Julio Borbón

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Julio Borbón

|image=Julio Borbón (51020774548).jpg

|width=250

|caption=Borbón with the Somerset Patriots

|team=Milwaukee Brewers

|number=41

|position=Center fielder / Coach

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1986|2|20}}

|birth_place=Starkville, Mississippi, U.S.

|bats=Left

|throws=Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=June 29

|debutyear=2009

|debutteam=Texas Rangers

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = August 27

|finalyear = 2016

|finalteam = Baltimore Orioles

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.273

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=8

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=76

|teams=

;As player

Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2009}}–{{mlby|2011}}, {{mlby|2013}})
Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2013}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2016}})

;As coach

Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}

}}

Julio Alberto Borbón (born February 20, 1986) is an American former professional baseball center fielder and current first base coach for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, and Baltimore Orioles.

College career

Borbón attended the University of Tennessee. In {{Baseball year|2005}}, Borbón helped the Volunteers reach the College World Series and was third on the team with a .350 batting average. His teammates that year included current major leaguers Chase Headley of the San Diego Padres and Luke Hochevar of the Kansas City Royals. After the 2005 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=September 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2005&T=cotuit%20kettleers |title=2005 Cotuit Kettleers |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}} Borbon led the Volunteers with a .366 batting average and 19 stolen bases in {{Baseball year|2006}} and in 2007, his final season, had a .345 batting average.

Professional career

=Texas Rangers=

Entering the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, Borbón was ranked the 19th-best overall prospect by Baseball America.{{cite news |last=Davison |first=Drew |title=Notes: Rangers sign pick Borbon |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070816&content_id=2152717&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex |work=MLB.com |date=August 16, 2007 |access-date=November 24, 2007 }} In the draft, he was taken in the supplemental round by the Texas Rangers as the 35th overall pick.

File:Julio Borbon is freakin' fast.jpg in {{baseball year|2008}}.]]

On August 16, 2007, Borbón signed a four-year major league contract worth $1.3 million, with a $800,000 signing bonus. Because he was signed to a major league contract, Borbón was placed on the Rangers 40-man roster and was optioned to the Single-A Spokane Indians. At Spokane, he played in 7 games and had a .172 batting average. He was then sent to play rookie ball for the Surprise Rangers and played two games for them.

File:Julio Borbon 2010 spring training.jpg

On June 29, 2009, Borbón made his major league debut with the Rangers. He hit his first major league home run on August 20 of that year. On September 8, he had his first multi-homer game in an 11–9 win over the Cleveland Indians.{{cite web|url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/sports/1749615/mlb_texas_11_cleveland_9_1st_game/index.html |title=Texas 11, Cleveland 9 |publisher=Redorbit.com |date=September 8, 2009 |access-date=October 24, 2010}}

=Chicago Cubs=

On April 19, 2013, the Chicago Cubs claimed Borbón off waivers. He was designated for assignment on August 2, 2013.

=Baltimore Orioles=

Borbón was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the Triple–A phase of the Rule 5 Draft on December 12, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2013/12/dan-duquette-talks-about-michael-almanzar-and-julio-borbon.html|title=Dan Duquette talks about Michael Almanzar and Julio Borbon|first=Steve|last=Melewski}} He was assigned to the Triple–A Norfolk Tides to begin the 2014 season,{{cite web|url=http://www.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/2013-rule-5-draft-results?content_id=64621448&partnerId=as_mlb_20131212_15655294&ymd=20131212|title=2013 MLB Rule 5 Draft results|website=MLB.com}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ultimately playing in 124 games and hitting .288/.342/.356 with five home runs, 44 RBI, and 34 stolen bases.

Borbón returned to Triple-A Norfolk in 2015, making 114 appearances and batting .269/.300/.321 with one home run, 28 RBI, and 23 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=117|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421150258/http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=117|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 21, 2012|title=International League Transactions|page=November 2015|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=November 6, 2015}}

