Ronny Paulino

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**Ronny Paulino**

Pittsburgh Pirates — No. 26
Catcher
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
September 16, 2005 for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Selected MLB statistics (through September 15,2006)
Avg	.317
RBI	49
HR	6

Ronny Paulino (born April 21, 1981 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a professional baseball player. Paulino plays catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Paulino signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization on December 29, 1997 at the age of 16. In 2002, he was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the Rule 5 draft, but he was returned to the Pirates in spring training of the following year. After making his major league debut in September 2005 with the Pirates, Paulino was selected to the Dominican Republic team for the 2006 World Baseball Classic as a backup catcher. The highlight of the World Baseball Classic for Paulino came on March 13, when Paulino started at catcher against the Cuban team. Paulino went 2 for 2 with a double, 3 walks, and 1 run scored in the Dominican's triumph over Cuba. On April 16, 2006, Paulino was recalled to the major leagues and quickly became the Pirate's every day catcher.

Paulino was praised by the Pirates' pitching staff as an excellent catcher to work with. The staff ERA is markedly better when Paulino is behind the plate Post Gazette

His .310 batting average makes him the first rookie catcher since Mike Piazza to play in at least 100 games and bat at least .310. He is only the second rookie catcher since 1969 to have those numbers. Post Gazette