After two seasons with limited time in the bigs, the Orioles Sherman Obando in spring 1996 looked to make it for good, The Washington Post wrote.
"That's my goal, to make the team," Obando told The Post after a good intrarsquad outing early that spring. "I'm ready for whatever role they give me."
Obando did make the bigs that year and for extended time. But he did it with the Expos, after a trade. Ultimately, in a career that spanned 18 seasons, Obando saw time in four big league seasons, and six in Japan.
Obando's career began in 1988, signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent out of his native Panama.
Obando started with the Yankees in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He made short-season Oneonta in 1989 and high-A Prince William in 1990.
He got up to AA Albany-Colonie in 1992, where he hit .281 in 109 games. The Orioles then selected him in the Rule 5 draft.
Obando played 19 games in 1993 at AA Bowie - and 31 in Baltimore. He hit .272 during his stint with the Orioles.
He then played all of 1994 at AAA Rochester. That April, he got off to a show start before breaking out in late April, including a 3 for 4 outing, according to The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
"Earlier this season, I was trying too hard to prove myself," Obando told The Democrat and Chronicle. "Before I went to my coaches I didn't realize that I wasn't being selective at all."
Obando returned to Baltimore for 16 games in 1995. He went 10 for 38. He then moved to the Expos in a mid-spring 1996 trade.
Obando then saw 89 games with Montreal. He hit .247, with eight home runs. That June, he went 3 for 4 in a game as a late replacement in the lineup, UPI wrote.
"I like the opportunity and every time I get it, I have to make the best of it," Obando told UPI after that game.
Obando then saw 41 games with the Expos and hit .128. Obando then played at AAA with the Rockies in 1998.
He arrived in Japan in 1999 with Nippon Ham. He ultimately played six seasons with Nippon Ham. He hit double-digit home runs in four of those campaigns, including 30 in 2000. He's last recorded as playing playing in 2005, 24 games there to end his career.
- Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, May 1, 1994: Proving his point
- Washington Post, March 1, 1996: Somewhat stuck, O's Obando tries to stick
- UPI, June 13, 1996: Expos 8, Marlins 0
Made the Majors:1,350-33.2%-X
Never Made Majors:2,721-66.8%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:549
10+ Seasons in the Minors:333
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