José Rijo

José Antonio Rijo Abreu (born May 13, 1965) is a Dominican former pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who spent the majority of his career with the Cincinnati Reds (1988–1995 and 2001–2002). Originally signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1980, Rijo made his MLB debut with them in 1984, and also played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics. He pitched and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall, and weighed 200 pounds (91 kg) during his playing career.^[1]

The most notable success of Rijo's career came as a member of the Reds, where each year as a starting pitcher from 1988−1993, he posted an earned run average (ERA) below 3.00. He won a World Series title in 1990 and that event's Most Valuable Player Award (MVP). In 1993, he was the National League (NL) leader in strikeouts and Wins Above Replacement (WAR) at 10.6. He was named to the All-Star Game in 1994.

Elbow injuries sidelined Rijo for most of the 1995 season, and from 1996−2000, prevented him from appearing in the major leagues in spite of all his efforts. In 2001, he returned to the major leagues as a relief pitcher with the Reds. By doing so, he became the first player to appear in a game after receiving a Baseball Hall of Fame vote since Minnie Miñoso in 1976. As a result, Rijo was the Tony Conigliaro Award winner in 2002. He again retired after that season, and was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2005.

Playing career

Plagued by injuries during his career, he left the major leagues at age 30 before returning six years later for one and a half seasons.^[1] Rijo is perhaps best known for his performance in the 1990 World Series, when he recorded two victories in a four-game sweep over the defending champion Oakland A's, including a two-hitter in the final Game Four.^[2] Rijo's performance earned him the World Series MVP Award^[3] as the Reds won their first championship in fourteen years.

When Rijo broke into the majors with the New York Yankees in 1984, he was 18 years old and the youngest player in either league.^[1] The previous year, he'd had a 15–5 record in the Florida League with a 1.68 ERA.^[4] But he did not have a good rookie season, and some observers (notably ESPN) commented that Yankee owner George Steinbrenner had orchestrated the call-up, hoping to create a phenom along the lines of the crosstown Mets' 1984 rookie sensation Dwight Gooden.^[5] When this did not happen, Rijo was sent to the Oakland A's as part of a trade package for Rickey Henderson.^[1]

While with the Oakland Athletics, he struck out 16 Seattle Mariners on April 16, 1986,^[6] setting a club record.^[7] In his next start, he struck out 14 in a 2-hitter against the same Mariners organization, despite losing the game.^[6] But his time in Oakland was otherwise largely nondescript, with just 17 wins in three seasons.^[1] Even so, Rijo was still considered enough of a prospect for the Reds to acquire him in exchange for aging slugger Dave Parker,^[1] who'd had 338 runs batted in over the previous three seasons.^[8]

Rijo pitching for Cincinnati in 1990

Rijo's age eventually caught up to his talent. He was a member of the National League All-Star Team in 1994.^[1] Rijo also led the league in 1993 and 1994 in games started.^[1] He led the NL in 1993 in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings, and in 1991 he led the NL in winning percentage.^[1]

Rijo was 3–0 in the 1990 postseason,^[1] including two World Series wins against Oakland, the team that had traded him away three years before.^[2] After winning Game One by a 7–0 score, he shut down the A's on two hits in Game Four (both in the first inning), ending the Series with a 0.59 earned run average and 15 strikeouts in  15 ¹⁄₃ innings.^[2] It was the only postseason experience of his entire career.^[1]

Rijo pitched a one-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 1993.^[9] The year after his All-Star season (1995), Rijo was sidelined with a serious elbow injury.^[10] Despite several comeback attempts, his elbow troubles kept him out of baseball for five full years.^[1] Rijo made an unexpected comeback to the game in 2001, returning to Cincinnati as a reliever.^[1] In doing so, Rijo became the first major league player to appear in a game after having received a Baseball Hall of Fame vote since Minnie Miñoso (who received six Hall of Fame votes in 1969) appeared for the Chicago White Sox in 1976 and 1980.^[11] In 2008, Rijo was again on the Hall of Fame ballot; he received no votes.^[12]

In 2002, his final season, Rijo received the Tony Conigliaro Award.^[13] He made a handful of starts that year, including a win in his first start since 1995, and the last game at Riverfront Stadium.^[14] Rijo was on the 2003 Reds roster, but he suffered an elbow injury causing him to miss the entire season, and retired soon thereafter.

Life after retirement

Rijo used to work as a special assistant to general manager Jim Bowden of the Washington Nationals baseball team.^[15] Starting in February 2009, he took a leave of absence from his position after it was discovered that one of Rijo's scouting finds, Dominican shortstop Esmailyn Gonzalez was actually named Carlos David Alvarez Lugo and was four years older than the Nationals believed when they signed him.^[15] On February 25, Rijo was dismissed from the Nationals' organization and his Dominican baseball academy closed down.^[16]

In December 2011, German Miranda, who heads the Dominican Republic's Anti-Money Laundering unit, said Rijo had been subpeonaed in relation to his business dealings with Matías "Daniel" Avelino Castro and any information he might have about the abduction and murder of journalist José Silvestre, a.k.a. "Gajo", of Caña TV. Rijo was questioned by police after twice avoiding them. According to Miranda, an arrest warrant for Rijo had already been issued.^[17]

Rijo was once married to Juan Marichal's daughter, Rosie.^[18]

Rijo had a supporting role in the 2008 baseball film Sugar.^[19]

Rijo became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. 75% of the vote was necessary for induction, and 5% was necessary to stay on the ballot. He received 0.2% of the vote, and dropped off of the BBWAA ballot.^[20] He again became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2008 since he played in 2001 after a six-year hiatus. He received zero votes and fell off the ballot.^[21]

In 2012, reporters in the Dominican Republic stated that Rijo was under investigation for suspicion of money laundering for drug traffickers. No concrete evidence was ever found and the case was dropped.^[22]

Awards and achievements

Awards

• MLB Pitcher of the Month (September 1992)
• 2× MLB Pitcher of the Month (May 14, 1989; September 23, 1990)
• Tony Conigliaro Award (2002)

National League statistical leader

• 2× Games started leader (1993, 1994)
• Strikeouts leader (1993)
• Strikeouts per 9 innings pitched leader (1993)
• Walks plus hits per inning pitched leader (1991)
• Winning percentage leader (1991)
• Wins Above Replacement leader (1993)

American and National League statistical top ten

• 6× Adjusted ERA+ (1988, 1990−94)
• 6× Earned run average (1988, 1990−94)
• 3× Games started (1992−94)
• 2× Innings pitched (1993, 1994)
• 6× Strikeouts (1986, 1990−94)
• 7× Strikeouts per 9 innings pitched leader (1986, 1988, 1990−94)
• 3× Walks plus hits per inning pitched (1991−93)
• 3× Wins (1990−92)
• 4× Wins Above Replacement (1990−93)

See also

• List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders
• List of Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Washington Nationals official site
• 1969 BBWAA Hall of Fame Balloting