Chris Gimenez

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Chris Gimenez

| image = Chris Gimenez2019La.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Gimenez with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019

| team =

| number =

| position = Catcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|12|27}}

| birth_place = Gilroy, California, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = June 3

| debutyear = 2009

| debutteam = Cleveland Indians

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=September 30

|finalyear=2018

|finalteam=Minnesota Twins

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .218

| stat3label = Home runs

| stat3value = 24

| stat4label = Runs batted in

| stat4value = 89

| teams =

Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2009}}–{{mlby|2010}})
Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2011}})
Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}})
Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2014}})
Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2014}})
Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2015}})
Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2016}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2017}})
Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2018}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2018}})

}}

Christopher Paul Gimenez ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|ɪ|m|ə|n|ɛ|z}} {{respell|JIM|ə|nez}}; born December 27, 1982) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins.

Career

= Amateur =

In 2001, Gimenez graduated from Gilroy High School in Gilroy, California. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 34th round (1,024th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and instead attended the University of Nevada.

= Cleveland Indians =

The Cleveland Indians selected Gimenez in the 19th round (557th overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. He signed and joined the Indians minor league system, playing with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Lake County Captains, Kinston Indians, Akron Aeros, Buffalo Bisons, and Columbus Clippers. He was a non-roster invitee to spring training for the 2008 and 2009 Indians, but started each season in the minors.

Gimenez made his MLB debut on June 3, 2009. On February 24, 2010, Gimenez was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus to make room on the 40-man roster for Russell Branyan. He remained in camp with the Indians for the duration of spring training as a non-roster invitee. On July 10, 2010, Gimenez's contract was purchased by the Indians, and he was added to the active roster, replacing Mike Redmond, who was designated for assignment.[http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100710&content_id=12148840¬ebook_id=12151732&vkey=notebook_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle Tribe recalls Gimenez, designates Redmond] Gimenez was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus on October 29, 2010, removing him from the 40-man roster. He filed for free agency on November 6, 2010.

= Seattle Mariners =

On December 14, 2010, Gimenez signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners.{{cite news|last1=Spratt|first1=Gerry|title=M's ink four minor league free agents|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/baseball/2010/12/14/ms-ink-four-minor-league-free-agents/|access-date=August 8, 2014|publisher=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|date=December 14, 2010}} On December 12, 2011, the Mariners announced that Gimenez had been non-tendered along with pitcher Dan Cortes.{{cite web |url=http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111213&content_id=26152690&vkey=pr_sea&c_id=sea |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113192141/http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111213&content_id=26152690&vkey=pr_sea&c_id=sea |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |title=Mariners non-tender right-hander Dan Cortes and catcher Chris Gimenez (mlb.com)|date=December 13, 2011 |work=Major League Baseball |publisher=mlb.com |access-date=2011-12-13}} Two days later, on December 14, the club announced that they had re-signed Gimenez to a contract.{{cite news|title=Mariners re-sign C Chris Gimenez to 1-year deal|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2017017608_apbbamarinersgimenez.html|access-date=August 8, 2014|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Seattle Times|date=December 14, 2011}} He was designated for assignment on February 6, 2012, and soon after, he declared for free agency.{{cite news|title=Chris Gimenez declines outright and becomes free agent|url=http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120214&content_id=26687908&vkey=pr_sea&c_id=sea|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216003600/http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120214&content_id=26687908&vkey=pr_sea&c_id=sea|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 16, 2012|access-date=August 8, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=February 14, 2012}}

= Tampa Bay Rays =

The Tampa Bay Rays signed him to a minor league contract on February 16.{{cite news|last1=Topkin|first1=Marc|title=Tampa Bay Rays search for depth, add catcher Chris Gimenez|url=http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-search-for-depth-add-catcher-chris-gimenez/1215861|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811001248/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-search-for-depth-add-catcher-chris-gimenez/1215861|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2014|access-date=August 8, 2014|publisher=Tampa Bay Times|date=February 16, 2012}} He also received an invitation to spring training. He was with the organization for two seasons.

= Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians =

File:Chris Gimenez on July 1, 2014.jpg

On December 20, 2013, Gimenez was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics.{{cite news|title=Rangers add catcher Gimenez|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas/texas-rangers/post/_/id/4909506/rangers-add-catcher-gimenez|access-date=August 8, 2014|work=ESPN.com|date=March 28, 2013}} He was then claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers on March 28, 2014.{{cite news|title=Rangers receive C Chris Gimenez on waiver claim from Oakland A's; Designate LHP Michael Kirkman for assignment|url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140328&content_id=70312180&vkey=pr_tex&c_id=tex|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331130547/http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140328&content_id=70312180&vkey=pr_tex&c_id=tex|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2014|access-date=August 8, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=March 28, 2013}} He made the Rangers opening day roster on March 31, but was designated for assignment the next day.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=10711737|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|access-date=April 2, 2014|date=April 1, 2014|title=Rangers add RHP McCutchen as long reliever}} He elected to become a free agent on April 5.{{cite web| title=Rangers purchase contract of RHP Nick Martinez| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2014/baseball/mlb/wires/04/05/2010.ap.bba.rangers.moves.0090/index.html| archive-url=https://archive.today/20140405201921/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2014/baseball/mlb/wires/04/05/2010.ap.bba.rangers.moves.0090/index.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=April 5, 2014|agency=Associated Press|publisher=SI.com|access-date=April 5, 2014|date=April 5, 2014}} He re-signed a minor league contract on April 9 and was assigned to the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express.

Gimenez's returned to the Rangers when his contract was selected from Round Rock on May 20 when J. P. Arencibia was optioned to Round Rock.{{cite news|last1=Grant|first1=Evan|title=Robinson Chirinos, Chris Gimenez platoon behind the plate will continue for simple reason: it's working|url=http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/05/robinson-chirinos-chris-gimenez-platoon-behind-the-plate-will-continue-for-simple-reason-its-working.html/|access-date=August 8, 2014|publisher=Dallas Morning News|date=May 31, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809005713/http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/05/robinson-chirinos-chris-gimenez-platoon-behind-the-plate-will-continue-for-simple-reason-its-working.html/|archive-date=August 9, 2014}} He made the first pitching appearance of his Major League career on July 10, 2014, in the ninth inning of a blowout loss for the Rangers against the Los Angeles Angels. He pitched a 1-2-3 inning, including a swinging strikeout of C. J. Cron.{{cite news|title=Mike Trout, Angles plate 15 in romp over Rangers|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=340710113|access-date=August 8, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=July 10, 2014}} Gimenez was designated for assignment on August 7.{{cite news|title=Rangers C Gimenez from paternity leave to DFA|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11323462|access-date=August 8, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=August 7, 2014}} He was acquired by the Cleveland Indians on August 23, 2014.{{cite news|title=Indians acquire C Gimenez from Rangers|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11398841|access-date=August 23, 2014|work=ESPN.com|date=August 23, 2014}}

Gimenez signed a minor league deal with the Rangers on November 20, 2014.{{cite news|title=Rangers sign 3 players to minor league deals|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11909635|access-date=November 21, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=November 20, 2014}} On July 31, 2015, Gimenez was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock after Tomas Telis was traded to the Miami Marlins. He appeared in the postseason for the first time in the 2015 ALDS.

Gimenez was traded back to the Cleveland Indians on May 4, 2016, in exchange for cash considerations. On November 18, 2016, Gimenez was outrighted off the 40-man roster; he subsequently elected free agency on November 21, 2016.

=Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs=

On January 12, 2017, Gimenez signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins that included an invitation to spring training.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/01/twins-sign-chris-gimenez-to-minor-league-deal.html|title=Twins Sign Chris Gimenez To Minor League Deal|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=January 12, 2017|access-date=January 12, 2017}} Gimenez made the Twins' 25-man roster out of camp.

On April 23, 2017, Gimenez pitched for his fourth time to Andrew Romine of the Detroit Tigers in the top of the 9th inning, resulting in a pop-fly out to retire the inning. He was outrighted to AAA on November 6, 2017.

On January 22, 2018, Gimenez signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. {{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/01/cubs-agree-to-sign-chris-gimenez.html|title = Cubs Agree to Sign Chris Gimenez| date=January 22, 2018 }}

He made his debut with the team on May 28, 2018, with a single in his first at-bat against the Pittsburgh Pirates. On July 4, 2018, the Cubs designated him for assignment.

On August 30, 2018, Gimenez and cash were traded back to the Twins in exchange for Bobby Wilson.{{cite web|title=Twins trade Bobby Wilson to Cubs for Chris Gimenez|url=http://www.startribune.com/twins-trade-bobby-wilson-to-cubs-for-chris-gimenez/492120531/|website=StarTribune|author=Phil Miller|date=August 30, 2018|access-date=August 31, 2018}}

=Coaching=

After the 2018 season, he retired from playing to take on the role of Game Planning Coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-finalize-coaching-staff-for-2019/c-301221152|title=Ebel, Van Scoyoc join Dodgers' coaching staff|work=mlb.com|first=Ken|last=Gurnick|date=November 28, 2018|access-date=November 28, 2018}}