Eli Marrero

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Eli Marrero

|image=File:Eli Marrero.jpg

|caption=Marrero with the Daytona Tortugas in 2016

|position=Utility player

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1973|11|17}}

|birth_place=Havana, Cuba

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 3

|debutyear=1997

|debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=August 8

|finalyear=2006

|finalteam=New York Mets

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.243

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=66

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=261

|formerteams=

St. Louis Cardinals ({{Baseball year|1997}}–{{Baseball year|2003}})
Atlanta Braves ({{Baseball year|2004}})
Kansas City Royals ({{Baseball year|2005}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{Baseball year|2005}})
Colorado Rockies ({{Baseball year|2006}})
New York Mets ({{Baseball year|2006}})

}}

Elieser Marrero (born November 17, 1973), is a Cuban former Major League Baseball player. Marrero started his career as a catcher, but spent time at first base, third base and in the outfield.

Playing career

= St. Louis Cardinals =

Marrero was selected in the third round of the 1993 Major Leage Baseball draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.{{Cite web |title=3rd Round of the 1993 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=1993&draft_round=3&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He debuted with the Cardinals in September 1997.{{Cite web |title=Eli Marrero 1997 Batting Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=marreel01&t=b&year=1997 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Marrero was diagnosed with thyroid cancer during spring training in 1998. He had his thyroid removed on March 6, but returned the Cardinals on April 13.{{Cite magazine |last=Bechtel |first=Mark |title=A Cardinal's Comeback After having had cancer surgery in the spring, Eli Marrero is hitting his stride |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1998/08/17/a-cardinals-comeback-after-having-had-cancer-surgery-in-the-spring-eli-marrero-is-hitting-his-stride |magazine=Sports Illustrated |publication-date=August 17, 1998 |via=SI Vault}}{{Cite web |title=Eli Marrero 1998 Batting Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=marreel01&t=b&year=1998 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/19/sports/baseball-cancer-puts-galarraga-on-sideline-for-season.html | title=BASEBALL; Cancer Puts Galarraga on Sideline for Season | work=The New York Times | date=February 19, 1999 | last1=Chass | first1=Murray }} He missed two months in 2000 after tearing a ligament in his thumb.{{Cite web |date=2000-09-29 |title=Cards Lose Catcher For Playoffs - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cards-lose-catcher-for-playoffs/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} When he returned to the Cardinals in September, he started logging time in the outfield and at first base, while still catching occasionally.{{Cite web |title=Eli Marrero 2000 Batting Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=marreel01&t=b&year=2000 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} Marrero caught Bud Smith's no-hitter on September 3, 2001.{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2001/B09030SDN2001.htm |title=St. Louis Cardinals 4, San Diego Padres 0 |website=Retrosheet |date=September 3, 2001}}

= Atlanta Braves =

The Cardinals traded Marrero and J.D. Drew to the Atlanta Braves in December 2003 for pitchers Jason Marquis, Ray King, and prospect Adam Wainwright.{{cite news |last=Callis |first=Jim |date=13 December 2003 |title=Braves fill free-agent holes with Drew, Marrero |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/031213drew.html |access-date=12 July 2010 |work=Baseball America}}Gilbert, Steve (13 October 2013). {{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/stl/looking-back-on-2003-trade-that-sent-adam-wainwright-to-cardinals?ymd=20131013&content_id=62912102&vkey=news_stl |title=Looking back at trade that sent Adam Wainwright to Cardinals}}. MLB.com Marrero hit .415 against left-handed pitchers with Atlanta in 2004, serving as a backup outfielder behind lefties Drew and Charles Thomas.{{Cite web |title=Eli Marrero 2004 Batting Splits |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=marreel01&year=2004&t=b |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2004 Atlanta Braves Fielding Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/2004-fielding.shtml |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

= Partial seasons with several MLB teams =

Following the 2004 season, the Braves dealt him to the Kansas City Royals, who needed a power-hitting corner outfielder, for minor-league pitcher Jorge Vasquez.{{Cite web |title=Eli Marrero |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/Pmarre001.htm |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=www.retrosheet.org}} He saw action at all three outfield positions and first base, but hit only .159 in 32 games.{{Cite web |title=Eli Marrero Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/marreel01.shtml |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} The Royals designated him for assignment on May 31, 2005. On June 8, the Royals traded him and cash considerations to the Baltimore Orioles for minor-league infielder Peter Maestrales. He played in 22 games for the Orioles, batting a slightly better .220. He became a free agent after the season.

