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Saturday, March 29, 2008

AP: Career minor leaguer Rico Washington hits home run, secures roster spot with Cardinals

Rico Washington celebrated making the St. Louis Cardinals opening-day roster by hitting a home run in the Cardinals’ 10-3 loss to Double-A Springfield on Saturday. Washington, who played for Springfield and Triple-A Memphis last year, was told before the game by manager Tony La Russa that he’d made the team.

“I’m breathless right now. It hasn’t sunk in. Words can’t describe how it feels right now. After 10 years in the minors, I’m going to the big leagues,” Washington said.

A 29-year-old career minor leaguer, Washington got the slot that would likely have gone to infielder Brendan Ryan, who will start the season on the disabled list because of a rib cage injury.

Washington is an infielder who mostly played third base in the minors. He has played in 1,134 minor league games, and hit a combined .279 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs in 79 games last year during an injury-plagued season at Springfield and Memphis.

Rico Washington’s minor league stats (Baseball Cube)

NTNgod Posted: March 29, 2008 at 08:29 PM | 16 comment(s)
Related News: General, St Louis

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1. salvomania Posted: March 29, 2008 at 09:54 PM (#2723307)

The guy has played in AA for eight straight seasons---that's gotta be close to some kind of record. Good for him getting to The Show, even though it may not last long.

I see he made the South Atlantic League All-Star team as a catcher; I guess that makes him the emergency backstop. Everything helps.

2. akrasian Posted: March 29, 2008 at 09:59 PM (#2723309)

Yeah, I'm always happy to see a career minor leaguer make the majors, even if only for a little while.

3. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: March 29, 2008 at 10:04 PM (#2723312)

I'm thrilled for Rico - he's a got a great rep in the clubhouse and has deserved a lot more attention as a player than he's gotten (not that he's all that, but he's totally credible as a big league bench piece, but has been stuck in AA year after year).

4. Sparkles Peterson Posted: March 29, 2008 at 10:28 PM (#2723323)

I'm thrilled for Rico - he's a got a great rep in the clubhouse and has deserved a lot more attention as a player than he's gotten (not that he's all that, but he's totally credible as a big league bench piece, but has been stuck in AA year after year).

Unfortunately, the real reason the Cardinals went with him for the last spot on the bench is that Brendan Ryan will be back in a few weeks and Rico will just shuttle back down to Memphis to wait for an injury. If they'd taken D'Angelo Jimenez, they'd end up paying him ~$750k for those weeks and then have to get him through waivers to outright him.

5. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: March 29, 2008 at 10:47 PM (#2723336)

That doesn't make me any less happy for him - heck, this gets him a pension, if nothing else (like professional pride).

6. akrasian Posted: March 29, 2008 at 10:56 PM (#2723341)

While the money from a long career would be nice for him, at this stage I'm sure he's just ecstatic to be making the majors. No matter what else he does in his life, he'll be able to say that he was a major leaguer.

And hey - if he looks okay, maybe he'll get another chance later this year.

I'm doing this from memory, but when he's pension eligible won't it be $100 per year for every game he was on the major league roster? Or has that changed in the past few years?

7. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: March 29, 2008 at 11:32 PM (#2723356)

Back when he was in the Pirates' system, he had a rep as a really great guy, so I'm thrilled for him. He actually looked like he might get a shot last year, before he broke his cheekbone in a collision with a teammate.

8. Prostetnic Vogon Steve Jeltz (Dan Lee) Posted: March 29, 2008 at 11:52 PM (#2723364)

Rico's socks are tremendous. But are those fake stirrups that are painted on?

9. dr. bleachers Posted: March 30, 2008 at 12:16 AM (#2723373)

But are those fake stirrups that are painted on?

I think so. You can tell right above his left shoe that it doesn't actually go underneath his foot. That's how the fake ones usually are.

I guess the big club gets the real ones, which is kind of funny. A few of the Cardinals players wear them and I'd be surprised if they were fake.

10. RMc is the President of the United States Posted: March 30, 2008 at 10:33 AM (#2723469)

1,134 minor leagues games before his first one in MLB. Not a record, I know. What is?

11. Russ Posted: March 30, 2008 at 11:27 AM (#2723491)

Assuming we don't count the Negro Leagues as a minor leagues (which I think would be the right way to go), is it Bill McGhee?

12. The Kevin Mitchell Report Posted: March 30, 2008 at 12:13 PM (#2723506)

I love his name, that's for sure. Any relation to U.L.?

13. The Ghost of Sox Fans Past Posted: March 30, 2008 at 12:56 PM (#2723528)

This brings to my mind Rico Rossy, another Rico who toiled in the minors.

14. "Catching Dianetics" by Dr. L. Ron Karkovice Posted: March 30, 2008 at 01:08 PM (#2723534)

I remember getting a lot of press during his later season debut in 2002 (he was a first round draft pick in 1989 and labored in the minors for 14 years before getting his shot)..Glancing at his minor league numbers (particularly his power/OBP combination and his multi-position--including catcher--eligibilty) I am suprised it took him that long just to get a cup of coffee.

15. Harveys Wallbangers Posted: March 30, 2008 at 01:12 PM (#2723535)

This reminds me of the old "Hit Sign, Win Suit" setup.

Only now it's "Hit Homer, Make The Cardinals Roster".

16. Walt Davis Posted: March 30, 2008 at 07:49 PM (#2723706)

Only now it's "Hit Homer, Make The Cardinals Roster".

The Giants were going to try this but were afraid they wouldn't be able to field a starting 8.

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Saturday, March 29, 2008

AP: Career minor leaguer Rico Washington hits home run, secures roster spot with Cardinals

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