
Rookie of the Year
in 1994 as a right fielder
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
. He won Gold Glove Award
s in 1995 and 1997 as an outfielder
.
as an amateur free agent in 1988 out of the Dominican Republic
. With the Great Falls Dodgers in 1990 he hit .303 with 30 stolen bases and was selected to the Pioneer League All-Star team. In 1991 he played in 21 games with the Bakersfield Dodgers, 53 games with the San Antonio Missions
and 2 with the Albuquerque Dukes
hitting .277 with 8 home runs and 18 stolen bases. In 1992 he played 18 games with San Antonio and 35 with Albuquerque, hitting .296. He spent all of 1993 with the Dukes, hitting .280 with 12 homers and 13 steals.
He made his Major League debut for the Dodgers on July 19, 1993 against the Philadelphia Phillies
, hitting a single to center field as a pinch hitter in seventh inning against David West
for his first major league hit. He hit his first home run, a two run shot off Bob Scanlan
in the 13th inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs
on July 31. He returned to the minors after the August 6 games, but was back with the Dodgers for good in September. He appeared in 42 games that season for the Dodgers, hitting .291 with only 4 home runs.
Mondesí made the Dodgers opening day roster in 1994 and played in 112 games, hitting .306 with 16 homers, 56 RBI and 11 stolen bases. He was selected as the National League Rookie of the Year.
In 1995, he was twice selected as National League Player of the Week (April 30 and July 5), he won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award
and was selected to the 1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
. He flew out to right field in his one at-bat in the All-Star game. He also competed in the Home Run Derby
. Overall, he hit .285 with 26 home runs, 88 RBI and 14 stolen bases. He had two hits in nine at-bats for the Dodgers in the 1995 National League Division Series
loss to the Cincinnati Reds
. He was two for twelve in the 1996 National League Division Series
against the Atlanta Braves
, with two doubles.
In 1997 he hit .310 with 30 homers, 88 RBI and 32 steals.. becoming the first Dodger player in history to join the 30-30 club
. He also won his second Rawlings Gold Glove Award
and finished 15th in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award. In 1999 he again joined the 30-30 club
with 33 homers and 36 steals, though his average had dipped to .253.
) to the Toronto Blue Jays
for Shawn Green
and minor league player Jorge Nunez. He played two and a half seasons with the Blue Jays, playing in 320 games and hitting 66 home runs. He won the American League Player of the Week Award for the week of May 6, 2001.
on July 1, 2002 for Scott Wiggins
. He played in 71 games for the Yankees that season and another 98 in 2003, hitting .250 with 27 home runs and 92 RBI. He had 3 hits in 12 at-bats for the Yankees in the 2002 American League Division Series
against the Anaheim Angels
.
for David Dellucci
, Bret Prinz
and minor leaguer John Prowl. In 45 games with the Diamondbacks, he hit .302 with only 8 home runs.
on February 24, 2004. By May he was talking of leaving the team for personal reasons, involving a legal dispute, in the Dominican Republic. He left the team on May 11, 2004 and his contract was terminated a week later
signed him on May 30, 2004. The deal was investigated by Major League Baseball
, as the circumstances were questionable, but the Angels were cleared of any wrongdoing. Shortly after he signed with the Angels, he tore his quadriceps and was placed on the disabled list. He was released by the Angels in July for not showing up for his rehab therapy.
signed Mondesí in 2005; he appeared in 41 games before the team released him on May 31.
In May 2006, running on the ballot of the Dominican Liberation Party
, he was elected to a seat in the Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies
, representing his home province San Cristóbal. In November 2007, he switched sides aligning himself with the Dominican Revolutionary Party
after discrepancies with the government over humanitarian aid to be given to his province after Tropical Storm Noel. He was elected mayor of his hometown on May 16, 2010 for a six-year term.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
) is a former 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...
player and the current mayor of San Cristóbal Province in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. He was the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
in 1994 as a right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for 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...
. He won Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
s in 1995 and 1997 as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Mondesí was originally signed by the Los Angeles DodgersLos 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...
as an amateur free agent in 1988 out of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. With the Great Falls Dodgers in 1990 he hit .303 with 30 stolen bases and was selected to the Pioneer League All-Star team. In 1991 he played in 21 games with the Bakersfield Dodgers, 53 games with the San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
and 2 with the 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,...
hitting .277 with 8 home runs and 18 stolen bases. In 1992 he played 18 games with San Antonio and 35 with Albuquerque, hitting .296. He spent all of 1993 with the Dukes, hitting .280 with 12 homers and 13 steals.
He made his Major League debut for the Dodgers on July 19, 1993 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...
, hitting a single to center field as a pinch hitter in seventh inning against David West
David West (baseball)
David Lee West , is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1988-1998...
for his first major league hit. He hit his first home run, a two run shot off Bob Scanlan
Bob Scanlan
Robert Guy Scanlan Jr. , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1991-2001...
in the 13th inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on July 31. He returned to the minors after the August 6 games, but was back with the Dodgers for good in September. He appeared in 42 games that season for the Dodgers, hitting .291 with only 4 home runs.
Mondesí made the Dodgers opening day roster in 1994 and played in 112 games, hitting .306 with 16 homers, 56 RBI and 11 stolen bases. He was selected as the National League Rookie of the Year.
In 1995, he was twice selected as National League Player of the Week (April 30 and July 5), he won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award
Rawlings Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
and was selected to the 1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 66th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 11, 1995 at The Ballpark in Arlington in Arlington, Texas, the...
. He flew out to right field in his one at-bat in the All-Star game. He also competed in the Home Run Derby
Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It is a contest among the top home run hitters in Major League Baseball to determine who can hit the most home runs. The event is currently sponsored by State Farm Insurance...
