Rod Barajas
Encyclopedia
Rodrigo Richard Barajas (born September 5, 1975) is a Mexican American
professional baseball
catcher
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
of Major League Baseball
. He came up to the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks
in . Barajas has also played with the Mexico national baseball team
.
as an amateur free agent on December 23, 1996. He was immediately sent to the minor leagues. He played for the Lethbridge Black Diamonds
of the Pioneer League (Rk), the lowest level of the minors as a rookie. He had a nice season in 1996 there, hitting .337 in 51 games. He played his way to the top of the minor leagues in the Diamondbacks' system.
. He was hitless in three at-bats in that game. He hit his first career home run in the last game of the season on October 3 against the San Diego Padres
, a line-drive to left-center field off of Heath Murray
. He played in a total of 10 games with the Diamondbacks in 1999 and 2000. He homered twice and did not commit a single error while playing catcher.
Barajas struggled at the plate in 2001, hitting just .160 in 51 games, though he only committed one error while serving as a backup for Damian Miller
. He was on the Diamondbacks' World Series roster. In Game 5 of the World Series
, he homered off Mike Mussina
of the New York Yankees
.
Barajas continued to serve as a backup for Miller in 2002. In 70 games, he hit .234, with 3 Home Runs and 23 RBI. Despite the poor offensive numbers in 2002, Barajas did not commit a single error behind the plate. In 2003, he pulled off similar numbers in 80 games, batting just .218, with 3 Home Runs and 28 RBI. He became a free agent after the season.
invited him to spring training and he won the backup catcher's job. After starting catcher Gerald Laird
was sidelined with a sprained thumb, Barajas took over the starting job with Laird and Danny Ardoin
serving as his backups. At the end of the season, he established career highs in games played (108), home run
s (15), RBIs (58), and batting average
(.249). Barajas also played some first base when needed, compiling ten career games there as a defensive replacement, through the season. In 2005, he hit a career-high 21 Home Runs, serving as the starter once again. In 2006, his numbers dropped significantly and he split time with Laird.
, but he backed out of the deal at the last minute, after switching agents. On December 18, 2006, it was announced that he had reached an agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies
for a one year deal worth less than half of the Blue Jay offer a month earlier. Barajas claimed he was happy with the new deal and had no regrets. He shared time behind the plate with Carlos Ruiz
.
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On October 11, 2007 the Phillies declined his option making him a free agent, and on January 24, Barajas signed a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays
, the team he backed out of a contract with the previous offseason, this time as the backup to incumbent catcher Gregg Zaun
. Zaun had signed a two year deal with the team only after negotiations with Barajas fell apart. Blue Jays manager J.P. Ricciardi
said he had no hard feelings towards Barajas. Zaun was supposed to be the starting catcher, but due to his poor offensive numbers and overall difficulties, manager Cito Gaston
made Barajas the starter after he took over for John Gibbons
. He took over the starting catching job from Gregg Zaun, and continued in that role in 2009. He finished the 2008 season batting .249 with 11 home runs, 49 RBIs, a .294 on-base percentage and a .410 slugging percentage over 104 games.
Barajas finished the 2009 season batting .226 in 125 games with 19 home runs, and a career high 71 RBI.
and was named the opening day catcher. On May 7, 2010 he hit the first walk-off home run in the history of Citi Field, giving him three multi home run games in his first five weeks as a Met. Barajas became the first Met catcher to hit 12 or more home runs since Mike Piazza
's last year with the Mets in 2005.
and acquired for cash considerations.
In his first game with Los Angeles against the Milwaukee Brewers
, Barajas hit two doubles and a three-run home run. Barajas became the first Dodger to hit three extra-base hits in his first game with the club. In his first home game in Dodger Stadium, Barajas hit a home run in the fifth inning.
Barajas appeared in 25 games with the Dodgers in 2010, hitting .297 with 5 home runs and 13 RBI. On December 3, 2010, he re-signed with the Dodgers on a one-year deal for 2011.
