:Julio Lugo

Lugo was born in the Dominican Republic and at age 13 moved to Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where he attended Fort Hamilton High School.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89070633/mets-notebook/ |title=Mets Notebook |first1=John |last1=Delcos |first2=Josh |last2=Thomson |newspaper=The Journal News |location=White Plains, New York |page=9C |date=October 6, 2006 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} In addition to playing baseball for Fort Hamilton,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89071280/south-bronx-captures-title/ |title=South Bronx Captures Title |newspaper=Newsday |page=86 |date=May 15, 1993 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} he played in the Youth Service League in Brooklyn; alumni of that program include Manny Ramírez and Shawon Dunston.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89071053/city-league-offers-players-major-boost/ |title=City League Offers Players Major Boost |first=Arthur |last=Staple |newspaper=Newsday |page=A51 |date=July 16, 1996 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} He went on to play college baseball at Connors State College in Oklahoma.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89071577/suddenly-a-prospect/ |title=Suddenly, a prospect |first=Steve |last=Batterson |newspaper=Quad-City Times |location=Davenport, Iowa |page=1S |date=August 6, 1996 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}

The Houston Astros selected Lugo in the 43rd round of the 1994 MLB draft, although he did not sign with the team until May 1995.{{cite web |last=Hill |first=David |date=February 13, 2013 |title=Looking Back at Julio Lugo |url=https://rayscoloredglasses.com/2013/02/13/looking-back-at-julio-lugo/|access-date=May 20, 2021 |website=Rays Colored Glasses |language=en-US}} He made his professional debut in 1995 with the Auburn Astros, a Class A Short Season team in the New York–Penn League; appearing in 59 games, he had a .291 batting average with one home run and 16 runs batted in (RBIs).{{cite news |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lugo--001jul |title=Julio Lugo Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=November 16, 2021}} He advanced through the Houston farm system, reaching the Triple-A level in 2000 with the New Orleans Zephyrs. Early that season, Lugo was promoted to the major-league Astros,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89072307/houston-trades-bako-to-florida/ |title=Houston trades Bako to Florida |newspaper=The Times Herald |location=Port Huron, Michigan |page=2B |date=April 12, 2000 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} and made his MLB debut on April 15, 2000.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/L/Plugoj001.htm |title=Julio Lugo |website=Retrosheet |access-date=November 16, 2021}} Lugo played in 116 games for the Astros that year, batting .283 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs.{{cite news |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lugoju01.shtml |title=Julio Lugo Stats |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=November 16, 2021}} He made appearances at shortstop, second base, all three outfield positions, and designated hitter.

In 2001, Lugo played in 140 games, batting .263 with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs. The following season, he batted .261 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs in 88 games. In mid-August, Lugo's left arm was broken when he was hit by a pitch from Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs, ending his 2002 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89073241/lugo-done-for-year/ |title=Lugo done for year |newspaper=Austin American-Statesman |page=D5 |date=August 15, 2002 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}

On April 30, 2003, Lugo was arrested after a game at Minute Maid Park and charged with assaulting his wife.{{cite web|first1=Peggy |last1=O'Hare |first2=S. K. |last2=Bardwell |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-Lugo-off-the-team-after-arrest-2127965.php |title=Astros' Lugo off the team after arrest |website=Houston Chronicle |date=May 1, 2003 |access-date=November 15, 2021}} He was designated for assignment and subsequently released by the Astros.{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2003/05/13/Astros-dump-Lugo/98081052854538/?st_rec=1432398318400&u3L=1 |title=Astros dump Lugo |publisher=UPI.com |date=May 13, 2003 |access-date=November 15, 2021}} Lugo had appeared with 22 games that season with Houston.

Overall, Lugo appeared in 366 games for the Astros, batting .268 with 28 home runs and 114 RBIs. He appeared in one postseason series with Houston, the 2001 National League Division Series, batting 0-for-8 in three games.

