Ramón Vázquez
Ramon during batting practice at the Rangers home opener on April 8, 2008.
Pittsburgh Pirates — No. 5
Infielder
Born: August 21, 1976 (1976-08-21) (age 33) Aibonito, Puerto Rico
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 7, 2001 for the Seattle Mariners
Career statistics (through July 23, 2009)
Batting average	.256
Hits	477
Home runs	22
Teams
Seattle Mariners (2001) San Diego Padres (2002-2004) Boston Red Sox (2005) Cleveland Indians (2005-2006) Texas Rangers (2007-2008) Pittsburgh Pirates (2009-present)

Ramón Luis Vázquez (born August 21, 1976 in Aibonito, Puerto Rico) is an infielder in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Previously, Vázquez played with the Seattle Mariners (2001), San Diego Padres (2002-2004), Boston Red Sox (2005), Cleveland Indians (2005-2006), and Texas Rangers (2007-2008). He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.

[edit] Career

Vázquez became a minor league free agent after the 2006 season, and on November 17, 2006, signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. Midseason injuries to Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock and second baseman Ian Kinsler forced Vázquez into an everyday role for the first time since the 2003 season.

On August 22, 2007, Vazquez had seven RBI with two homers in a record-setting 30-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.^[1]

On May 12, 2008, against his former team, the Seattle Mariners, Vázquez hit a walk-off home run in the 10th inning off Brandon Morrow.

On July 29, 2008, Vázquez victimized the Mariners again with last at-bat heroics. After his third error of the game allowed the Seattle to take a 10-9 lead in the top of the 9th, Vázquez doubled to right-center field off Mariners closer J. J. Putz, just out of Ichiro's reach, to drive in 2 runs as the Rangers won the game 11-10. In a postgame interview with Jim Knox, broadcast over the stadium speakers, Vázquez thanked all the fans that were cheering him on despite his three errors, and also told those fans who booed him to "Take that, *BLEEP*!" (Vázquez did not curse, but rather sounded out the bleep.)

On December 12, 2008, Vazquez signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ramon also participated in the 2009 World Baseball classic representing Puerto Rico in the spring of 2009 where he played 3rd base.^[2] His only home run of 2009 came against the Florida Marlins

[edit] Personal

He is married to his wife Griselda. They have one son, Nomar, and reside in Cayey, Puerto Rico.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube