Benji Gil

Last updated
Benji Gil
Benji Gil (130228-F-BX770-012) (cropped).jpg
Gil at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in 2013
Infielder / Coach
Born: (1972-10-06) October 6, 1972 (age 51)
Tijuana, Mexico
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 5, 1993, for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
July 31, 2003, for the Anaheim Angels
Men's baseball
Representing Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Pan American Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team
World Baseball Classic
Manager for Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2023 Miami Team

Romar Benjamin Gil Aguilar (born October 6, 1972) is a Mexican former professional baseball infielder and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and the Anaheim Angels with whom he won the 2002 World Series. He was the infield coach for the Los Angeles Angels.

Contents

Gil has served as manager of the Mexico national baseball team in the 2020 Summer Olympics and the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He has also managed the Tomateros de Culiacán and Charros de Jalisco, both in the Mexican Pacific League.

Early career

Gil was a star pitcher for Castle Park High School in Chula Vista, California. In 1990, he went 6–3 with 89 strikeouts and a San Diego County leading 0.52 earned run average. [1] As a senior in 1991, Gil pitched a no-hitter. [2] Gil was also a good hitter, however, and when the Texas Rangers selected Gil nineteenth overall in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft, it was as a shortstop.

Professional career

Texas Rangers

Gil displayed decent power, clubbing nine home runs for the South Atlantic League's Gastonia Rangers in 1992. He made his major league debut in the 1993 season opener at twenty years old, going 0-for-3 with a walk in four plate appearances. [3] By late May, however, he was back in the minors with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers after batting .123 with two runs batted in for the Rangers.

He would not return to the majors until the 1995 season. On May 3, his first major league home run accounted for the Rangers' lone run in a 5–1 loss to the Seattle Mariners. [4] He followed this up with home runs in his next two games [5] [6] on his way to a career best nine for the season. He also appeared in a career high 130 games, and posted career highs in runs batted in (46), runs (36), hits (91) and extra-base hits (32), while also providing a steady glove at short (.974 fielding percentage, and a league-leading 5.18 range factor per nine innings as a shortstop).

A herniated disc in Spring training kept Gil off the 1996 opening day roster. [7] By the time he was ready to return, off-season acquisition Kevin Elster had won the starting job, and Gil found himself back in the minors with the Oklahoma City 89ers. He received a call up to the majors that September, and was 2-for-5 in seven plate appearances. He was once again the Rangers' starting shortstop in 1997.

Calgary Cannons

Gil was traded following the 1997 season to the Chicago White Sox for pitchers Al Levine and Larry Thomas. Gil spent his one season in the White Sox organization with the Pacific Coast League's Calgary Cannons, where he batted .248 with fourteen home runs and 69 RBIs (a career high for Gil at any level). Coincidentally, Gil also spent the 1999 season with Calgary after they became a Florida Marlins affiliate, and he was drafted by the Marlins in the 1998 minor league draft.

Anaheim Angels

Just as spring training 2000 was set to begin, Gil signed as a free agent with the Anaheim Angels. Slated to be the backup to incumbent Gary DiSarcina, Gil soon found himself starting when an injury ended DiSarcina's season. [8] David Eckstein became the Angels' starting shortstop in 2001, with Gil sliding into a backup middle infielder role.

In 2002, Gil actually saw more playing time at second base than he did at short. He had a far more limited role than he had his previous two seasons in Anaheim, however, he made it to the postseason for the only time in his career. In game two of the 2002 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, Gil had an RBI single off Andy Petitte. [9] In game four, he was 3-for-3 with a run scored. [10] In the Angels' 2002 World Series victory over the San Francisco Giants, Gil went 4-for-5 with a double and a run scored. [11]

Minor League journeyman

Gil's 2003 season got off to a slow start, going 0-for-14. The Angels released him in early August with a .192 batting average, one home run and nine RBIs. Shortly afterwards, he signed with the Cleveland Indians. He was released at the end of the season after batting .139 for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. Over the next two seasons, Gil spent time in the Colorado Rockies, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners and New York Mets organizations, but failed to make the Major League roster of any of these teams. Along the way, he also landed on the Mexican League's Tijuana Toros.

When the Mets released Gil in July 2005, it would turn out to be his final stint with a major league franchise. After finishing out the 2005 season with the New Jersey Jackals of the Canadian-American Association, Gil would spend the next six seasons playing ball in Mexico. In 2007, he won the Mexican League Championship with Sultanes de Monterrey. He spent one last season with the Fort Worth Cats of the North American League before retiring. [12]

Career statistics

Games PA AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO HBP Avg. Slg. Fld%
60417671610158381751232171241024487.237.358.966

Gil pitched once while in the Chicago Cubs organization, once in the Mets organization and once for the Jackals. He pitched a total of four innings, allowing two hits and no earned runs.

