Ronny Paulino
Encyclopedia
Ronny Leonel Paulino (born April 21, 1981 in Santo Domingo
, Dominican Republic
) is a professional baseball player. He currently plays catcher for the New York Mets
of Major League Baseball
. As of 2011, Paulino held a .338 batting average against left handed pitchers.
with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization on December 29, , at the age of 16. In , he was selected by the Kansas City Royals
in the Rule 5 Draft
, but he was returned to the Pirates in spring training
of the following year. After making his major league debut in September with the Pirates, Paulino was selected to the Dominican Republic team for the 2006 World Baseball Classic
as a backup catcher. The highlight of the World Baseball Classic for Paulino came on March 13, when Paulino started at catcher against the Cuba
n team. Paulino went 2 for 2 with a double
, 3 walks
, and 1 run
scored in the Dominican's triumph over Cuba. On April 16, , Paulino was recalled to the Major Leagues and quickly became the Pirate's every day catcher. Eventually he was again demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis
, as management would give Ryan Doumit
the bulk of playing time behind the plate with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Paulino was praised by the Pirates' pitching staff as an excellent catcher to work with. The staff ERA
is markedly better when Paulino is behind the plate.
His .310 batting average
made him the first rookie catcher since Mike Piazza
to play in at least 100 games and bat at least .310. He is only the second rookie catcher since to have those numbers.
. He was then traded to the San Francisco Giants
on March 27, 2009 for pitcher Jack Taschner
. Two hours later he was traded to the Florida Marlins
for pitcher Hector Correa.
With the Marlins, Pauline platooned with left-handed hitting catcher John Baker
. After Baker suffered a season ending injury in May 2010, Paulino took over starting duties for the majority of the season. On August 20, 2010, Paulino received a 50-game suspension for violation of baseball's drug policy. Paulino claimed the positive test was a result of a dietary pill.
signed Paulino to a one year contract. On May 1, 2011, in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies
, Paulino went 5 for 7 and hit the game winning RBI in the 14th inning in his first game as a Met. With the news of the death of Osama bin Laden
, the al-Qaeda
leader who was the mastermind of the September 11 attacks circulating during the game against their rivals, Mets' manager Terry Collins
said that Paulino delivered "a good win for us, and obviously a huge win for America tonight."
On June 8, Paulino hit his first home run with the Mets, a 3-run home run off of the Brewers'
Kameron Loe
.
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
) is a professional baseball player. He currently plays catcher for 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...
of 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...
. As of 2011, Paulino held a .338 batting average against left handed pitchers.
1997-2008: Pittsburgh Pirates
Paulino signed as a non-drafted free agentFree 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....
with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization on December 29, , at the age of 16. In , he was selected by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in the 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...
, but he was returned to the Pirates in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
of the following year. After making his major league debut in September with the Pirates, Paulino was selected to the Dominican Republic team for the 2006 World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
as a backup catcher. The highlight of the World Baseball Classic for Paulino came on March 13, when Paulino started at catcher against the Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n team. Paulino went 2 for 2 with a double
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....
, 3 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...
, and 1 run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
scored in the Dominican's triumph over Cuba. On April 16, , Paulino was recalled to the Major Leagues and quickly became the Pirate's every day catcher. Eventually he was again demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
, as management would give Ryan Doumit
Ryan Doumit
Ryan Matthew Doumit is an American professional baseball catcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball. He played the first seven years of his career for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Professional career:...
the bulk of playing time behind the plate with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Paulino was praised by the Pirates' pitching staff as an excellent catcher to work with. The staff ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
is markedly better when Paulino is behind the plate.
His .310 batting average
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 :...
made him the first rookie catcher since Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza
Michael Joseph "Mike" Piazza ; born September 4, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics....
to play in at least 100 games and bat at least .310. He is only the second rookie catcher since to have those numbers.
2009-10: Florida Marlins
On December 10, 2008, Paulino was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for minor league catcher Jason JaramilloJason Jaramillo
Jason Cory Jaramillo is a catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He played collegiately at Oklahoma State University. Jaramillo was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the second round of the 2004 MLB Draft. He was also ranked one of the top ten prospects in the Phillies system for...
. He was then traded to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
on March 27, 2009 for pitcher Jack Taschner
Jack Taschner
Jack Gerard Taschner is a left-handed relief pitcher, who is currently a police officer for the City of Appleton, Wisconsin.-Early career:...
. Two hours later he was traded to the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
for pitcher Hector Correa.
With the Marlins, Pauline platooned with left-handed hitting catcher John Baker
John Baker (baseball)
John David Baker is an American professional baseball catcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Personal:...
. After Baker suffered a season ending injury in May 2010, Paulino took over starting duties for the majority of the season. On August 20, 2010, Paulino received a 50-game suspension for violation of baseball's drug policy. Paulino claimed the positive test was a result of a dietary pill.
2011: New York Mets
In December 2010, the New York MetsNew 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...
signed Paulino to a one year contract. On May 1, 2011, in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Paulino went 5 for 7 and hit the game winning RBI in the 14th inning in his first game as a Met. With the news of the death of Osama bin Laden
Death of Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden, then head of the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda, was killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011, shortly after 1 a.m. local time by a United States special forces military unit....
, the al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
leader who was the mastermind of the September 11 attacks circulating during the game against their rivals, Mets' manager Terry Collins
Terry Collins
Terry Lee Collins is the manager for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. A former minor league shortstop, Collins managed the Albuquerque Dukes of the Pacific Coast League, the Buffalo Bisons of the International League, the Duluth Huskies of the summer collegiate Northwoods League, and...
said that Paulino delivered "a good win for us, and obviously a huge win for America tonight."
On June 8, Paulino hit his first home run with the Mets, a 3-run home run off of the Brewers'
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
Kameron Loe
Kameron Loe
Kameron David Loe is a professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.He previously pitched in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers. At 6' 9" tall, Loe is one of the tallest players in the game, and also has a 7 foot boa constrictor named Angel which he keeps in the clubhouse...
.