Robinson Cancel

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Robinson Cancel

| image = Robinson Cancel, May 30, 2018 1.jpg

| caption = Cancel with the Asheville Tourists in 2018

| position = Catcher

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|5|4}}

| birth_place = Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 3

| debutyear = 1999

| debutteam = Milwaukee Brewers

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = June 5

| finalyear = 2011

| finalteam = Houston Astros

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .200

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 1

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 10

| teams = * Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|1999}})

New York Mets ({{mlby|2008}}–{{mlby|2009}})
Houston Astros ({{mlby|2011}})

}}

Robinson Cancel Castro (born May 4, 1976) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999 to 2011 for the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, and Houston Astros.

Early life

Cancel was born on May 4, 1976, in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. He grew up in nearby Lajas, attending Leonides Morales Rodriguez High School.{{Cite web |title=Robinson Cancel Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/robinson-cancel-236155 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

Playing career

Cancel made his Major League Baseball debut for the Milwaukee Brewers on September 3, 1999. He would not appear at the major league level again until June 4, 2008, when he was called up by the New York Mets.{{cite news|last1=Hubbuch|first1=Bart|title=This time, Scott's no relief|url=https://nypost.com/2008/06/04/this-time-scotts-no-relief/|access-date=November 20, 2015|work=New York Post|date=June 4, 2008}}

On June 15, 2008, Cancel pinch-hit for Pedro Martínez in the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded. Cancel singled to center field, driving in two runs; this single was the game-winning hit, giving Martínez his 211th career win. It was Cancel's first hit in the majors since 1999.{{cite news|last1=Blau|first1=Jon|title=Mets recall catcher Cancel|url=http://m.mets.mlb.com/news/article/3113931|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120165542/http://m.mets.mlb.com/news/article/3113931|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=July 11, 2008|access-date=November 20, 2015}}

Cancel hit his first career home run as a member of the Mets on August 11, 2008, against Zach Duke of the Pittsburgh Pirates, coming almost nine years after Cancel's Major-League debut with the Brewers.{{cite news|title=Pirates rally for six late runs vs. Mets' bullpen|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280811121|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012172250/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280811121|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 12, 2008|access-date=November 20, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=August 12, 2008}} He began the 2009 season in the minors, and was called up on July 30.{{cite news|last1=Costa|first1=Brian|title=NY Mets call up catcher Robinson Cancel, designate Elmer Dessens for assignment|url=http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2009/07/ny_mets_call_up_catcher_robins.html|access-date=November 20, 2015|work=The Star Ledger|date=July 30, 2009}}

Cancel spent the 2010 season with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball until the Houston Astros signed him in March 2011.{{cite news|last1=Eddy|first1=Matt|title=Minor League Transactions: March 1–8|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-march-1-8/|access-date=November 20, 2015|work=Baseball America|date=March 10, 2011}} On May 28, 2011, Cancel was called up after Humberto Quintero was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a high right ankle sprain.{{cite news|last1=Kavner|first1=Rowan|title=Quintero goes to DL with ankle sprain|url=http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/19661012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120151458/http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/19661012|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2015|access-date=November 20, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=May 28, 2011}}

Coaching career

Cancel retired in 2013.{{cite news|last1=O'Brien|first1=David|title=Familiar look to Braves minor league staffs|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/familiar-look-to-braves-minor-league-staffs/njTKX/|access-date=November 20, 2015|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=December 16, 2014}} The Atlanta Braves hired Cancel to manage the Gulf Coast League Braves club for 2015 season. Cancel is currently the manager of the Spokane Indians minor league baseball team.{{cite web|title=Spokane Indians Announce 2024 Field Staff|url=https://www.milb.com/spokane/news/spokane-indians-announce-2024-field-staff|website=Spokane Indians|access-date=23 July 2024}}