Coaching career

Tomateros de Culiacán

Gil's coaching career began in 2014, as he became manager for the Tomateros de Culiacán of the Mexican Pacific League (LMP), a winter ball club where he previously played for 13 seasons and won six championships with. [13] He led the team to a championship in his first season, and was later brought back for the 2015–16 season. In 2015, the Tomateros posted a disappointing 28–40 record and did not make the playoffs, leading to Gil's firing after the season. [14] After another disappointing year in 2016, the Tomateros announced that Gil would return as manager for the 2017–18 season. [15] The Tomateros won their second title under Gil, defeating the Mayos de Navojoa in the LMP Championship Series 4–3. After the season, Gil surprisingly announced he was stepping down as manager in order to attend to personal and family matters. [16] However, Gil once again returned as manager following the 2018-19 season and went on to win back-to-back championships during the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons and missing a third championship in a row after losing game 7 of the 2021-22 LMP championship series.

Mariachis de Guadalajara

Gil was named the inaugural manager of the Mariachis de Guadalajara, an expansion franchise of the Mexican Baseball League (LMB) that began play in the 2021 season. [17] He led them to a stellar 46–17 regular season record, a first-place finish in the LMB North division, and a playoff berth. However, the Mariachis fell to the eventual league-champion Toros de Tijuana in the North Division Championship Series. [18] Gil was voted LMB Manager of the Year following the season. [19]

Mexico national team

In 2021, Gil was selected as manager for the Mexico national team at the 2020 Summer Olympics. [20] Mexico lost to the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Israel. [21] He managed Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Los Angeles Angels

On January 5, 2022, Gil was announced as a new coach for the Los Angeles Angels for the 2022 season. [22]

Personal life

Gil was born in Tijuana, Mexico, but grew up in Chula Vista, California. His mother died while he was in high school. He and his wife, Carly, reside in Keller, Texas, with their two children, Mateo and Gehrig. Mateo was drafted in the third round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Mendoza</span> Mexican former professional baseball player

Mario Mendoza Aizpuru is a Mexican former professional baseball infielder who is currently the manager of Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. Mendoza, a lifetime .215 hitter, is best known for being the source of the name for the threshold for batting ineptitude, the "Mendoza Line", meaning a batting average of .200. Mendoza managed in the minor leagues and in Mexico after his nine-year Major League Baseball (MLB) playing career. He is a member of the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omar Vizquel</span> Venezuelan baseball player and coach

Omar Enrique Vizquel González, nicknamed "Little O", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball shortstop. During his 24-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Vizquel played for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays. In Venezuela he played for Leones del Caracas. From 2014 to 2017, he was the Detroit Tigers' first-base, infield and baserunning coach. He was manager for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Castro</span> Mexican baseball player

Juan Gabriel Castro, is a Mexican professional baseball coach and former infielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia Phillies, during his 17-year big league career. Castro was known mainly for his defensive abilities. He was primarily a reserve player. Castro batted and threw right-handed. Following his retirement as a player, Castro joined the Dodgers organization as a coach. During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Castro was the infield coach for the Phillies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jorge Cantú</span> Mexican-American baseball player

Jorge Luís Cantú Guzmán is an American-born Mexican former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cincinnati Reds, Florida Marlins, Texas Rangers, and San Diego Padres, and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Callaway</span> American baseball coach and player

Michael Christopher Callaway is an American professional baseball coach and former pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Anaheim Angels, and Texas Rangers and in the KBO League for the Hyundai Unicorns. He was the manager of the New York Mets from 2018 through 2019 and coach for the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfredo Amézaga</span> Mexican baseball player (born 1978)

Alfredo Amézaga Delgado is a Mexican former professional baseball player, current manager for the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League, and field manager for the Tomateros de Culiacán. In his career, he played 265 games in the outfield, 115 games at shortstop, 71 games at third base, 60 games at second base and 6 games at first base. The only positions he did not play were pitcher and catcher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomateros de Culiacán</span>

The Tomateros de Culiacán are a professional baseball team in the Mexican Pacific League based in Culiacán, Sinaloa. The Tomateros have won thirteen league championships and two Caribbean World Series in 1996 and 2002. The team was founded in 1965 as part of the Sonora-Sinaloa League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chico García</span> Mexican baseball player (1924-2007)

Vinicio "Chico" García Uzcanga was a Mexican second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles during the 1954 season. Listed at 5' 8", 170 lb., García batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Veracruz City, Mexico. Outside of MLB, García enjoyed a distinguished baseball career that spanned five different decades as a player from 1946 to 1970 and as manager from 1966 to 1984.

