Bobby Cuellar

Bobby Cuellar
Cuellar with the Great Lakes Loons in 2016
Pitcher
Born: (1952-08-20) August 20, 1952 (age 72)
Alice, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 9, 1977, for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
September 20, 1977, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average1.35
Strikeouts3
Teams
As player

As coach

Robert Cuellar (born August 20, 1952) is an American former professional baseball player who played briefly with the Texas Rangers of the Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1977 as a relief pitcher. He is a graduate from the University of Texas and is of Mexican American descent.[1] He has held several coaching positions in baseball, including pitching coach, bullpen coach, and manager. He is currently a special assistant in the player development department of the Los Angeles Dodgers

Playing career

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He was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 29th round (592nd overall) of the 1974 MLB draft.[2] Bobby Cuellar played in the minor leagues from 1974 to 1981, finishing his career with one season in Mexico.[citation needed] He briefly had a "cup of coffee" with the Texas Rangers in 1977 appearing in four games before returning to the minor leagues at Tucson.[3]

Coaching career

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Due to also pitching winter ball during his career as a pitcher and the lack of pitch counts in the 1970s, he overused and eventually wore out his shoulder.[4] After his career was over, he went on to a career in coaching and managing. Beginning in 1983, he worked in the Seattle Mariners' organization until 1996. Since then, in addition to stints on the major league coaching staffs of the Montreal Expos, Texas Rangers, and Pittsburgh Pirates, Cuellar spent six years coaching in the Minnesota Twins' minor league system. While in the Twins system he mentored a young Johan Santana who he taught to throw a circle changeup, the importance of trusting in his ability to throw it and made him repeatedly throw it in minor league games.[5] Adding this pitch, which would go on to become his most notorious, to his rotation made Santana extremely effective and within the space of a full season from 2001 to 2002 Santana went from an average pitcher with control issues and a 4.74 ERA to a 2.99 ERA ace who would be in contention for the best pitcher in baseball over the next 5 seasons, repeatedly citing Cuellar's influence.[6][7] He was chosen for the 2023 Mike Coolbaugh Award in recognition for his "outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game, and skill in mentoring young players on the field."[8] His resume includes:

References

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  1. ^ "M's get black eye on 'burnt cork' joke". Spokane Chronicle. Associated Press. June 17, 1987. pp. D2. Retrieved October 5, 2024. I hired Bob Cuellar, who is a Mexican-American
  2. ^ "Bobby Cuellar - Baseball Stats". The Baseball Cube. Archived from the original on May 26, 2008. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Bobby Cuellar Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "Tom Powers: Minnesota Twins rehire ultimate baseball man in Bobby Cuellar". Pioneer Press. March 11, 2008. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  5. ^ Rymer, Zachary D. (March 29, 2013). "Retelling Johan Santana's MLB Journey from Untouchable to Unfixable". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  6. ^ "New Cats Manager Mentored Santana". Hartford Courant. February 8, 2008. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  7. ^ "Johan Santana Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  8. ^ "Cuellar, McDaniel win Coolbaugh, Bender Awards". Minor League Baseball. December 6, 2023. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
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