In mid-May 2003, Lugo signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89074140/experienced-lugo-gets-another-chance/ |title=Experienced Lugo gets another chance |first=Marc |last=Topkin |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |page=3C |date=May 16, 2003 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} In mid-July, he was acquitted of the assault charges after his then-wife (the couple had filed for divorce) testified that she had instigated the incident and he did not intend to hurt her.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89074548/wifes-testimony-enough-to-free-lugo/ |title=Wife's testimony enough to free Lugo |first=Brant |last=James |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |page=4C |date=July 17, 2003 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} Lugo appeared in 117 games with the Rays through the end of the season, batting .275 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs. He hit home runs in four consecutive games against the Toronto Blue Jays during September 22–25.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/Ilugoj0010052003.htm |title=The 2003 TB A Regular Season Batting Log for Julio Lugo |website=Retrosheet |access-date=November 16, 2021}}

In 2004, Lugo batted .275 with seven home runs and 75 RBIs in 157 games. The following season, he played 158 games while batting .295 with six home runs and 57 RBIs. Lugo spent the first half of 2006 with the Devil Rays, playing in 73 games with 12 home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .308 average. Two of his home runs came in a single inning, the fifth, of a home game against the Baltimore Orioles on July 22.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2006/B07220TBA2006.htm |title=Tampa Bay Devil Rays 13, Baltimore Orioles 12 |website=Retrosheet |date=July 22, 2006 |access-date=November 17, 2021}} Overall with Tampa Bay in parts of four seasons, Lugo had a .287 average with 40 home runs and 212 RBIs in 505 games.

File:Julio Lugo at bat.jpg in 2006]]

Lugo was traded at the 2006 trade deadline to the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Joel Guzmán and minor-league outfielder Sergio Pedroza.{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2006 |title=Deadline Dodgers: L.A. gets Maddux, Lugo |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2535506 |access-date=May 20, 2021 |website=ESPN|agency=Associated Press |language=en}} He appeared in 49 games with the Dodgers through the end of the regular season, batting .219 with no home runs and 10 RBIs. In the 2006 National League Division Series, Lugo batted 1-for-4 in two games as the Dodgers lost to the New York Mets. At the end of October, he became a free agent.

File:Juliolugo.jpg in 2007]]

On December 5, 2006, Lugo signed a four-year, $36 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.{{cite web|date=December 5, 2006|title=Red Sox agree to 4-year, $36 million deal with Lugo|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2687827|access-date=May 20, 2021|website=ESPN|language=en}} Lugo was brought on to bat leadoff, but was moved by manager Terry Francona to the bottom part of the order primarily due to his inability to consistently get on base.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89076054/lugo-a-flop-so-hes-flipped-with-pedroi/ |title=Lugo a flop, so he's flipped with Pedroia |first=Gordon |last=Edes |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=D5 |date=June 13, 2007 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}

During the 2007 season, from June 15 through July 2, inclusive, Lugo went 0–31 at the plate.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2007/Ilugoj0010102007.htm |title=The 2007 BOS A Regular Season Batting Log for Julio Lugo |website=Retrosheet |access-date=November 16, 2021}} At that time, Lugo had a .189 batting average. Since 1996, only Greg Vaughn—who had a .163 average with Tampa Bay on June 27, 2002—had a lower batting average with more than 250 at bats 80 games into a season.{{cite news |last1=Edes |first1=Gordon |date=June 28, 2007|title=Schilling out until after break |work=The Boston Globe |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2007/06/28/schilling_out_until_after_break/ |access-date=June 28, 2007}} After the first week of July, Lugo turned his hitting performance around, compiling a 14-game hitting streak on July 25. He was 24-for-54 (.444) during the career-best streak, raising his average from .189 to .226. He had a streak of 20 consecutive stolen bases that ended on July 2, setting a club record.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/665243793/?terms=%22julio%20lugo%22%20consecutive%20stolen%20bases&match=1 |title=2 Jul 2007, 22 - The Bangor Daily News at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=July 2, 2007 |access-date=November 17, 2021}} Lugo ended the regular season with a .237 average with eight home runs and 73 RBIs in 147 games. The Red Sox advanced to the World Series where they swept the Colorado Rockies in four games;{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2007_WS.shtml|title=2007 World Series - Boston Red Sox over Colorado Rockies (4-0)|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} Lugo played in 14 postseason games with Boston, while batting .385 (5-for-13) in the World Series.{{cite web|last=Snyder |first=Matt |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/julio-lugo-former-mlb-shortstop-who-won-2007-world-series-with-red-sox-dies-at-45/ |title=Julio Lugo, former MLB shortstop who won 2007 World Series with Red Sox, dies at 45 |publisher=CBSSports.com |date= November 16, 2021|access-date=November 17, 2021}}

