Kiko Calero
Encyclopedia
Enrique Nomar "Kiko" Calero (born January 9, 1975 in Santurce, Puerto Rico
) is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
, who is currently a free agent.
and attended Kendall Junior College. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers
in the 41st round (1142nd overall) of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft
, but Calero did not sign with the Tigers. Instead he attended St. Thomas University (Florida)
and was drafted again in the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft
, when he was picked in the 27th round (799th overall) by the Kansas City Royals
.
in the Royals minor league organization, he spent 6 years at the Single-A and Double-A levels before finally reaching Triple-A Omaha
in . During his minor league career, Calero excelled for the Royals organization. In 1996, he finished fourth in the Single-A Northwest League
in ERA
. He was also named to the Texas League
All Star team in . Through , Calero had 31 wins in a Wrangler
uniform and worked as a reliever in after 105 starts. The Royals traded Calero to the Philadelphia Phillies
for shortstop Brian Harris
in 2002 but was returned to the Royals and granted free agency.
by the St. Louis Cardinals
. He made his Major League debut on April 2, 2003 for the Cards against the Milwaukee Brewers
, he worked two thirds of an inning, allowing two hits and one walk but no runs. He spent all of and most of in the majors. He played all but one game as a reliever. He was a member of the 2004 St. Louis Cardinals' team that went on to win the National League
title and played in the 2004 World Series
.
and top-hitting prospect Daric Barton
to the Oakland Athletics
for Mark Mulder
. The trade was initially viewed as a win for St. Louis, as Mulder was considered one of the best pitchers in the American League, but based on Calero and Haren's extremely productive and seasons, and Mulder's poor 2006 season and shortened season due to shoulder surgery, the trade is widely seen as a coup in Oakland.
on July 4, . The Rangers signed Calero to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Oklahoma, where he spent the rest of the season.
in January . He made the team out of spring training, and was added to the major league roster on April 4.
signed Calero to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. On May 16, he was released by the Mets and he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers
on June 10 and was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
. He appeared in 15 games for the Isotopes before they also released him.
(Mayaguez Indians) in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
. During those years, he went on to win two national titles and three participations on the Serie del Caribe. In 1996, Calero was named Rookie of the Year, and he also was selected to participate on three all-star games, during his playing year with the Indios de Mayaguez
. Kiko also played on the MLB team at the Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series
played in Japan
in 2004. He was also a member of the 2006 Puerto Rico national baseball team
at the World Baseball Classic
.
called Fair View, where Calero grew up and played Little League ball. Calero is married to a woman named Carola Rodriguez and they have two children. He lives in Caguas
, Puerto Rico
during the offseason and during the MLB season in Miami
, Florida
.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
) is a 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...
relief pitcher
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...
, who is currently a free agent.
Professional career
Calero is a graduated from University Gardans High School in Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and attended Kendall Junior College. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in the 41st round (1142nd overall) of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft
1994 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1994 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*A.J. Pierzynski , Minnesota Twins, 3rd round*Bobby Howry , San Francisco Giants, 5th round...
, but Calero did not sign with the Tigers. Instead he attended St. Thomas University (Florida)
St. Thomas University (Florida)
St. Thomas University is a private Roman Catholic university in the Miami, Florida, United States suburb of Miami Gardens.-History:The University traces its roots to the Universidad Católica de Santo Tomás de Villanueva, founded in 1946 in Havana, Cuba, named after Saint Thomas of Villanova, by...
and was drafted again in the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft
1996 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1996 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 4 and 5, 1996...
, when he was picked in the 27th round (799th overall) by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
.
Kansas City Royals
Mainly a starting pitcherStarting 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 the Royals minor league organization, he spent 6 years at the Single-A and Double-A levels before finally reaching Triple-A Omaha
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,...
in . During his minor league career, Calero excelled for the Royals organization. In 1996, he finished fourth in the Single-A Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
in ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He was also named to the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
All Star team in . Through , Calero had 31 wins in a Wrangler
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
uniform and worked as a reliever in after 105 starts. The Royals traded Calero to 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...
for shortstop Brian Harris
Brian Harris
Brian Harris may refer to:* Brian Harris , English footballer* Brian Harris , professional wrestler* Brian Harris, ex-drummer for the Greek power metal band Firewind* Brian Harris, guitar player for the band Lord Tracy...
in 2002 but was returned to the Royals and granted free agency.
St. Louis Cardinals
Calero was subsequently signed as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by 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...
. He made his Major League debut on April 2, 2003 for the Cards against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, he worked two thirds of an inning, allowing two hits and one walk but no runs. He spent all of and most of in the majors. He played all but one game as a reliever. He was a member of the 2004 St. Louis Cardinals' team that went on to win 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...
title and played in the 2004 World Series
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
.
Oakland Athletics
After the 2004 season, Calero was traded from the Cardinals along with starting pitcher Dan HarenDan Haren
Daniel John Haren is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.- High-school and college career :...
and top-hitting prospect Daric Barton
Daric Barton
Daric William Barton nicknamed "D.B.", is a Major League Baseball first baseman who plays for the Oakland Athletics....
to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Mark Mulder
Mark Mulder
Mark Alan Mulder is a retired left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Oakland Athletics:...
. The trade was initially viewed as a win for St. Louis, as Mulder was considered one of the best pitchers in the American League, but based on Calero and Haren's extremely productive and seasons, and Mulder's poor 2006 season and shortened season due to shoulder surgery, the trade is widely seen as a coup in Oakland.
Texas Rangers
After being designated for assignment and released by the Athletics, Calero signed with 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...
on July 4, . The Rangers signed Calero to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Oklahoma, where he spent the rest of the season.
Florida Marlins
Calero signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Florida MarlinsFlorida 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...
in January . He made the team out of spring training, and was added to the major league roster on April 4.
New York Mets/Los Angeles Dodgers
On March 4, 2010, the New York MetsNew 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...
signed Calero to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. On May 16, he was released by the Mets and he 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...
on June 10 and was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
. He appeared in 15 games for the Isotopes before they also released him.
Overseas career
Calero has also played on several other teams. He played from 1996 to 2000 with the Indios de MayaguezIndios de Mayagüez
The Indios de Mayagüez are a baseball team in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League . Normally based in Mayagüez, the Indios have won 16 national championships and two Caribbean World Series...
(Mayaguez Indians) in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
The Puerto Rico Baseball League formerly known as Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico or LBPPR, is the main professional baseball league in Puerto Rico. In 2007, the LBPPR recessed for the first time since its creation...
. During those years, he went on to win two national titles and three participations on the Serie del Caribe. In 1996, Calero was named Rookie of the Year, and he also was selected to participate on three all-star games, during his playing year with the Indios de Mayaguez
Indios de Mayagüez
The Indios de Mayagüez are a baseball team in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League . Normally based in Mayagüez, the Indios have won 16 national championships and two Caribbean World Series...
. Kiko also played on the MLB team at the Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series
Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series
The Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series is a set of games between All-Star teams from North America's Major League Baseball and Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. The series takes place every even numbered year in the Tokyo Dome and other NPB home stadiums...
played in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 2004. He was also a member of the 2006 Puerto Rico national baseball team
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...
at the World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
.
Personal life
Calero is well-known and very popular in Puerto Rico. He has a street named after him, on a little part of Rio PiedrasRío Piedras, Puerto Rico
Río Piedras is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of Ciudad Universitaria...
called Fair View, where Calero grew up and played Little League ball. Calero is married to a woman named Carola Rodriguez and they have two children. He lives in Caguas
Caguas, Puerto Rico
Caguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
during the offseason and during the MLB season 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...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.