Luis Sojo
Encyclopedia
Luis Beltrán Sojo Sojo (ˈlwiz βelˈtɾan ˈsoxo, ˈsoʊhoʊ ; born January 3, 1966 in Petare, Miranda State, Venezuela
) is a former Major League Baseball
infielder
and right-handed batter who played with the Toronto Blue Jays
(1990, 1993), California Angels
(1991–92), Seattle Mariners
(1994–96), New York Yankees
(1996–2001, 2003) and Pittsburgh Pirates
(2000). He is also the current manager of the Cardenales de Lara, of the Venzuelan Winter League, in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
In his career, Sojo filled a role as a utility infielder for the Blue Jays, Angels, Mariners, Pirates and, most notably, for the Yankees.
Not classically athletic, he was a natural shortstop
in the minors
, but took on an expanded role in emergency situations, initially and most commonly as a second baseman
, and eventually as a third baseman
, first baseman
and left fielder
as well.
Sojo had limited power and did not draw many walks
, but he was a good contact hitter, especially for someone who made a habit of falling behind in the count during his minor league tenure. He did show an ability to put the ball in play with a low strikeout
rate (one for 13 at-bats
). Some of his great contributions came when going to the opposite field in hit and run
situations and with infield hits. An avid bunter, he led the league in sacrificial hits in 1991 (19). Though not a threat as a base stealer
, he was a competent base runner. In the field, Sojo had a good range and a good arm, showing quick hands and slick moves.
In October 2000, Sojo turned from a role player to a World Series
hero in the decisive Game 5 of the Subway Series
against the New York Mets
. With the score tied at two in the ninth inning and two outs, Sojo delivered a two-RBI
single against Al Leiter
. The Yankees won their 26th World Series, third consecutive, fourth in the Joe Torre
era, and Sojo obtained his fifth series ring, 4 with New York and one with the Blue Jays.
In 2002, Sojo failed to earn a spot on the Yankees roster, and retired from playing Major League Baseball. He then made his managerial debut with the Yankees Double A affiliate Norwich Navigators, and led the team to its first Eastern League Championship.
2003 was a unique year for Sojo. Having left the Navigators, Sojo was invited to the Yankees Old Timers game, where he hit the game-winning home run off Ron Guidry. Later that season, the Yankees resigned him as an active player, and he appeared in three games to conclude the season. He may be the only Yankee (or overall player) in history to play in an Old Timers Game and later a regular season game in the same year.
In 13 seasons, Sojo batted
.261 (671-for-2571) with 36 home run
s, 261 RBI, 300 runs, 103 doubles
, 12 triples
, and 28 stolen base
s in 848 games.
After his playing career, he served as the New York Yankees third base coach for the 2004 and 2005 seasons, after which he would serve as manager
for the Class A Advanced Tampa Yankees
from 2006–2009, before being relieved on Feb. 2, 2010. Sojo also managed the Venezuelan national baseball team in both the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic
. On 01/10/2011 the New York Yankees announced that they were bringing Sojo back to manage the Tampa Yankees.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
and right-handed batter who played with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
(1990, 1993), California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(1991–92), Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
(1994–96), New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1996–2001, 2003) and Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(2000). He is also the current manager of the Cardenales de Lara, of the Venzuelan Winter League, in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
In his career, Sojo filled a role as a utility infielder for the Blue Jays, Angels, Mariners, Pirates and, most notably, for the Yankees.
Not classically athletic, he was a natural shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in the minors
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, but took on an expanded role in emergency situations, initially and most commonly as a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
, and eventually as a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
as well.
Sojo had limited power and did not draw many walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, but he was a good contact hitter, especially for someone who made a habit of falling behind in the count during his minor league tenure. He did show an ability to put the ball in play with a low strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
rate (one for 13 at-bats
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
). Some of his great contributions came when going to the opposite field in hit and run
Hit and run (baseball)
A hit and run is a high risk/high reward offensive strategy used in baseball.When the offense has a baserunner on first base , the runner on first breaks for second as the pitch is thrown...
situations and with infield hits. An avid bunter, he led the league in sacrificial hits in 1991 (19). Though not a threat as a base stealer
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
, he was a competent base runner. In the field, Sojo had a good range and a good arm, showing quick hands and slick moves.
In October 2000, Sojo turned from a role player to a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
hero in the decisive Game 5 of the Subway Series
Subway Series
The Subway Series is a series of Major League Baseball games played between teams based in New York City. The term's historic usage has been in reference to World Series games played between New York teams...
against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. With the score tied at two in the ninth inning and two outs, Sojo delivered a two-RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
single against Al Leiter
Al Leiter
Alois Terry "Al" Leiter is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He is now a studio analyst for MLB Network, and a color commentator for the YES Network.-Early career :Leiter attended Central Regional High School....
. The Yankees won their 26th World Series, third consecutive, fourth in the Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
era, and Sojo obtained his fifth series ring, 4 with New York and one with the Blue Jays.
In 2002, Sojo failed to earn a spot on the Yankees roster, and retired from playing Major League Baseball. He then made his managerial debut with the Yankees Double A affiliate Norwich Navigators, and led the team to its first Eastern League Championship.
2003 was a unique year for Sojo. Having left the Navigators, Sojo was invited to the Yankees Old Timers game, where he hit the game-winning home run off Ron Guidry. Later that season, the Yankees resigned him as an active player, and he appeared in three games to conclude the season. He may be the only Yankee (or overall player) in history to play in an Old Timers Game and later a regular season game in the same year.
In 13 seasons, Sojo batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.261 (671-for-2571) with 36 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 261 RBI, 300 runs, 103 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 12 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 28 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s in 848 games.
After his playing career, he served as the New York Yankees third base coach for the 2004 and 2005 seasons, after which he would serve as manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
for the Class A Advanced Tampa Yankees
Tampa Yankees
The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
from 2006–2009, before being relieved on Feb. 2, 2010. Sojo also managed the Venezuelan national baseball team in both the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
. On 01/10/2011 the New York Yankees announced that they were bringing Sojo back to manage the Tampa Yankees.
Highlights
- Hit a two-outs bases-clearing broken-bat double against California Angels Mark LangstonMark LangstonMark Edward Langston is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched for the Seattle Mariners , Montreal Expos , California and Anaheim Angels , San Diego Padres , and Cleveland Indians...
to lead Seattle to its very first AL West division title, with four runs scoring on the play: Sojo took third on the throw to the plate, and scored after the frustrated Langston's relay ended up in the backstop (1995) - Hit .400 with one RBI in 10 post-season games [.800 in the WS] (1996)
- Batted a career-high .307 in his first full season as a Yankee (1997)
- Tied for second on the team with nine RBI in 15 post-season games (2000)
- Drove in the World Series winning run (2000)
- Became the first person ever to manage a minor league team to a championship and later resume his Major League career.
- Five batting titles in the Venezuelan Winter League (.351, 1989–90; .362, 1990–91; .375, 1993–94; .376, 1994–95; .346, 1999–2000)
- Was called 'The best .200 hitter ever" by Yankees radio announcer John SterlingJohn Sterling (sportscaster)John Sterling is an American sportscaster best known as the radio play-by-play announcer of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. He has announced every Yankees game since .-Early life:...
- Reached 1000 hits on Dec. 14/15 (around midnight) in the Venezeulan Professional Baseball League (LVBP) with his team, Cardenales de Lara.