Rudy Caballero Seánez
eh-ah-nez(born October 20, 1968), is an American 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 ...
relief pitcher
In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who pitches in the game after the starting pitcher or another relief pitcher has been removed from the game due to fatigue (medical), fatigue, injury, ineffectiveness, ejection ...
, who played in all or parts of 17
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) seasons, over a 20-year span (–).
Seánez, who is of Mexican American descent, was originally drafted by the
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 ...
in . Over the course of his long big league career, he has played for many teams, including the Cleveland Indians,
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
(four separate stints),
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
(twice),
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
(twice),
Texas Rangers,
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
(twice),
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
,
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park.
The ...
, and
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
. Seánez garnered one
World Series ring
A World Series ring is an award given to Major League Baseball players who win the World Series. Since only one Commissioner's Trophy is awarded to the team, a World Series ring is an individual award that players and staff of each World Series ...
, with the
2008 Phillies. He threw and batted
right-handed
In human biology, handedness is an individual's preferential use of one hand, known as the dominant hand, due to and causing it to be stronger, faster or more Fine motor skill, dextrous. The other hand, comparatively often the weaker, less dext ...
.
Early life
Seanez attended
Brawley Union High School
Brawley Union High School (BUHS) is a high school in Brawley, California.
Athletics
The wrestling program has won 18 consecutive CIF San Diego Section titles (2001–2018) and 2 Southern Section titles (1969, 1970).
The bell game, an annual ...
in
Brawley,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
, and was a letterman in
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
and
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 ...
. He was drafted out of high school by the Cleveland Indians in the 4th round of the 1986
MLB draft
The Major League Baseball draft (officially the Rule 4 Draft; also known as the first-year player draft or amateur draft) is the primary mechanism by which Major League Baseball (MLB) assigns amateur baseball players from high schools, colleg ...
.
Career
Seánez made his major league debut on September 7, 1989, for the Indians against the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
. He worked 2 scoreless innings in relief during the Indians 17-9 loss to the Blue Jays.
On September 29 2004 while pitching for the
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park.
The ...
Seánez recorded the final out at Montreal's
Olympic Stadium
''Olympic Stadium'' is the name usually given to the main stadium of an Olympic Games
The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international Olympic sports, sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports ...
when he got Terrmel Sledge to pop out to third base to end the final
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...
home game before the team became the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...
in 2005
Seánez' best season came in with the San Diego Padres. He posted a 7–1 record with a 2.69
ERA
An era is a span of time.
Era or ERA may also refer to:
* Era (geology), a subdivision of geologic time
* Calendar era
Education
* Academy of European Law (German: '), an international law school
* ERA School, in Melbourne, Australia
* E ...
, setting career highs in
wins (7),
games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched (denoted by Games G in tables of only pitching statistics) is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher. The statistic is also referred to as appearances, especially to refer to the number of ...
(57),
innings
An innings is one of the divisions of a cricket match during which one team takes its turn to bat. Innings also means the period in which an individual player bats (acts as either striker or nonstriker). In cricket and rounders, "innings" is ...
(60.1) and
strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...
s (84). With only 22
walks issued, Seánez averaged nearly four
strikeouts per walk. He limited opponents to a .222
batting average
Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic.
Cricket
In cricket, a player's batting average is ...
and compiled a
WHIP
A whip is a blunt weapon or implement used in a striking motion to create sound or pain. Whips can be used for flagellation against humans or animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain, or be used as an audible cue thro ...
of 1.18. He also ranked second among
National League
National League often refers to:
*National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada
*National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...
relievers with 12.5
strikeouts per nine innings
In baseball statistics, strikeouts per nine innings pitched (abbreviated K/9, SO/9, or SO/9IP) is the mean of strikeouts (or Ks) by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by multiplying the number of strikeouts by nine, and dividing ...
and tied for second in the league with seven relief wins.
In a 16-season career, Seánez is 41–30 with 12
saves and a 4.12 ERA in 515 appearances, all in relief. Seánez showed ability to overcome numerous injuries, combining
weightlifting
Weightlifting or weight lifting generally refers to physical exercises and sports in which people lift weights, often in the form of dumbbells, barbells or machines. People engage in weightlifting for a variety of different reasons. These can ...
with mixed
martial arts
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...
during his off-season workout regimen.
Seánez also trained with professional
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...
fighters and sports several tattoos.
Seánez was an aggressive pitcher who challenged hitters with his 96 mile-per-hour
fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch (baseball), pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. Its distinctive feature is its high speed. "Power pitchers," such as former major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, relied on the ...
. His
slider and
changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball.
The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball, but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced spee ...
were also effective, and he was capable against batters from both sides of the plate. He did a better job than many middle relievers at holding on base runners, and was a competent fielder despite a history of back problems.
In 2008, after 20 years in the big leagues, Seanez earned his first
World Series ring
A World Series ring is an award given to Major League Baseball players who win the World Series. Since only one Commissioner's Trophy is awarded to the team, a World Series ring is an individual award that players and staff of each World Series ...
as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. He was not included on the club's postseason roster, but did travel with the team and was in uniform for all of the team's playoff games.
On May 18, 2009, he passed a physical and signed a minor league deal to the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. Since 1966, the team has pl ...
.
He was released on July 18.
Retirement
In November 2010, he retired from baseball. He currently owns Seanez Sports Academy. The 15,776 square foot facility includes cages for batting and pitching. There is also an open area for agility training, and a sports performance gym.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seanez, Rudy
Águilas de Mexicali players
American expatriate baseball players in Mexico
Baseball players from Imperial County, California
Atlanta Braves players
Boston Red Sox players
Cleveland Indians players
Florida Marlins players
Kansas City Royals players
Los Angeles Dodgers players
San Diego Padres players
Texas Rangers players
Philadelphia Phillies players
Major League Baseball pitchers
American baseball players of Mexican descent
People from Brawley, California
Burlington Indians players (1986–2006)
Waterloo Indians players
Kinston Indians players
Central Valley Rockies players
Colorado Springs Sky Sox players
Las Vegas Stars (baseball) players
Albuquerque Dukes players
20th-century American sportsmen
Norfolk Tides players
Richmond Braves players
Greenville Braves players
Lake Elsinore Storm players
Pawtucket Red Sox players
Iowa Cubs players
Oklahoma RedHawks players
Omaha Royals players
Canton-Akron Indians players
Lehigh Valley IronPigs players
21st-century American sportsmen
Salt Lake Bees players
1968 births
Living people
Brawley Union High School alumni