Rafael Chaves

Rafael Chaves

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.

• Born January 11, 1968 in Isabela, P.R.

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Rafael Chaves played in the minors from 1986 to 1997 with four different organizations - San Diego Padres (1986-1992), Baltimore Orioles (1993), Florida Marlins (1994), and Pittsburgh Pirates (1995-1997). He appeared in 487 games, almost all of them in relief. Chaves reached AA on multiple occasions through the years. Overall he had a pitching line of 35-41 with 130 saves and his ERA was 3.51.

Chaves knew he wanted to remain in baseball and joined the coaching ranks after his playing career ended. He was pitching coach for the AZL Mariners in 1998, Everett AquaSox in 1999, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2000, San Bernardino Stampede in 2001, San Antonio Missions in 2002-2003, and Tacoma Rainiers in 2004-2005. He became the Seattle Mariners pitching coach in 2006, keeping the job in 2007 as well before being dismissed after the season. Chaves joined the New York Yankees organization in 2008 as the pitching coach of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.

Chaves spent the next dozen years in broader roles. Chaves worked for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2009 to 2014, spending 2009-2013 as their minor league pitching coordinator. In 2014 he worked as a Dodgers' Special Assistant for Player Personnel. Chaves returned to a pitching coordinator role with the Philadelphia Phillies from 2015-2018 before a promotion to director of pitching development from 2019 to early 2021. In March of 2021 he was removed from the director's role and spent the remainder of the season in an unspecified role with the Phillies. His demotion was a precursor to other changes in the player development system under Dave Dombrowski's leadership.

During this period, Chaves did get some on-field coaching experience. He served as the pitching coach for the Indios de Mayagüez in the 2013/2014, 2014/2015, and 2016/2017 seasons. The Indios play in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League in Puerto Rico.

Chaves returned to the field when he moved to the Washington Nationals' organization as pitching coach of the Rochester Red Wings in 2022-2024.