During 2008, Lugo committed 16 errors through July 5,{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/Mlugoj0010112008.htm |title=The 2008 BOS A Regular Season Fielding Log for Julio Lugo |website=Retrosheet |access-date=November 16, 2021}} nearly one-third of the 50 errors made by the Red Sox as a team to that point in the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89077044/red-sox-expanded-statistics/ |title=Red Sox expanded statistics |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=C10 |date=July 6, 2008 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} Six days later, Lugo injured his left quad running out a hit;{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89077183/lugo-going-to-dl/ |title=Lugo Going to DL |first=Jeff |last=Goldberg |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=C5 |date=July 12, 2008 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} he was placed on the disabled list and missed the rest of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/Ilugoj0010112008.htm |title=The 2008 BOS A Regular Season Batting Log for Julio Lugo |website=Retrosheet |access-date=November 16, 2021}} In 82 games, he batted .268 with one home run and 22 RBIs. On March 17, 2009, Lugo underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus cartilage.{{cite web|date=March 17, 2009 |title=Lugo has right knee surgery, will miss 3-4 weeks |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9346064/Lugo-has-right-knee-surgery%2C-will-miss-3-4-weeks?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506002408/http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9346064/Lugo-has-right-knee-surgery%2C-will-miss-3-4-weeks?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49 |archivedate=May 6, 2009 |url-status=live |access-date=March 17, 2009 |website=Fox Sports}} He returned to the team in late April, batting .284 in 37 games through early July,{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2009/Ilugoj0010122009.htm |title=The 2009 BOS A Regular Season Batting Log for Julio Lugo |website=Retrosheet |access-date=November 16, 2021}} while committing seven errors.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2009/Mlugoj0010122009.htm |title=The 2009 BOS A Regular Season Fielding Log for Julio Lugo |website=Retrosheet |access-date=November 17, 2021}} On July 17, Lugo was designated for assignment by the Red Sox.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89077966/seeing-error-of-ways-sox-designate-lugo/ |title=Seeing error of ways, Sox designate Lugo |first=Amalie |last=Benjamin |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=C1 |date=July 18, 2009 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}}

Overall during 2007–2009 with the Red Sox, Lugo appeared in 266 games while batting .251 with 10 home runs and 103 RBIs.

On July 22, 2009, Lugo was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Chris Duncan and cash considerations.{{cite web|last=Laymance|first=Reid|date=July 22, 2009|title=Duncan on way to Boston for Lugo|url=http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/commishs-hot-stove/commishs-hot-stove/2009/07/duncan-appears-on-way-to-boston-for-lugo/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090924092755/http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/commishs-hot-stove/commishs-hot-stove/2009/07/duncan-appears-on-way-to-boston-for-lugo/|archive-date=September 24, 2009|access-date=July 22, 2009|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}} In 51 games with the Cardinals through the end of the season, Lugo batted .277 with two home runs and 13 RBIs. Defensively, he split time between shortstop (24 appearances) and second base (30 appearances). He batted 2-for-5 in three games of the 2009 National League Division Series, which the Cardinals lost to the Dodgers.

On April 1, 2010, Lugo was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named later.{{cite web|last=Connolly|first=Dan|date=April 1, 2010 |title=Orioles trade for veteran infielder Lugo |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2010/04/01/orioles-trade-for-veteran-infielder-lugo-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020203638/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-04-01/sports/bal-orioles-acquire-julio-lugo-0401_1_brian-roberts-orioles-lugo-trade |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=April 1, 2010 |work=The Baltimore Sun}} He batted .249 in 93 games with no home runs and 20 RBIs during the season. He was used primarily at second base (59 appearances) while also seeing time at shortstop, third base, left field, and designated hitter.

Lugo signed a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves on May 23, 2011.{{cite web|last=Nicholson-Smith|first=Ben|date=May 23, 2011|title=Braves Sign Julio Lugo|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/05/braves-sign-julio-lugo.html|access-date=May 23, 2011|website=MLB Trade Rumors|language=en-US}} He was added to the Braves' major-league roster when they purchased his contract on June 21.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/braves/roster/transactions/2011/06 |title=Transactions – Braves Roster & Staff |website=MLB.com |date=June 2011 |access-date=November 17, 2021}} In 22 games with Atlanta, Lugo batted .136 (6-for-44) with no home runs and three RBIs. The Braves released Lugo on September 2.{{cite web|last=Calcaterra|first=Craig|date=September 2, 2011|title=The Braves release Julio Lugo|url=https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2011/09/02/the-braves-release-julio-lugo/|access-date=May 20, 2021|website=NBC Sports|language=en-US}}

