Ray Navarrete

Raymond John Navarrete

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 202 lb.
• School Seton Hall University
• High School Marlboro (NJ) High School

• Born May 20, 1978 in Teaneck, NJ USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Infielder Ray Navarrete spent 14 seasons in professional ball, from 2000 to 2013. He was initially signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

With the Williamsport Crosscutters his first campaign, Navarrete hit .311/.362/.407 with 77 hits in 66 games; the next year, he slugged 10 home runs with 50 RBI in 95 games between two clubs. 2002 was his breakout season, as he hit .318/.373/.436 with 169 hits, including 41 doubles, for the Lynchburg Hillcats. His average slipped to .256 in 2003, then improved slightly to .279 in 2004. He moved to the Houston Astros chain for 2005, struggled, then spent much of the year in independent ball. He joined the New York Mets system for 2006 and struggled again, batting .200/.240/.333 in 52 games. He played in affiliated Triple-A for the first and only time that year, batting .184/.200/.286 in 19 games for the Norfolk Tides.

He also spent part of 2006 with the independent Atlantic League's Long Island Ducks, with whom he would spend the majority of the rest of his career. Developing a power stroke, he batted .307/.391/.520 with 18 home runs, 67 RBI, 11 stolen bases and 42 doubles in 118 games in 2007, then .307/.391/.546 with 27 home runs, 103 RBI, 105 runs scored and 36 doubles in 125 games for them in 2008. He also hit .304/.360/.435 in 6 games for the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League that year. In 2009, he was named the Atlantic League's Player of the Year after hitting .309/.403/.531 with 25 home runs, 96 RBI and 106 runs scored. He fell to .279 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI in 2010 and hit just .242 in 2011, but still clobbered 27 home runs with 79 RBI. He hit .309/.372/.510 with 18 homers, 50 doubles (to lead the minor leagues) and 90 RBI in 2012 before falling to .231 with 7 home runs and 38 RBI in 2013 to wrap up his career. He was an Atlantic League All-Star in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012.

Overall, including the limited time he spent in the Puerto Rican Winter League, Navarrete hit .281/.351/.451 with 188 home runs, 874 RBI and 1,664 hits in 1,583 games over 14 seasons.