José Tolentino

José Franco Tolentino (June 3, 1961 in Mexico City, Mexico), is a retired Major League Baseball first baseman. He played for the Houston Astros in 1991. He was a coach for the Mexican national baseball team during the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Playing career

Tolentino was a 1st team NCAA all-American selection at Seminole Oklahoma, batting .450 with 24 homers, and set the national record at Junior College for base hits and RBI in a season. However, he lost batting title against Kirby Puckett. He made all tournament team for the Junior College World Series in 1981 and 1982.

Tolentino earned all conference honors in his only season at the University of Texas after hitting .339 and setting what were then school records with 73 RBI and 28 doubles. He Hit .458 in regional play as Texas went on to win the College World Series title in Omaha in 1983. Tolentino was a nominee for the Golden Spikes Award along with Dave Magadam. College teammates included Roger Clemens and Calvin Schiraldi.

Before going to the big leagues in 1991, Tolentino hit in 30 consecutive games to wrap up the year. The streak was the longest in pro baseball . He hit.413 with 11 home runs during the streak (July 27 - September 1),and finished with 21 homers to lead Tucson. Tolentino drove in 56 of his 78 RBi in just two months, earning the 1990 Topps Baseball Achievement Awards for the month of August next to 3b Jeff Bagwell.

In the Minors, he played for the Tucson Toros at Hi-Corbett Field. Tolentino Lel the Southern League in hits in 1986 with 170, was named to the northwest league All Star team in 1983, and finished third in the league in batting; the team also included Jose Canseco, Terry Steinbach and 3b Mark McGwire.

Tolentino became the first Mexican to play in Japan. In Mexico. he led his team, Potros de Tijuana, to his fist Pacific League Title in 1991, and earned MVP for the season, batting .329 with 55 rbi and 11 HR ; in 1995 and 1996 he led Monterrey to its second straight Mexican League Title hitting .342 with 104 hits 24 doubles, 16 hr and 79 rbi.

Coaching career

2007- Hitting, First-base and bench Coach for Team Mexico in RIO Games 2007

2008- Managed Team Mexico to the 2008 Beijing Olympics

First-base and bench Coach for Team Mexico in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic

Broadcasting career

Broadcaster for ESPN, Anaheim Angels, FOX Sports, FOX Sports International and Direct TV.

Personal life

Tolentino currently resides in Mission Viejo, CA, with his wife.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference