Rico Washington
Encyclopedia
Enrico Aliceno Washington (born May 30, 1978 in Milledgeville, Georgia
) is a professional baseball
infielder
, currently playing for the Kansas City T-Bones
of the American Association. He has played in Major League Baseball
for the St. Louis Cardinals
in 2008, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League
for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions in 2009.
The Pittsburgh Pirates
selected Washington in the 10th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft
out of Jones County High School. Washington played six seasons in the Pirates organization, but was unable to make the team. In 2002, he was left off the Pirates' big-league roster and thus was available for selection in baseball's Rule 5 draft
, where he was taken by the San Diego Padres
. Washington played in the Padres' system in 2003 and 2004, advancing to Triple-A, but did not make the big-league club and in 2004 was granted free agency
. He then signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
and played in their farm system in 2005, then was released by Tampa Bay and signed by the Cardinals, where he spent 2006 and 2007 in the minors.
In 2008, just shy of his 30th birthday, after ten years and 3,980 at bat
s in the minor leagues, Washington finally made the majors when the Cardinals selected him to be on their big-league roster as a backup infielder
.
He was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on April 21, 2009.
Washington signed with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League before the start of the 2009 season. At the start of the 2010 season, Washington signed with the Kansas City T-Bones, and re-signed with them for 2011.
Milledgeville, Georgia
Milledgeville is a city in and the county seat of Baldwin County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is northeast of Macon, located just before Eatonton on the way to Athens along U.S. Highway 441, and it is located on the Oconee River. The relatively rapid current of the Oconee here made this an...
) is a professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
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...
, currently playing for the Kansas City T-Bones
Kansas City T-Bones
The Kansas City T-Bones are a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Kansas, in the United States. The T-Bones are a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the American Association. He has played in 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...
for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in 2008, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League
Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003...
for the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions in 2009.
The 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...
selected Washington in the 10th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft
1997 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1997...
out of Jones County High School. Washington played six seasons in the Pirates organization, but was unable to make the team. In 2002, he was left off the Pirates' big-league roster and thus was available for selection in baseball's Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, where he was taken by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. Washington played in the Padres' system in 2003 and 2004, advancing to Triple-A, but did not make the big-league club and in 2004 was granted free agency
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He then signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
and played in their farm system in 2005, then was released by Tampa Bay and signed by the Cardinals, where he spent 2006 and 2007 in the minors.
In 2008, just shy of his 30th birthday, after ten years and 3,980 at bat
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...
s in the minor leagues, Washington finally made the majors when the Cardinals selected him to be on their big-league roster as a backup 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...
.
He was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on April 21, 2009.
Washington signed with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League before the start of the 2009 season. At the start of the 2010 season, Washington signed with the Kansas City T-Bones, and re-signed with them for 2011.