Marrero signed with the Colorado Rockies on January 7, 2006. He played in 30 games for the Rockies, batting .217 with 4 home runs. He played catcher for one inning in his first game with the Rockies, the first time playing the position since 2003.{{Cite web |title=Eli Marrero Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/eli-marrero-118305 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} On June 9, while playing in Triple-A, the Rockies traded Marrero to the New York Mets for infielder Kaz Matsui and cash to offset Matsui's contract.{{Cite web |date=2006-06-09 |title=Mets deal slumping Matsui to Rockies for Marrero |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2477398 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} On July 2, Marrero saw his first major league action at third base, playing two innings in a blowout loss to the New York Yankees.{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2006/B07020NYA2006.htm |title=New York Yankees 16, New York Mets 7 |website=Retrosheet |date=July 2, 2006}}{{Cite web |title=Eli Marrero 2006 Fielding Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=marreel01&t=f&year=2006 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} On August 9, the Mets released Marrero, after he hit .182 in 25 games.

On November 28, 2006, Marrero signed a minor league deal by the St. Louis Cardinals. On May 21, 2007, the Cardinals released Marrero, who played only one game with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.

Coaching career

In July 2011, Marrero was named the batting coach of the Billings Mustangs. Marrero was the manager of the Arizona League Reds in 2013. On December 1, 2014, Marrero was named manager of the Cincinnati Reds Class A-Advanced affiliate, the Daytona Tortugas. Marrero was with the Tortugas until late in the 2017 season, when he was replaced by Ricky Gutiérrez.{{cite web |url=http://redsminorleagues.com/2018/01/16/ricky-gutierrez-manage-daytona-tortugas/ |title=Ricky Gutierrez to manage the Daytona Tortugas |first=Doug |last=Gray |website=redsminorleagues.com |date=January 16, 2018 |access-date=March 24, 2018}}

Personal life

File:Elih Marrero (48244250627) (cropped).jpg in 2019]]

Marrero is the uncle of professional baseball players Chris Marrero,{{cite web |url=https://www.talkingchop.com/2016/6/27/12037928/braves-rewind-whatever-happened-to-eli-marrero |title=Braves rewind: Whatever happened to...Eli Marrero? |first=Tony |last=Almeyda |website=talkingchop.com |date=June 27, 2016 |access-date=March 24, 2018}} Christian Marrero, and Deven Marrero.{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Emily |date=June 9, 2016 |title=Marrero cousins teaming up for Pawtucket |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2016/06/09/marrero-cousins-teaming-for-pawtucket/wR2BgpwqLbaJ6qZqPYSxpK/story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121164226/https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2016/06/09/marrero-cousins-teaming-for-pawtucket/wR2BgpwqLbaJ6qZqPYSxpK/story.html |archive-date=November 21, 2023 |access-date=March 24, 2018 |newspaper=The Boston Globe}}

Marrero's son Elih was a 29th round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2015 MLB draft, but he elected to play college baseball at Mississippi State. Elih later transferred to St. Thomas University in Florida and was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2018 MLB draft.{{cite news |url=https://www.overthemonster.com/2018/6/5/17429508/mlb-draft-2018-elih-marrero-eighth-round |title=Red Sox select Elih Marrero with their eighth round pick |first=Matt |last=Collins |website=overthemonster.com |date=June 5, 2018 |access-date=June 5, 2018}}

References

External links

{{Baseballstats|mlb=118305|espn=3736|br=m/marreel01|fangraphs=1166|brm=marrer001eli}}, or [https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/Pmarre001.htm Retrosheet]

Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:Major League Baseball catchers

Category:Major League Baseball utility players

Category:Major League Baseball players from Cuba

Category:20th-century Cuban sportsmen

Category:Cuban expatriate baseball players in the United States

Category:St. Louis Cardinals players

Category:Atlanta Braves players

Category:Baltimore Orioles players

Category:Kansas City Royals players

Category:Colorado Rockies players