After five seasons with the Orioles in the minors, Ricky Gutierrez found himself shipped to the Padres at the end of 1992.
The next spring, Gutierrez expressed optimism with the move to The Escondido Times-Advocate.
"Coming out here, I got a new start," Gutierrez told The Times-Advocate that March. "It's a good situation for me because all I have to do is show them what I can do. They'll make their decision only off what they see."
Gutierrez did show what he could do, enough to make the big club for the whole 1993 season. He then went on to see the majors each year through 2004.
Gutierrez' career began in 1988, taken by the Orioles in the first round of the draft out of American Senior High School in Hialeah, Fla.
After signing with the Orioles, Gutierrez told The Miami Herald he was ready to play. The Herald also noted Gutierrez was the son of a former minor leaguer, Roberto Gutierrez, also known as Roberto Herrera.
"I can't wait to go play," Ricky Gutierrez told The Herald. "I want to play pro ball."
Gutierrez started at rookie Bluefield. He first made AA at Hagerstown in 1990, then saw AAA Rochester in 1991 and 1992.
After moving to the Padres, he saw 133 games with the big club his rookie year. He hit .251. He saw 90 games in 1994, then played the next four seasons with the Astros. He saw 141 games in 1998. He hit .261.
Gutierrez arrived with the Cubs for 2000 and returned there for 2001. He hit .276 in 2000 and .290 in 2001. In July 2001, he helped the Cubs to a post-All-Star game win with his first career grand slam.
"It was awesome. I couldn't even feel myself running around the bases," Gutierrez told The Los Angeles Times after that grand slam game. "I'm just glad to get my first grand slam in a big situation. That's one to remember."
He played with the Indians in 2002 and 2003 and saw his final big league time in 2004 with the Mets and Red Sox. He then saw brief time at AAA in 2005 and 2006 to end his career.
Gutierrez then turned coach and manager at high-A Daytona and at AA Chattanooga.
- Miami Herald, June 9, 1988: Father catches moment of pride
- Escondido Times-Advocate, March 27, 1993: Gutierrez gets a shot with Padres
- Los Angeles Times, July 13, 2001: Gutierrez Gets His Revenge
Made the Majors:1,362-33.1%-X
Never Made Majors:2,750-66.9%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:555-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:336
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