Orestes Destrade

Orestes Destrade
Orestes Destrade
	Destrade in 2016
	First baseman
	Born: May 8, 1962 (age 62); Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
	Batted: Switch Threw: Right
Professional debut
	MLB: September 11, 1987, for the New York Yankees
	NPB: June 20, 1989, for the Seibu Lions
Last appearance
	MLB: May 24, 1994, for the Florida Marlins
	NPB: June 15, 1995, for the Seibu Lions
MLB statistics
Batting average	.241
Home runs	26
Runs batted in	106
NPB statistics
Batting average	.262
Home runs	160
Runs batted in	389
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	New York Yankees (1987); Pittsburgh Pirates (1988); Seibu Lions (1989–1992); Florida Marlins (1993–1994); Seibu Lions (1995);
Career highlights and awards
	Japan Series MVP (1990); 3× Best Nine Award (1990–1992); 3× Pacific League home run leader (1990–1992); 2× Pacific League RBI leader (1990, 1991);

Orestes Destrade (born May 8, 1962) is a Cuban American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Florida Marlins. Destrade also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Seibu Lions. He was also a broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Rays for 11 seasons. He was nicknamed "The Big O".^[1]

Early life

Destrade was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba,^[2] but emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of six. During his youth, he played in the Khoury League at Tamiami Park in Miami. He graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, and later attended Florida College.

Professional baseball career

After college, he played many seasons in the minor leagues before his career at the major league level. Destrade was called up in September 1987 with the New York Yankees. He played in 1988 with the Pittsburgh Pirates (where he was the victim of pitcher Randy Johnson's first major league strikeout), and 1993 and 1994 for the Florida Marlins. Destrade was a member of the Florida Marlins' 1993 inaugural season.

Destrade played five seasons (1989–1992 and 1995) for the Seibu Lions of the Japanese Pacific League, where he led the league in home runs for three consecutive years. He was also the MVP of the 1990 Japan Series. Despite his short career in Japan, Destrade is considered one of NPB's best career switch-hitters.^{[citation needed]}

Broadcasting career

Destrade appeared on ESPN's Baseball Tonight. He provided color commentary for the 2006 World Baseball Classic and broadcast again with the 2009 World Baseball Classic for ESPN. He helped broadcast the 2007, 2008 & 2009 Little League World Series. Until April 2007 he was co-host of XM Radio's Baseball This Morning show on MLB Home Plate, XM channel 175, along with Buck Martinez and Mark Patrick. Destrade also worked as an on-field reporter during the Tampa Bay Rays' 2010 postseason celebration after clinching a playoff spot.

Destrade became a broadcaster with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011. He co-hosted the program Rays Live which aired as the pre and post-game analysis. Destrade was notable for clutching a baseball during his broadcasts — including radio broadcasts. On February 22, 2023, it was announced that Destrade would not be returning for the 2023 Rays season.^[3]

Personal life

Orestes is married and is the father of four children: Danielle, Devin, Armando, and Isabella.

References

^ Mark Nowlin (December 3, 2014). "Florida Marlins "A Great Beginning" 1993". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
^ Orestes Destrade at IMDb
^ Topkin, Marc. "Why you won't see Dewayne Staats as much on Rays telecasts this year". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 23, 2023.

External links

Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs

[1] Mark Nowlin (December 3, 2014). "Florida Marlins "A Great Beginning" 1993". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2018.

[2] Orestes Destrade at IMDb

[3] Topkin, Marc. "Why you won't see Dewayne Staats as much on Rays telecasts this year". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 23, 2023.

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v t e Baseball Tonight personalities
Hosts	Karl Ravech (Lead Host, 1996–present)
Analysts	Rick Sutcliffe (2002–2003, 2012-present) Chris Singleton (2008–present) Fernando Viña (2007–present) Mark Mulder (2011-present) Keith Law (2013-present)
Reporters	Tim Kurkjian (1998–present) Buster Olney (2003–present)
Correspondents	Bob Holtzman (2004–present)
Former	Chris Berman (1990–2016) Peter Gammons (Lead Reporter, 1990–2009) Jayson Stark (Reporter, 2000–2017) Pedro Gomez (2004–2021) Steve Phillips (Lead Analyst, 2005–2009) Eric Young Sr. (Analyst, 2007–2009) Dallas Braden (Analyst, 2014-2017) Doug Glanville (Analyst, 2010-2017) Dusty Baker (Analyst, 2007) Aaron Boone (2010–2017) Larry Bowa (Analyst, 2005) Jeff Brantley (Analyst, 2002–2006) Dave Campbell (Lead Analyst, 1990–2004) Rob Dibble (Analyst, 1998–2004) Orel Hershiser (2006–2013) Ray Knight (Analyst, 1998–2003) John Kruk (Lead Analyst, 2004–2016) Barry Larkin (Lead Analyst, 2011-2014) Mike Macfarlane (Analyst, 1999) Tino Martinez (Analyst, 2006) Brian McRae (Analyst, 2000–2005) Harold Reynolds (Lead Analyst, 1996–2006) Bill Robinson (Analyst, 1990–1991) Buck Showalter (Lead Analyst, 2001–2002, 2008–2010) Gary Miller (Lead Host, 1990–1995) Dave Marash (Host, 1990) Rich Eisen (Host, 1996–2002) Brian Kenny (Host, 2003) Chris Myers (Host, 1991–1995) Steve Berthiaume (2003–2005, 2007–2012) Scott Reiss (Host, 2006) Eduardo Pérez (Analyst, 2007–2011) Orestes Destrade (Analyst, 2005–2010) Bobby Valentine (Lead Analyst, 2003, 2009–2011)
See also: Major League Baseball on ESPN

Authority control databases
International	ISNI VIAF
National	Japan