On March 12, 2016, Borbón re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league contract. His contract was selected from the Bowie Baysox when the Orioles placed Hyun-soo Kim on the 15-day disabled list on July 19, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/190495442/orioles-select-julio-borbon-from-aa-place-hyun-soo-kim-on-the-15-day-dl/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814163307/http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/190495442/orioles-select-julio-borbon-from-aa-place-hyun-soo-kim-on-the-15-day-dl/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2016|title=Orioles select Julio Borbón from AA; place Hyun Soo Kim on the 15-day DL|website=MLB.com}} Borbón made his first appearance in an MLB game in three years as an eighth-inning defensive substitute for center fielder Adam Jones in a 5–0 loss to the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 20. He made his first start with the Orioles in center field the next day, getting a single in three at bats and scoring a run in a 4–1 victory over the Yankees.{{cite web|url=http://www.csnmidatlantic.com/baltimore-orioles/after-nearly-three-years-julio-borbon-back-bigs-orioles|title=Borbon back in big leagues with Orioles|work=CSN Mid-Atlantic |date=July 21, 2016}} On August 31, Borbón was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk.{{Cite web|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 8/31/16|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/08/minor-mlb-transactions-83116.html|access-date=January 9, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=August 31, 2016 |language=en}}

=Acereros de Monclova=

On April 11, 2017, Borbón signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. In 55 games for Monclova, he batted .351/.408/.449 with two home runs, 22 RBI, and eight stolen bases.

=Pericos de Puebla=

Borbón was traded to the Pericos de Puebla on July 1, 2017. In 35 appearances for Puebla, he slashed .390/.457/.504 with three home runs, 15 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. Borbón became a free agent following the season.

=Somerset Patriots=

On April 2, 2018, Borbón signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{cite web|url=http://www.somersetpatriots.com/news/?article_id=3205|title=Somerset Patriots Land MLB Outfielder Julio Borbon|work=Somerset Patriots|access-date=April 2, 2018}} In 56 games for Somerset, he batted .301/.363/.454 with five home runs, 33 RBI, and 19 stolen bases.

=Sultanes de Monterrey=

On July 17, 2018, Borbón signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. In 42 games for Monterrey, he hit .301/.386/.399 with four home runs, 20 RBI, and 16 stolen bases.

Borbón announced his retirement from professional baseball on March 1, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BueZ01OHzDf/ |title=Julio Borbon |publisher=instagram.com | access-date=March 1, 2019}}

Post-playing career

=New York Yankees=

On March 1, 2019, Borbón announced that he joined the New York Yankees organization as a coach. In his first year, he served as a defensive coach for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, with a focus on baserunning, outfield, and bunting instruction.{{cite web|url=https://milb.bamcontent.com/documents/1/8/6/310433186/SWB_RailRiders_Roster_083019.pdf|title=2019 SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE RAILRIDERS ROSTER|access-date=January 30, 2022}} In 2020, he moved into a new position as a defensive coach for the Gulf Coast League Yankees, but the season was later canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |title=2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved|url=https://www.milb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-shelved|website=Minor League Baseball|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=July 1, 2020}} In 2021, Borbón stayed with the team, now re-named the Florida Complex League Yankees, and was promoted to manager.

=Minnesota Twins=

On January 30, 2022, Borbón announced he was leaving the Yankees and accepted a position with the Minnesota Twins in their player development department.{{Cite tweet|user=JulioBorbon20|number=1487853909842538498|title=Thank you Yankees! Excited to join the @Twins organization and start this new chapter! Let's go Twins! #MNTwins|last=Borbón|first=Julio|date=January 30, 2022|language=en|access-date=January 30, 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Do-Hyoung |date=March 8, 2022 |title='I love coming here': Borbón brings joy, experience to Twins |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/julio-borbon-discusses-coaching-position-with-twins |access-date=March 9, 2022 |website=MLB.com |language=}}

=Milwaukee Brewers=

On December 17, 2024, the Milwaukee Brewers hired Borbón to serve as their first base coach.{{Cite web|title=Brewers Hire Julio Borbon As First Base Coach|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/brewers-hire-julio-borbon-as-first-base-coach.html|access-date=December 18, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 17, 2024 |language=en}}

Personal

Borbón was born in Mississippi while his father attended Mississippi State University. He is of Dominican descent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.deporvida.net/es/15627/julio-borbon-una-vida-de-dedicacion-y-exitos|title=Julio Borbón una vida de dedicación y éxitos|date=October 18, 2021 }} He attended high school at De La Salle in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, graduating in 2004. After high school he attended the University of Tennessee on a baseball scholarship. He left Tennessee after his junior year and was taken by the Texas Rangers with the 35th pick in the 2007 MLB draft. His brother, Edwin Borbón, played college baseball at Trevecca Nazarene University prior to his first two years at Tennessee junior college, Chattanooga State.