Ariel Delgado

Ariel Delgado (Panal)

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Born September 13, 1960 in León, León Nicaragua

Biographical Information

Ariel Delgado was a longtime star in Nicaraguan amateur baseball.

Delgado was with the Nicaraguan national team for the 1983 Intercontinental Cup. He hit only .200 in the 1983 Pan American Games but homered against both Cuba and Venezuela. In the 1984 Amateur World Series, the third baseman hit .300/.391/.350 and fielded .920 in a backup role. He was with Nicaragua for the 1984 Olympics, 1985 Intercontinental Cup and 1986 Central American Games (when they won Gold). He hit .400 in the 1987 Pan American Games and led Nicaragua in hits (8), one ahead of Carel Lampson.

At the 1988 Baseball World Cup, he hit .341/.408/.568 with 8 RBI to lead Nicaragua's attack. He helped Nicaragua to a Silver in the 1990 Central American Games, tying Antenor Rivas for the lead in the event with two home runs. He was also 6th with a .417 average. He batted .350/.500/.450 in the 1993 Intercontinental Cup while manning the DH role. In the 1995 Intercontinental Cup, Ariel was just 1 for 9 as a bench player. He was on the Nicaraguan team that won the Silver Medal at the 1995 Pan American Games. He hit .769 in the 1997 Central American Games to lead the event; Nicaragua got a Silver. He was 3 for 6 in the 1999 Pan American Games, leading Nicaragua in average in limited time, at least 16 years after his national team debut.

"Panal" retired in 2005 as the all-time Nicaraguan amateur league leader in several categories. Through 2008, he was first with 1,851 hits (61 over Prospero Baca), 1,814 games (over 200 ahead of Ernesto López), 5,899 at-bats, 957 walks (185 over Nemesio Porras) and 1,132 RBI (15 over Baca). He was second with 282 doubles (one behind Baca) and third with 988 runs (trailing Porras and Baca).