Luis Aguayo

Luis Aguayo Muriel

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut April 19, 1980
• Final Game September 30, 1989
• Born March 13, 1959 in Vega Baja, P.R.

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Biographical Information

"Luis Aguayo is on deck. Aguayo hasn't exactly been reminding anybody of Rogers Hornsby lately." - Richie Ashburn

"Aguayo's running at first base. He doesn't have great speed... what am I saying? He doesn't have good speed, he doesn't even have average speed. The man is slow." - Richie Ashburn

Luis Aguayo had the kind of career that latter-day salary structures would not allow: a quiet ten-year career as a modestly-paid utility infielder. He spent nine seasons with the same team, the Philadelphia Phillies. Starting infielders came and went, but Aguayo was a fixture on the Phillie bench during the 1980s. He was capable of playing third base, second base, and shortstop, but third base was considered his best position. The conventional wisdom was that he lacked the range and arm to handle shortstop for an extended period of time.

Aguayo signed in December 1975 with Jim Bunning, scout Luis Peraza and the Phillies. His first big league break came in the spring of 1980, when he briefly took over at second base when Manny Trillo went down with an injury. He spent most of 1980 with the Oklahoma City 89ers in the American Association, leading the league in errors. After spending 1981 as a utility man, Aguayo was part of trade rumors that had him going to the Chicago Cubs with Larry Bowa and Dick Davis for Ivan DeJesus and Bill Caudill. Unfortunately for Phillies fans, the trade was restructured to include Ryne Sandberg instead.

Aguayo remained in Philadelphia in 1982, but spent most of 1983 with Triple A Portland. He returned to the bigs to stay in 1984. In 1987, he raised some eyebrows by popping 12 homers in 209 at bats. This was held by some as evidence of that season's "rabbit ball," but Aguayo (who was reputedly a dead fastball hitter) did have some pop in his bat. On September 30, his extra innings walk-off home run blast against Jesse Orosco at The Vet sunk the New York Mets' fading playoff hopes. On July 15, 1988, Aguayo was traded to the New York Yankees for Amalio Carreno. He signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1989 and finished his major league career riding their bench. Aguayo played briefly for the Double A Midland Angels and Triple A Edmonton Trappers in 1990 and the Triple A Pawtucket Red Sox in 1991-1992. In his career, he primarily wore number 16.

After retiring, Aguayo coached at Triple A Pawtucket from 1993 to 1995, and managed the Rookie GCL Red Sox from 1997 to 1998, the Class A Lowell Spinners in 1999, the Pioneer League Billings Mustangs in 2004, and GCL Reds from 2005-2006. On June 17, 2008 he was named first base coach of the New York Mets to replace the fired Tom Nieto, but was reassigned at season's end.

Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1997	GCL Red Sox	Gulf Coast League	31-28	5th (t)	Boston Red Sox
1998	GCL Red Sox	Gulf Coast League	27-33	10th	Boston Red Sox
1999	Lowell Spinners	New York-Penn League	34-42	10th (t)	Boston Red Sox
2004	Billings Mustangs	Pioneer League	37-37	5th	Cincinnati Reds
2005	GCL Reds	Gulf Coast League	22-32	11th	Cincinnati Reds
2006	GCL Reds	Gulf Coast League	18-34	13th	Cincinnati Reds
2010	Palm Beach Cardinals	Florida State League	75-65	5th	St. Louis Cardinals
2011	Palm Beach Cardinals	Florida State League	68-70	7th	St. Louis Cardinals
2012	Quad Cities River Bandits	Midwest League	68-71	9th	St. Louis Cardinals