In 2011, he played in 98 games with the Dodgers, hitting .230 with 16 home runs and 47 RBI. He became a free agent after the season.
.
Rod attended Santa Fe High School
, Santa Fe Springs, California
and Cerritos Community College
.
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
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...
for 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...
of 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...
. He came up to the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona 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...
in . Barajas has also played with the Mexico national baseball team
Mexico national baseball team
The Mexico national baseball team is the baseball team which represents Mexico in international tournaments. They are currently the eighth ranked baseball team in the world.-Pan American Games:*1951 Bronze Medal *1963 Bronze Medal...
.
Minor league career
Barajas was originally signed by 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...
as an amateur free agent on December 23, 1996. He was immediately sent to the minor leagues. He played for the Lethbridge Black Diamonds
Lethbridge Black Diamonds
The Lethbridge Black Diamonds were a minor league baseball team located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. The team was previously known as the Lethbridge Mounties from 1992-1995 before becoming the Lethbridge Black Diamonds from 1996-1998. The team was one of the first two farm clubs of the Arizona...
of the Pioneer League (Rk), the lowest level of the minors as a rookie. He had a nice season in 1996 there, hitting .337 in 51 games. He played his way to the top of the minor leagues in the Diamondbacks' system.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Barajas made his Major League debut for the Diamondbacks on September 25, 1999 against the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He was hitless in three at-bats in that game. He hit his first career home run in the last game of the season on October 3 against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, a line-drive to left-center field off of Heath Murray
Heath Murray
Heath Robertson Murray is an American former Major League Baseball player. A pitcher, Murray played for the San Diego Padres , Detroit Tigers , and Cleveland Indians .-External links:...
. He played in a total of 10 games with the Diamondbacks in 1999 and 2000. He homered twice and did not commit a single error while playing catcher.
Barajas struggled at the plate in 2001, hitting just .160 in 51 games, though he only committed one error while serving as a backup for Damian Miller
Damian Miller
Damian Donald Miller is a former Major League Baseball catcher who last played for the Milwaukee Brewers.-High school years:...
. He was on the Diamondbacks' World Series roster. In Game 5 of the World Series
2001 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 27, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaArizona showed no fear and chased Yankees starter Mike Mussina after just three innings. The Yankees gave up five unearned runs and the Diamondbacks rode Curt Schilling's seven strong innings to a 9–1 rout...
, he homered off Mike Mussina
Mike Mussina
Michael Cole Mussina , nicknamed Moose, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees ....
of the New York Yankees
New 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...
.
Barajas continued to serve as a backup for Miller in 2002. In 70 games, he hit .234, with 3 Home Runs and 23 RBI. Despite the poor offensive numbers in 2002, Barajas did not commit a single error behind the plate. In 2003, he pulled off similar numbers in 80 games, batting just .218, with 3 Home Runs and 28 RBI. He became a free agent after the season.
Texas Rangers
Before , Barajas had never played more than 80 games, hit more than three home runs, or batted higher than .234 in a full season. In 2004, 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...
invited him to spring training and he won the backup catcher's job. After starting catcher Gerald Laird
Gerald Laird
Gerald Lee Laird III is an American professional baseball catcher for the Detroit Tigers. He graduated La Quinta High School in 1998, and played college baseball at Cypress College...
was sidelined with a sprained thumb, Barajas took over the starting job with Laird and Danny Ardoin
Danny Ardoin
Daniel Wayne Ardoin is a retired catcher in Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed.-High school years:...
serving as his backups. At the end of the season, he established career highs in games played (108), 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 (15), RBIs (58), and 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 :...
(.249). Barajas also played some first base when needed, compiling ten career games there as a defensive replacement, through the season. In 2005, he hit a career-high 21 Home Runs, serving as the starter once again. In 2006, his numbers dropped significantly and he split time with Laird.
Philadelphia Phillies
In November , Barajas was originally going to sign a deal with the Toronto Blue JaysToronto 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 ....
