Miguel Cairo
Miguel Cairo | |
---|---|
![]() Cairo with the Cincinnati Reds in 2011 | |
Washington Nationals – No. 22 | |
Infielder | |
Born: Anaco,Anzoátegui,Venezuela | May 4, 1974|
Batted:Right Threw:Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 17, 1996, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
Last MLB appearance | |
October 3, 2012, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .264 |
Home runs | 41 |
Runs batted in | 394 |
Teams | |
As player
As manager As coach
|
Miguel Jesús Cairo[ki'-row] (born May 4, 1974), is aVenezuelanformerprofessional baseballinfielderand currently thebench coachfor theWashington Nationals.He played inMajor League Baseball(MLB) for nine different clubs in a 17-year career, spanning from 1996 to 2012. During his playing days, Cairo stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 225 pounds (102 kg) while batting and throwing right-handed. While primarily asecond baseman,Cairo was able to play all theinfieldpositions and as acorner outfielder.He was also used forpinch-hittingduties late in his career. He was interim manager for the White Sox in the latter part of the 2022 season as managerTony La Russastepped away due to health concerns.
Playing career
[edit]Los Angeles Dodgers (1990–1995)
[edit]Cairo was signed as an undrafted free agent by theLos Angeles Dodgerson September 20, 1990. After beginning his career with the DodgersDominican Summer Leagueteam, he played with the rookie classGulf Coast Dodgers(1992), Class-AVero Beach Dodgers(1992–1993), Advanced Class-ABakersfield Dodgers(1994) and AASan Antonio Missions.
Toronto Blue Jays (1996)
[edit]On November 29, 1995, the Dodgers traded Cairo withWillis Otañezto theSeattle MarinersforMike Blowers,[1]who then traded him, along withBill Risley,to theToronto Blue JaysforEdwin HurtadoandPaul Menharton December 18, 1995.[2]
Cairo made his major league debut with the Toronto Blue Jays on April 17, 1996, as the starting 2nd baseman. In his first Major League at-bat, he hit a double offChuck Finleyof theCalifornia Angels.He played in 9 games for the Blue Jays, with six hits in 27 at-bats for a.222 average. He also played in 120 games for the AAASyracuse Chiefs,hitting.277.
Chicago Cubs (1997)
[edit]On November 20, 1996, he was traded to theChicago Cubsin exchange for minor leaguer Jason Stevenson. Cairo spent most of the 1997 season with the AAAIowa Cubs,where he hit.279 in 135 games and was selected to theAmerican AssociationAll-Star team. He also appeared in 16 games for the Cubs and had seven hits in 29 at-bats (.241).
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998–2000)
[edit]TheTampa Bay Devil Raysselected Cairo with the eighth pick in the1997 MLB expansion draft.He hit his first home run on April 28, 1998, off ofMike Oquistfor theOakland Athletics.He spent three seasons with the Devil Rays, playing fairly frequently, and hit.275 in 389 games. He was the final active player from their inaugural season when he retired.
Return to the Cubs (2001)
[edit]Cairo signed with theOakland Athleticsduring the 2000–2001 offseason, but in March 2001 he was traded back to the Cubs forEric Hinske.In 66 games with the Cubs, he hit.285.
St. Louis Cardinals (2001–2003)
[edit]In August 2001, theSt. Louis Cardinalsclaimed Cairo on waivers from the Cubs. He remained with the Cardinals through the 2003 season. He hit.333 in 27 games in 2001,.250 in 108 games in 2002 and.245 in 92 games in 2003. He also appeared in the postseason for the first time in his career in 2001. In the2002 National League Championship Seriesagainst theSan Francisco Giantshe had five hits, including a home run, in 13 at-bats.
New York Yankees (2004)
[edit]Cairo signed with theNew York Yankeesduring the 2003–04 offseason.
In 2004, Cairo won the second base job with the Yankees after starting the year in a platoon withEnrique Wilson.Cairo led the league in percentage of productive outs in 2004 for players with a minimum of 40at-bats.Cairo recorded 17 productive outs in 32 productive out situations, for a PO% of 0.531. Cairo had the highestwinning percentageof team wins when he played in a game of any player in the majors in 2004 (for players with over 100 games played). However, the Yankees declined to offer him a contract for 2005 and signedTony Womackas their new second baseman.
New York Mets (2005)
[edit]Cairo was signed by theNew York Metsas afree agentbefore the 2005 season and hit.251 in 100 games.
Return to the Yankees (2006–2007)
[edit]He returned to the Yankees in 2006 and hit.239 in 81 games.
On August 7, 2007, the Yankees designated him for assignment in order to make room on the 40-man roster forJason Giambi.He was released on August 15.
Return to the Cardinals (2007)
[edit]On August 19, 2007, theSt. Louis Cardinalssigned Cairo to a minor league contract, with him reporting to AAA Memphis on August 22. On September 1, 2007, the Cardinals activated him and brought him up to start at second base in a game against theCincinnati Reds.He became a free agent after the season.
Seattle Mariners (2008)
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Miguel_Cairo_on_June_26%2C_2011.jpg/220px-Miguel_Cairo_on_June_26%2C_2011.jpg)
On January 8, 2008, he signed a one-year contract with theSeattle Mariners.
