Edinson Renteria started as street vendor in native Venezuela, then played baseball; Made AAA

Originally published Aug. 20, 2016

Edinson Renteria's first job in his native Columbia consisted of being a street vendor with some of his brothers, according to ESPN.com.

He then got another job, as a baseball player in the United States. He also continued to help his family by sending what he made back home, ESPN.com wrote.

"I always was in awe of him," Renteria's younger brother by eight years, Edgar Renteria, told ESPN.com, "and of what he did for us."

Edinson Renteria also ended up leading his brother Edgar to the United States and professional baseball. Edinson Renteria played nearly a decade, but never made the majors. His brother Edgar Renteria, though, went on to make the majors and stay there for 16 seasons.

Edinson Renteria's career began in 1985, signed by the Astros as an amateur free agent out of Columbia. Renteria is also credited as Ed Renteria.

Renteria started in the rookie Gulf Coast League, playing there in 1985 and 1986. He hit .297 his second season there.

He moved to short-season Auburn for 1987, where he hit .302, and then single-A Asheville for 1988. That June, Renteria gave his team the led with a late-single, his fourth game-winner on the year.

Renteria made AA Columbus in 1990, also AAA Tucson. He hit .270 on the year. He then played one more season with the Astros, at AA Jackson and single-A Osceola.

He returned for 1993 with the Marlins, splitting time between high-A High Desert and AAA Edmonton, then AA Portland briefly for 1994. He then played in Mexico the rest of 1994 and most of 1995, ending his playing career.

Renteria continued on in baseball, serving as a coach over several seasons. He served with the Braves as hitting coach in the Gulf Coast League from 1997 to 1999. He also served as a coach at Jamestown, Macon and Myrtle Beach.

• ESPN.com, April 29, 2008: Now it's personal