Alfonso "Houston" Jiménez González (born 30 October 1957) is a Mexican former professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball positions, baseball or softball fielding position between second base, second and third base, which is considered to be among the Defensive spectrum, most demanding defensive positions. Historically, the ...

and

coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of Athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Coac ...

who is currently the third base coach for the Dorados de Chihuahua of the

Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. Jiménez played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) from 1983 to 1988 for the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

, and

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

. Jiménez spent 14 seasons playing in the

and 25 seasons in the

Mexican Pacific League The Mexican Pacific League (, or LMP), also known as the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico for sponsorship reasons, is a professional baseball Winter league baseball, winter league based in Northwestern Mexico. The league comprises 10 teams. It wa ...

. He was inducted into the

Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame The Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Mexicano (in English, Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame), commonly called the Salón de la Fama (Hall of Fame) is a baseball hall of fame and museum located in Monterrey, Nuevo León, inaugurated on 10 ...

as part of the class of 2007.

Playing career

Early years

Jiménez began his playing career with Puebla in 1974 at the age of 16. In 1975, he was signed as a free agent by the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...

organization, where he played for the Key West Cubs. After batting just .215 as their regular shortstop, he returned to Pericos for two seasons. He had a brief trial with the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

organization in 1978, batting .220 in 13 games.

Twins

After two more seasons with Puebla, Jiménez signed with the

before the 1981 season. At the end of

spring training Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...

, he was purchased by the

Broncos de Reynosa Los Broncos de Reynosa (English: Reynosa Broncos) were a Mexican team that played in the Adolfo Lopez Mateos stadium in the city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. The Broncos de Reynosa played in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol and it was part of the Zona ...

. After spending a season and a half with Reynosa, he was reacquired by the Twins, finishing the season with the

Toledo Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A baseball team nicknamed the ...

. Jiménez started 1983 with the Mud Hens, but was called up to the majors in June. He spent the rest of the season splitting time at shortstop with

Ron Washington Ronald Washington (born April 29, 1952) is an American professional baseball Manager (baseball), manager, Coach (baseball), coach, and former infielder. Since November 2023, Washington has been the manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Major Leagu ...

. The following year, Jiménez became the Twins' starter, playing in 108 games. However, 1984 would prove to be the only full season he spent at the major league level. After batting just .201, he spent all of the 1985 season with Toledo, then was released just before the start of the 1986 season.

Pirates and Indians

After spending 1986 out of organized ball, Jiménez signed with the

in December. He spent most of the 1987 season with the

Vancouver Canadians The Vancouver Canadians are a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. They are members of the Northwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Canadians play their home games at Nat Bail ...

, playing in just six games for the Pirates, for whom he went hitless in 7 at bats. He became a free agent after the season. In June 1988, Jiménez signed with the

. His experience was similar to the previous year, as he spent most of the season in Triple-A with the

Colorado Springs Sky Sox The Colorado Springs Sky Sox were a Minor League Baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team played in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and was the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers (2015–2018), Colorado R ...

. He appeared in eight games with the Indians, managing just one hit in 21 at-bats.

Back to Mexico

After spending several years playing winter ball, Jiménez returned to the Mexican League in 1993 with the

Saraperos de Saltillo The Saraperos de Saltillo (English: Saltillo Serapes) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League. Their home ballpark is the Estadio de Béisbol Francisco I. Madero in Saltillo, Coahuila. They have won three championships (1980, 2009 ...

. He played there until his retirement in 2001.

Coaching career

While still active with Saltillo, Jiménez was named the clubs' manager in 1999. After leaving Saltillo in 2001, he managed the

Guerreros de Oaxaca The Guerreros de Oaxaca (English: Oaxaca Warriors) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico. Their home field is Estadio Eduardo Vasconcelos. History In October 1995, a group of businessmen, ...

from 2002 until 2004. Jiménez managed the

Diablos Rojos del México The Diablos Rojos del Mexico (English: Mexico Red Devils) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Mexico City, Mexico. The team was founded in 1940 by Salvador Lutteroth and Ernesto Carmona. The Diablos Rojos play their ho ...

in 2005 and the

Potros de Tijuana The Potros de Tijuana (English: Tijuana Colts) were a professional baseball team based in Tijuana, Baja California. The Potros played in the Mexican Pacific League and later in the Mexican League. The team played their home games at the Estadio N ...

at the start of 2006. After being let go by Tijuana, Jiménez was named to the coaching staff of the

Tri-City Dust Devils The Tri-City Dust Devils are a Minor League Baseball team based in Pasco, Washington. The Dust Devils are members of the Northwest League The Northwest League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Northwestern United States ...

, the Single-A affiliate of the

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

. In 2007, he became the hitting coach for the

Asheville Tourists The Asheville Tourists are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. It is located in Asheville, North Carolina. Asheville teams have played under the Tourists moniker in different ...

, where he served for two seasons. He was also elected to the

in 2007. Jiménez was hired as the manager of the

Pericos de Puebla The Pericos de Puebla (English: Puebla Parrots) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Puebla. Their home ballpark is the Estadio de Béisbol Hermanos Serdán. Established in 1938, the Pericos have won five Mexican League ...

in 2009. That year, he also served as

third base coach In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, who determines the starting lineup and batting order, decides how to substitute players during the game, and makes strategy decision ...

for the

Mexico national baseball team The Mexico national baseball team (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Selección de béisbol de México'') is the baseball team that represents Mexico in international tournaments. It is currently the 2nd-ranked baseball team in the world. Current rost ...

at the

2009 World Baseball Classic The 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an International Baseball Federation, international baseball competition. It began on March 5 and finished March 23. Unlike in 2006 World Baseball Classic, 2006, when the Round-robin tournament, round- ...

. Jiménez led Puebla to the 2010 Final Series, but lost to Saltillo 1 games to 4. After the 2011 season, Jiménez left the Pericos and was later hired by the

Petroleros de Minatitlán The Petroleros de Minatitlán (English: Minatitlán Oilers) was a AAA-level baseball team playing in the Mexican League. Their homefield was the Parque 18 de marzo de 1938 in Minatitlán, Veracruz Minatitlán is a city in the List of states of ...

in May 2012 as a replacement for

Roberto Heras Roberto Heras Hernández (born 1 February 1974) is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer who won the Vuelta a España a record four times. Between 1997 Vuelta a España, 1997 and 2005 Vuelta a España, 2005 he finished in the top 5 o ...

; after taking the Petroleros with a 19–40 record, Minatitlán finished the season last in the South Division with a 40–73 record. In

2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

, he was enshrined into the

Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame The Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame () was established in 1996 by Juan Francisco Puello Herrera, commissioner of the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (CPBC). (Spanish) It honors the most prominent baseball players who have made signi ...

. In February 2013 he was named again Puebla's manager. On 14 May 2014, Jiménez left Puebla, replaced by

Joe Alvarez José René Álvarez Ramírez (born June 11, 1956), known as Joe Alvarez, is a Cuban Americans, Cuban American baseball manager and a former utility player, utility infielder in Minor League Baseball. Listed at , , Alvarez batted and threw right ...

. On 14 July 2014, he was hired as the manager of

El Águila de Veracruz El Águila de Veracruz (English: The Eagle of Veracruz) is a professional baseball team that plays in the Mexican League. Based in Veracruz, Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico, they play their home games at the Estadio Universitario Beto Ávila. Histor ...

replacing Eddie Castro. In 2015, Jiménez managed

Olmecas de Tabasco The Olmecas de Tabasco (English: Tabasco Olmecs) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Their home ballpark is the Estadio Centenario 27 de Febrero. The Olmecas won their only Mexican Lea ...

finishing sixth in the South Division with a 48–56 record. On 29 April 2016, Jiménez was appointed manager of Oaxaca, replacing Enrique Reyes. He managed the Guerreros for two seasons, failing to qualify for the postseason in both years. Jiménez was named manager of the

for the first tournament of 2018 season, finishing sixth in the South Division. On 18 May 2019, he was hired by the

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos The Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos (English: Two Laredos Owls), formerly known as the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo (English: Nuevo Laredo Owls), are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League. The Tecolotes are a binational baseball team, spli ...

, replacing manager Félix Fermín; on 23 August 2018, with six games remaining in the season and with a 36–41 record, he was replaced by Rafael Rijo. On 1 January 2024, Jiménez joined the Dorados de Chihuahua as the team's third base coach.

Managerial statistics

Mexican League

References

External links

Salon de la Fama page for Houston Jiménez
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jimenez, Houston 1957 births Living people Baseball players from Mexico City Broncos de Reynosa players Cleveland Indians players Colorado Springs Sky Sox players Diablos Rojos del México managers Diablos Rojos del México players Guerreros de Oaxaca managers Iowa Oaks players Key West Cubs players Langosteros de Cancún players Major League Baseball players from Mexico 20th-century Mexican sportsmen Major League Baseball shortstops Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Mexican expatriate baseball players in Canada Mexican expatriate baseball players in the United States Mexican League baseball third basemen Mexican League Rookie of the Year Award winners Minnesota Twins players Minor league baseball managers Olmecas de Tabasco managers Pericos de Puebla managers Pericos de Puebla players Piratas de Campeche players Pittsburgh Pirates players Saraperos de Saltillo managers Saraperos de Saltillo players Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos managers Toledo Mud Hens players Vancouver Canadians players