. Overall, he hit .285 with 26 home runs, 88 RBI and 14 stolen bases. He had two hits in nine at-bats for the Dodgers in the 1995 National League Division Series
1995 National League Division Series
-Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers:-Game 1, October 3:Coors Field in Denver, ColoradoGame 1 was a match-up between aces: Greg Maddux for the Atlanta Braves and Kevin Ritz for the Colorado Rockies. Ritz and Maddux worked their way out of minor trouble early on, but, in the top of the third,...
loss to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He was two for twelve in the 1996 National League Division Series
1996 National League Division Series
-Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers:-Game 1, October 1:Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe Cardinals and Padres began their rivalry in this series. The Cardinals' first of three postseason victories against the Padres took place here. Their dominance is overwhelming to the tune of only one...
against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, with two doubles.
In 1997 he hit .310 with 30 homers, 88 RBI and 32 steals.. becoming the first Dodger player in history to join the 30-30 club
30-30 club
The 30–30 club is a grouping of Major League Baseball players who have reached the 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases plateaus in the same season....
. He also won his second Rawlings Gold Glove Award
Rawlings Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
and finished 15th in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award. In 1999 he again joined the 30-30 club
30-30 club
The 30–30 club is a grouping of Major League Baseball players who have reached the 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases plateaus in the same season....
with 33 homers and 36 steals, though his average had dipped to .253.
Toronto Blue Jays
On November 8, 1999 he was traded by the Dodgers (along with Pedro Borbón, Jr.Pedro Borbón, Jr.
Pedro Félix Borbón Marté, generally known in English as Pedro Borbón, Jr. , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for nine seasons for four teams, including four seasons for the Atlanta Braves, and three seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays...
) to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
for Shawn Green
Shawn Green
Shawn David Green is a former Major League Baseball player.Green was a 1st round draft pick and a two-time major league All-Star...
and minor league player Jorge Nunez. He played two and a half seasons with the Blue Jays, playing in 320 games and hitting 66 home runs. He won the American League Player of the Week Award for the week of May 6, 2001.
New York Yankees
Mondesí was traded by the Blue Jays to 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...
on July 1, 2002 for Scott Wiggins
Scott Wiggins
Scott Joseph Wiggins is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball.Originally drafted by the New York Yankees in , Wiggins was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in in exchange for Raúl Mondesí. Wiggins appeared in three games as a reliever for the Blue Jays as a September call-up in 2002.-External...
. He played in 71 games for the Yankees that season and another 98 in 2003, hitting .250 with 27 home runs and 92 RBI. He had 3 hits in 12 at-bats for the Yankees in the 2002 American League Division Series
2002 American League Division Series
-Oakland Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins:-Game 1, October 1:Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe game went back and forth with the Angels taking a 5–4 lead into the bottom of the eighth inning. Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia brought in Scott Schoeneweis to pitch to Jason Giambi, who tied the game...
against the Anaheim 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...
.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Yankees traded him on July 29, 2003 to the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
for David Dellucci
David Dellucci
David Michael Dellucci is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder.-High School:Dellucci graduated from Catholic High in Baton Rouge in 1991. He earned the team's Most Valuable Player honors in both baseball and football, and All-State honors for baseball...
, Bret Prinz
Bret Prinz
Bret Randolph Prinz is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League. Previously, Prinz played with the Arizona Diamondbacks , New York Yankees , Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim , and Chicago White Sox...
and minor leaguer John Prowl. In 45 games with the Diamondbacks, he hit .302 with only 8 home runs.
Pittsburgh Pirates
He signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh 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...
on February 24, 2004. By May he was talking of leaving the team for personal reasons, involving a legal dispute, in the Dominican Republic. He left the team on May 11, 2004 and his contract was terminated a week later
Anaheim Angels
The Anaheim AngelsLos 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...
signed him on May 30, 2004. The deal was investigated by 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...
, as the circumstances were questionable, but the Angels were cleared of any wrongdoing. Shortly after he signed with the Angels, he tore his quadriceps and was placed on the disabled list. He was released by the Angels in July for not showing up for his rehab therapy.
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
signed Mondesí in 2005; he appeared in 41 games before the team released him on May 31.
Post-baseball career
Mondesí is currently out of baseball and living in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic. The LA Times reported that on May 15, 2007, in a game that matched the Dodgers vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, Mondesi returned to Dodger Stadium as a spectator. When shown on the video board, fans showered him with his popular moniker, "Ra-ooooo-oool."In May 2006, running on the ballot of the Dominican Liberation Party
Dominican Liberation Party
The Dominican Liberation Party is one of the main political parties of the Dominican Republic, and has a centrist position.The party has been elected into office thrice now with Leonel Fernández as President of the Dominican Republic in the 1996, 2004 and 2008 elections, though losing in 2000...
, he was elected to a seat in the Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of deputies is the name given to a legislative body such as the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or can refer to a unicameral legislature.-Description:...
, representing his home province San Cristóbal. In November 2007, he switched sides aligning himself with the Dominican Revolutionary Party
Dominican Revolutionary Party
The Dominican Revolutionary Party is one of the main political parties of the Dominican Republic. It has a moderate centrist position, social democratic in name. The party's distinctive color is white....
after discrepancies with the government over humanitarian aid to be given to his province after Tropical Storm Noel. He was elected mayor of his hometown on May 16, 2010 for a six-year term.
See Also
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- 30-30 club30-30 clubThe 30–30 club is a grouping of Major League Baseball players who have reached the 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases plateaus in the same season....