On January 21, 2012, Lugo agreed to a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians with an invitation to spring training.{{cite web|last=Bastian|first=Jordan|date=January 22, 2012|title=Indians ink Lugo to Minor League deal |url=http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120122&content_id=26420292&vkey=news_cle&c_id=cle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309180740/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120122&content_id=26420292&vkey=news_cle&c_id=cle |archive-date=March 9, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 9, 2012|work=Cleveland Indians}} On January 30, the deal was reported to have fallen apart and he remained a free agent.{{cite web|last=Bastian|first=Jordan|date=January 30, 2012|title=Lugo, contracts and more|url=https://bastian.mlblogs.com/lugo-contracts-and-more-5f6540f916a6|access-date=May 20, 2021|website=Medium|language=en}} Lugo did not play professionally during the 2012 regular season. His final season was in 2013, as a member of the Peoria Explorers of the Freedom Pro Baseball League, an independent baseball league.{{cite web|title=Julio Lugo - Freedom Pro Baseball League - player|url=http://www.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=512846|access-date=May 20, 2021|website=Pointstreak Sports Technologies}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 1,352 MLB games over 12 seasons, Lugo batted .269 with 80 home runs and 475 RBIs; he stole 198 bases. In eight minor-league seasons, he batted .294 with 39 home runs and 250 RBIs in 570 games. He also played three seasons in the Dominican Winter League for Leones del Escogido, and played for the Dominican Republic three times in the Caribbean Series.

In 2018, the Boston Red Sox held their first alumni game since 1993;{{cite news |last=Dunphy |first=Mark |date=May 17, 2018 |title=The Red Sox announced their first alumni game at Fenway Park in 25 years |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2018/05/17/red-sox-alumni-game-fenway-park |access-date=May 17, 2018 |website=Boston.com}} Lugo hit a two-run homer off of Pedro Martínez for the only runs in the game.{{cite news |last=Powtak |first=Ken |date=May 27, 2018 |title=Julio Lugo on his homer off Pedro Martinez: 'It was awesome' |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2018/05/27/red-sox-alumni-game-pedro-martinez-julio-lugo |access-date=May 27, 2018 |website=Boston.com |agency=AP}}

Lugo and his second wife had one son and two daughters, and he also had an older son with his first wife.{{cite web|url=https://www.fox6now.com/sports/world-series-champ-julio-lugo-dead-at-45 |title=World Series champ Julio Lugo dead at 45 |publisher=Fox6now.com |date=February 6, 2013 |access-date=November 17, 2021}}

In 2013, Lugo was inducted to the Connors State College athletic hall of fame.{{cite web |url=https://connorsgiving.com/hall-of-fame-inductees-bios/2013/4/27/julio-lugo-baseball-13 |title=Julio Lugo (Baseball '13) |website=connorsgiving.com |date=April 27, 2013 |access-date=November 16, 2021}}

In 2015, Lugo was arrested in the Dominican Republic for kidnapping a couple and holding them at gunpoint.{{Cite web|last=Calcaterra|first=Craig|date=2015-04-23|title=Former major leaguer Julio Lugo charged with kidnapping in the Dominican Republic|url=https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2015/04/23/former-major-leaguer-julio-lugo-charged-with-kidnapping-in-the-dominican-republic/|access-date=2022-01-26|website=MLB {{!}} NBC Sports|language=en-US}} The altercation stemmed from Lugo's claim that an architect misappropriated the money Lugo provided to finance a tourism-related development project, and the charges were later dismissed.

Lugo died of a heart attack on November 15, 2021, just one day before his 46th birthday.{{cite news |url=https://telesistema11.com.do/tn-deportes/mlb/muere-de-un-infarto-expelotero-julio-lugo |title=Muere de un infarto expelotero Julio Lugo |language=es |website=Telesistema 11 |date=November 15, 2021 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/11/15/sports/former-red-sox-shortstop-julio-lugo-dies-45/ |title=Former Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo dies at 45, ESPN reports |first=Michael |last=Silverman |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=November 15, 2021 |access-date=November 15, 2021}}

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{{commons category|Julio Lugo}}

{{Baseballstats | mlb=150061 | espn=4290 | br=l/lugoju01 | fangraphs=565 |brm=lugo--001jul |retro=L/Plugoj001}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPZyfkCbEyw Lugo homers twice in the 5th inning] from MLB via YouTube

{{2007 Boston Red Sox}}

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Category:People from Barahona Province

Category:Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States

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