Juan Damborenea

Juan Ignacio Damborenea García

• Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 168 lb.

• Born March 30, 1965 in Bilbao, Vizcaya Spain

Olympics-Reference page

Biographical Information

Juan Damborenea pitched and coached for the Spanish national team, including an appearance in the Olympics.

Damborenea won a Bronze Medal with Spain at the 1987 European Championship. In the 1988 Baseball World Cup, the young southpaw was 0-1 with a 8.74 ERA in 3 pitching appearances with 18 hits and 8 walks in 49 at-bats and 60 plate appearances. He was well ahead of the team average ERA of 13.38, though.

Juan won two more Bronzes with Spain at the 1989 European Championship and 1991 European Championship. In the 1991 Intercontinental Cup, the Bilbao native had a 0-1, 8.64 record, nearly identical to his prior global tournament turn. He again was better than team average in ERA; he also tied for the most games pitched by a Spanish hurler with four.

In the 1992 Olympics, Damborenea gave up 8 runs in 7 2/3 IP but was third on the Spanish 8-man staff in ERA (one of the better hurlers, Xavier Civit, would wind up in the minor leagues). Juan walked nine. He also pinch-hit in the Olympics, striking out three times but also walking twice.

Damborenea's career highlight may have come in the first contest of the Barcelona Games. He relieved Félix Cano with a 3-0 deficit against Team USA in the 4th inning. Facing a lineup of Calvin Murray, Jeffrey Hammonds, Michael Tucker, Phil Nevin, Jason Giambi, Charles Johnson (replaced by Jason Varitek late in the game) and Nomar Garciaparra plus a couple lesser lights, Damborenea gave up only one run in the next six innings. He yielded just 2 hits, though he did walk five. While Spain lost 4-1, Damborenea had clearly done an excellent job against a team of future MLB stars. US coach Ron Fraser said Damborenea "pitched well."

He had a 4.76 ERA for Spain in three games in the 1993 European Championship. He tied for 8th in the event in games pitched.

Damborenea later went into coaching. He coached for Spain in the 1995 European Championship, 1997 Intercontinental Cup, 1998 Baseball World Cup, 2001 European Championship and 2003 European Championship.