Early at the season, Cairo was seldom used, losing his playing time to teammateWillie BloomquistandGreg Norton.Norton was soon traded to theAtlanta Bravesand, withoutfieldtrouble, the Mariners started a platoon with Bloomquist andJeremy Reedincenter field.which allowed Cairo to be a back-up for strugglingfirst basemanRichie Sexson.
On July 10, the Mariners released Sexson and Cairo assumed the role of full-time first baseman for a few days untilBryan LaHairwas finished nursing a sore toe. For the rest of the season, Cairo shared duties at first base withleft-handedhitting LaHair, and started at the other infield positions when the incumbents had an off-day.
Philadelphia Phillies (2009)
[edit]On February 15, 2009, Cairo signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies.[3]On May 19, 2009, the Phillies outrighted Cairo to the AAALehigh Valley IronPigs.[4]
Cairo was sent back up to the Phillies on August 23 after they placedGreg Dobbson the 15-day DL. He returned to the utility infield position, and was retained by the club through the remainder of the regular season. His performance during this stint, including several key hits, led to his inclusion in the division-winning team's postseason roster.[5]
Cincinnati Reds (2010–2012)
[edit]On January 27, 2010, Cairo signed a minor league contract with theCincinnati Reds.On April 2, Cairo made the Opening Day roster. On December 8, as a free agent, he signed a two-year deal with the Reds, which was the first multi-year contract of his career. He had the first multi-home run game of his career on August 13, against theSan Diego Padres,in a game that the Reds won 13–1.
Venezuela League
[edit]In between seasons, Cairo played winter ball with theLeones del CaracasandCardenales de Laraclubs of theVenezuelan Leagueduring the 1993–2003 seasons, hitting.286 with a.351 slugging average in 358 games.[6]Additionally, he hit.308 for the 2000–2001 Cardenales champion team en route to the2001 Caribbean Series,where he batted.360 and slugged.680 with six RBI.[7]
Post-playing career
[edit]On February 14, 2013, the Reds announced that Cairo would operate as a special assistant to General ManagerWalt Jocketty,effectively ending his playing career.[8] At the end of spring training the Reds third base coachMark Berrywas diagnosed with throat cancer, then Cairo filled as the team's bench coach whileChris Speiermoved to third base.[9]With Berry's return, Cairo moved back to his intended spot as assistant to Jocketty.
He worked for the New York Yankees in Player Development and was an occasional infield coordinator throughout the Yankee minor league system.
On November 18, 2020, theChicago White Soxannounced that he would join the coaching staff. He is serving as the bench coach for managerTony La Russa.[10]On August 12, 2021, Cairo managed the White Sox to victory over the Yankees in the firstField of Dreamsgame, asTony La Russawas unavailable due to a family funeral.[11]
On August 31, 2022, Cairo was named as acting manager of the White Sox while manager Tony La Russa underwent testing for an unnamed medical condition.[12]The White Sox would go 18–16 under Cairo but failed to reach the playoffs. On November 29, the White Sox announced that Cairo would not return to their staff in 2023.[13]
Personal life
[edit]Cairo's son, Christian, was drafted in the fourth-round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft by theCleveland Indians.He spent the 2019 season with the Rookie LeagueArizona League Indians,playing in 46 games and hitting.178 with three doubles, a triple and no home runs.[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Dodgers acquire RBI man Blowers".Tampa Bay Times.November 30, 1995.RetrievedJune 28,2024.
- ^"M'S Trade Risley To Blue Jays, Acquire Two Young Pitchers | The Spokesman-Review".www.spokesman.com.
- ^"Phillies agree to deal with Cairo".ESPN. February 15, 2009.RetrievedMarch 21,2012.
- ^"Transactions".phillies.com. May 19, 2009.RetrievedMarch 21,2012.
- ^"Cairo, Kendrick on Phils' NLDS roster".phillies.com. October 6, 2009.RetrievedMarch 12,2012.
- ^"purapelota.com".www.purapelota.com.
- ^Gutiérrez, Daniel; Alvarez, Efraim; Gutiérrez (h), Daniel (2006).La Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela.LVBP, Caracas.ISBN980-6996-02-X
- ^"Cincinnati Reds on Twitter".
- ^"Cairo to fill in when Berry undergoes treatment".MLB.com.April 5, 2013.
- ^Pope, Lamond (December 2, 2020)."Miguel Cairo jumped at the opportunity to join the Chicago White Sox staff as bench coach: 'It's amazing the kind of players that they have'".The Chicago Tribune.March 1, 2021.
- ^Merkin, Scott (August 11, 2021)."La Russa to miss Field of Dreams Game".MLB.com.RetrievedAugust 12,2021.
- ^Merkin, Scott (August 31, 2022)."La Russa away from club indefinitely amid medical tests".MLB.com.RetrievedSeptember 4,2022.
- ^"White Sox round out coaching staff under new manager Grifol".fox32chicago.com.RetrievedSeptember 23,2023.
- ^"Christian Cairo baseball statistics".Baseball-Reference.com.RetrievedDecember 27,2020.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet
- Miguel Cairoat Baseball Library
- Miguel Cairoat Ultimate Mets Database
- Miguel Cairoat Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
- Miguel CairoRetrosheet Top Performances
- 1974 births
- Living people
- Bakersfield Dodgers players
- Cardenales de Lara players
- Chicago Cubs players
- Chicago White Sox coaches
- Chicago White Sox managers
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- Major League Baseball bench coaches
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