Homar Rojas Villarreal is a former player and a manager in Minor League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luis Cruz</span> Mexican professional baseball infielder

Luis Alfonso Cruz is a Mexican professional baseball shortstop and third baseman for the Dorados de Chihuahua of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines, Yomiuri Giants and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agustin Murillo</span> Mexican baseball player

Agustín Murillo Pineda is a Mexican professional baseball infielder for the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

Anthony Russell Vasquez is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Efrén Navarro</span> American baseball player (born 1986)

Efrén Navarro is a Mexican-American professional baseball first baseman and left fielder for the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League, and Tomateros de Culiacán of the Mexican Pacific League. He previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers. He also plays on the Mexico national baseball team.

Luis Alexander Sardiñas Avilez is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League. Sardiñas signed with the Texas Rangers as an amateur free agent in 2009. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Rangers during the 2014 season, and has also played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015, the Seattle Mariners in 2016, the San Diego Padres in 2016 and 2017, and the Baltimore Orioles in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dariel Álvarez</span> American baseball player (born 1988)

Dariel Álvarez Camejo is a Cuban professional baseball right fielder who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin Barreto</span> Venezuelan baseball player (born 1996)

Franklin Jose Barreto Rojas is a Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop and second baseman for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastián Elizalde</span> Mexican baseball player

Sebastián Elizalde is a Mexican professional baseball outfielder for the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League (LMB) and the Tomateros de Culiacán of the Mexican Pacific League (LMP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joey Meneses</span> Mexican baseball player (born 1992)

Joey Meneses Ramírez is a Mexican professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes. He was the 2018 International League MVP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mariachis de Guadalajara</span>

The Mariachis de Guadalajara were a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Zapopan, Jalisco, in the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Their home ballpark was the Estadio Panamericano, with a capacity of 16,500 people. The Mariachis were established in December 2020 and started playing in the 2021 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Mexican League season</span> Sports season

The 2021 Mexican League season was the 96th season in the history of the Mexican League. The league was contested by 18 teams, evenly divided in North and South zones. The season started on 20 May with the series between Sultanes de Monterrey and Acereros de Monclova and ended on 15 September with the last game of the Serie del Rey, where Toros de Tijuana defeated Leones de Yucatán to win the championship.

References

  1. ↑ Lindgren, Jim (March 28, 1991). "San Diego's Best? Scouts Are Drawn to a Pair of Aces". Los Angeles Times .
  2. ↑ "HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Castle Park Wins With Gil No-Hitter". Los Angeles Times. May 2, 1991.
  3. ↑ "Texas Rangers 7, Baltimore Orioles 4". Baseball-Reference.com . April 5, 1993.
  4. ↑ "Seattle Mariners 5, Texas Rangers 1". Baseball-Reference.com. May 3, 1995.
  5. ↑ "Texas Rangers 9, Oakland A's 4". Baseball-Reference.com. May 5, 1995.
  6. ↑ "Texas Rangers 4, Oakland A's 2". Baseball-Reference.com. May 6, 1995.
  7. ↑ Lutz, Michael (March 5, 1997). "Gil benefited from season in minors". Associated Press.
  8. ↑ "Mets Roster & Staff". MLB.com .
  9. ↑ "2002 American League Division Series, Game 2". Baseball-Reference.com. October 2, 2002.
  10. ↑ "2002 American League Division Series, Game 4". Baseball-Reference.com. October 5, 2002.
  11. ↑ "2002 World Series". Baseball-Reference.com. October 19–27, 2002.
  12. ↑ Teeple, Devon (May 24, 2012). "Former Ranger Benji Gil Suits Up for Forth Worth". Bleacher Report .
  13. ↑ Castro, Rubén (March 17, 2014). "Tomateros: Benji Gil sí, Eddie Díaz, Fermín y Sojo no". espndeportes.espn.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Paga Benjamín Gil por desastre de 'Tomateros' en la temporada 2015-2016". revistaespejo.com (in Spanish). April 5, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Benji Gil regresa al timón de Tomateros, un año después de ser cesado". espndeportes.espn.com (in European Spanish). April 21, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Campeón Benji Gil sorprende al dejar timón de Tomateros en LMP". espndeportes.espn.com (in European Spanish). August 14, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Mariachis de Guadalajara contratan como su manager al exligamayorista Benjamín Gil". proceso.mx (in European Spanish). March 31, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Toros de Tijuana vence a Mariachis y avanza a la Serie del Rey". noroeste.com.mx (in European Spanish). September 4, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  19. ↑ "LMB: Benjamín Gil es electo Manager del Año 2021 de la LMB". MiLB.com (in European Spanish). November 15, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  20. ↑ "COMUNICADO CONJUNTO: CONADE, LMB, FEMEBE: Benjamín Gil: manager de México para los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio". MiLB.com (in Spanish). June 11, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Selección mexicana de beisbol, eliminada de Tokio 2020 tras hilar tercera derrota". milenio.com (in European Spanish). August 1, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  22. ↑ Adler, David (January 5, 2022). "Angels add Nevin, Gil, Haselman as coaches". MLB.com . MLB Advanced Media . Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Cardinals' Mateo Gil: Heading to St. Louis". CBS Sports. June 5, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.