, but he backed out of the deal at the last minute, after switching agents. On December 18, 2006, it was announced that he had reached an agreement with 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 a one year deal worth less than half of the Blue Jay offer a month earlier. Barajas claimed he was happy with the new deal and had no regrets. He shared time behind the plate with Carlos Ruiz
Carlos Ruiz (baseball player)
Carlos Joaquín Ruiz , nicknamed Chooch, is the starting catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.-Minor leagues:In , Ruiz spent his entire season with the Double-A Reading Phillies, where his 17 home runs were second among catchers in the Eastern League. He also had a season-best 10-game hitting...
.
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 ....
, the team he backed out of a contract with the previous offseason, this time as the backup to incumbent catcher Gregg Zaun
Gregg Zaun
Gregory Owen "Gregg" Zaun is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He is the nephew of former MLB catcher Rick Dempsey. Zaun was a high school teammate of Mark Loretta...
. Zaun had signed a two year deal with the team only after negotiations with Barajas fell apart. Blue Jays manager J.P. Ricciardi
J.P. Ricciardi
John Paul Ricciardi is a Major League Baseball executive who currently is a special assistant to New York Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson...
said he had no hard feelings towards Barajas. Zaun was supposed to be the starting catcher, but due to his poor offensive numbers and overall difficulties, manager Cito Gaston
Cito Gaston
Clarence Edwin "Cito" Gaston is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. His major league career as a player lasted from 1967–1978, most notably for the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves...
made Barajas the starter after he took over for John Gibbons
John Gibbons
John Michael Gibbons was the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball from 2004 to 2008...
. He took over the starting catching job from Gregg Zaun, and continued in that role in 2009. He finished the 2008 season batting .249 with 11 home runs, 49 RBIs, a .294 on-base percentage and a .410 slugging percentage over 104 games.
Barajas finished the 2009 season batting .226 in 125 games with 19 home runs, and a career high 71 RBI.
New York Mets
On February 24, 2010, Barajas signed a one-year, $1 million contract with 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...
and was named the opening day catcher. On May 7, 2010 he hit the first walk-off home run in the history of Citi Field, giving him three multi home run games in his first five weeks as a Met. Barajas became the first Met catcher to hit 12 or more home runs since Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza
Michael Joseph "Mike" Piazza ; born September 4, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics....
's last year with the Mets in 2005.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On August 22, 2010, Barajas was claimed off waivers 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...
and acquired for cash considerations.
In his first game with Los Angeles 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...
, Barajas hit two doubles and a three-run home run. Barajas became the first Dodger to hit three extra-base hits in his first game with the club. In his first home game in Dodger Stadium, Barajas hit a home run in the fifth inning.
Barajas appeared in 25 games with the Dodgers in 2010, hitting .297 with 5 home runs and 13 RBI. On December 3, 2010, he re-signed with the Dodgers on a one-year deal for 2011.
In 2011, he played in 98 games with the Dodgers, hitting .230 with 16 home runs and 47 RBI. He became a free agent after the season.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On November 10, 2011, Barajas signed a one-year contract with a club option for 2013 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...
.
Personal life
Barajas is of Mexican descent. His wife, Stacie, gave birth to their sixth child, daughter Aubrielle, on July 17, 2007. The couple have four sons, Andrew, Bryce, Rod Jr. and Jace, and two daughters, Aunalilia and Aubrielle.Rod attended Santa Fe High School
Santa Fe High School (California)
Santa Fe High School is a public high school located in Santa Fe Springs, California. The school has an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students and is a part of the Whittier Union High School District. The school's current principal is Kevin Jamero....
, Santa Fe Springs, California
Santa Fe Springs, California
Santa Fe Springs is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. The population was 16,223 at the 2010 census, down from 17,438 at the 2000 census....
and Cerritos Community College
Cerritos College
Cerritos College is a public comprehensive community college founded in 1955 located in Norwalk, California. It was named after Rancho Los Cerritos, a ranch that served prominently in the region in the 19th century...
.