Full name RICARDO GUTIERREZ...Resides in Miramar, FL...Married, wife's name is Lisa...The couple has four
children - Aric, Brittney, Ricky Jr. and Kendrick...Is a 1988 graduate of American High School in Hialeah, FL...His
father, Roberto Sr., played minor league ball in the St. Louis Cardinals' organization, while his brother, Roberto Jr.,
played in the Baltimore Orioles' farm system...Father still umpires in the Venezuelan Winter League.
2003
Was limited to just 16 major league games in 2003 after effects from his cervical spine/neck injury from previous
season continued to linger...Reported to spring training ready for action before being shut down (to continue
physical conditioning) at the end of spring training after persistent soreness in his leg and buttocks area after
playing in several minor league spring training games.
Was placed on the 60-day disabled list on March 29 as he continued his recovery from Oct. 2002 surgery to repair
a herniated disc in his upper back/neck region...Rehabbed in Cleveland in April and reported to extended spring
training in May before beginning a rehab assignment to AAA Buffalo on June 5 where he hit .292 (19-65) w/2 2B,
1 3B & 5 RBI in 16 games, hitting safely in his last 6 straight.
Was activated on June 24 from the 60-day DL and play in his fist game since 8/14/02 on June 24 vs. Kansas
City...Collected a season-high 3 hits on July 9 vs. New York-AL ...Overall he made 9 starts at SS and 5 start at
third base in Cleveland...Compiled a .929 (3 E, 42 TC) fielding percentage in his 9 starts at short.
Was placed on the disabled list on July 21 due to persistent myelopathy (spinal cord compression) along with
residual symptoms from his off-season surgery to his cervical spine area...Gutierrez was seen by his 2002
surgeon, Dr. Kalman Blumberg, on August 3 and Blumberg recommended a period of rest followed by more rehab
in hopes of playing competitively in 2004.
2002
Spent his first season with Cleveland and had season cut short due to neck injury that required season ending
surgery and put in question the start of his 2003 campaign...Was converted to second base in spring
training after signing a free agent deal in the off-season, making 92 starts at second base...Compiled a fielding
percentage of .976 (455 TC, 11 E) in 93 games at second base, which was the 6th best mark among AL second basemen
at the time of his injury...Played in his 1000th career game on 5/15 vs. Baltimore and was on the 15-day disabled
list from 6/14-7/2 with a strained left groin...After his activation he hit .323 (41-127) with 7 2B, 9 HR & 29 RBI in
35 games prior to being shutdown for the season on 8/19...Had 10 RBI on the season (58 G) prior to this first stint
on the DL...Over his last 41 games played on the season he hit .336 (50-149) w/29 RBI...Made 1 start at DH on
7/31 at Oakland...Had 14 GIDP, which were tied for the league at the time he was shutdown... His .371 (33-89)
average against LHP was 2nd in the American League at the time of the injury...Had a two 4-hit games against
the Yankees...Was hit by a line drive in the left thumb on 8/15 in St. Pete and did not play the rest of the
season...During doctor visit for thumb on 8/19 he complained of neck soreness which had been bothering him
since series in early April in Detroit...Exam and MRI revealed herniated discs in his neck and he was subsequently
placed on the 15-day disabled list that day through the remainder of the season... Was transferred to the 60-day DL
on 8/23...Had successful surgery on 10/7 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL by Dr. Kalman Bloomberg to fuse two vertebrae in his neck and relieve pressure on his spinal canal... Was in a neck brace for 6 weeks before beginning aggressive
rehab at the end of November.
2001
Ricky joined his fifth organization after enjoying two of the best seasons of his major league career w/the
Chicago Cubs in 2000 and 2001...Established career highs in numerous offensive categories, finishing the year
with a .290 average, 10 homers and 66 RBI ...Had career-best figures for batting, RBI, games played (147), hits
(153), singles (117) and in being hit by a pitch (10 times)...Tied for the major league lead in sacrifice bunts for
the second straight year, finishing the campaign with a career-high 17...Also had a career-best 11 sacrifice flies,
tying for 4th in the National League...His sac bunt total was the highest by a Cub since Ivan DeJesus had 17 in
1979...Of his 66 RBI, 13 either tied games or gave the team the lead - while 27 came with 2 out...Had 2 hits (a
double and a run-scoring single) in the 8th inning of the Cubs' 20-1 victory over Los Angeles on 5/5...Recorded
his sixth career 4-hit game on 5/20 vs. Arizona, going 4-for-5 with 2 RBI...Homered during all 3 games of the Cubs/
Minnesota series 6/15-7; the first time during his career he went deep in 3 straight games...Hit his first career
grand slam on 7/12 vs. the White Sox - a game-winning 8th-inning shot off Bob Howry...Recorded his first career
steal of home on 8/10 vs. SF (as part of a double steal with Michael Tucker)...Over his final 25 games, he was 31-
for-96 (.323) with 18 RBI.
2000
Ricky batted .276 with 11 homers and 56 RBI in his first season with the Cubs...The 11 homers were a career
high - as he had entered the season with only 13 big league roundtrippers...Tied Toronto's Alex Gonzalez for the
M.L. lead with 16 sacrifice bunts...Had more walks (66) than strikeouts (58)...Made his Cubs debut on 4/3 at St.
Louis...Did not see action in the season openers in Tokyo due to a left rib cage muscle strain...After going hitless
in his first game, he hit safely in his next 13 contests - the longest streak of his big league career...Hit .408 from
4/5-18 (20-49) with 9 RBI and 5 multi-hit games - including a 3-hit/3-RBI/3-run contest on 4/7 at Cincinnati...Had
the first 5-RBI contest of his career on 4/26 at Houston...Had 3 hits and a homer in the series finale on 4/27 - as
he went 7-for-12 in the series with 2 homers and 9 RBI...Led N.L. shortstops with a .986 fielding percentage,
committing 7 errors in 387 total chances...Was on the disabled list from 5/25-6/23 with a separated right shoulder
and did a 4 game rehab stint at Daytona Beach.
1999
Spent his final campaign with Houston, batting .261 (for the third consecutive campaign) with 1 homer and
25 RBI...Recorded a .971 fielding percentage at shortstop, committing 9 errors in 313 total chances ... also played
in 1 game at third base...Was on the disabled list twice with left hand injuries...After getting hit by a pitch, he was
on the injured list from 4/28-6/7 with a broken 2nd metacarpal bone...Returned to the disabled list from 7/10-8/9 after fracturing his left hamate bone...Went to the postseason for the third straight year, seeing action in all 3
games of the N.L. Division Series against Atlanta.
1998
Batted .261 in 141 games for the Astros with 24 doubles, 46 RBI and 13 steals...Established a career-best
total with 24 doubles and hits (128)...Had a .976 fielding mark at shortstop (15 E/634 TC)...Was one of the Astros'
top batters during the Division Series, going 3-for-10 with 3 walks against San Diego.
1997
Hit .261 in 102 games after missing the first five weeks of the season with a right thumb injury...Injured his
thumb while participating in a simulated game during a 2/25 spring training workout...Sustained a chip fracture
and a ligament tear...Underwent arthroscopic surgery on 2/26...The surgery was performed by Dr. Tom
Mehlhoff...After an injury rehab stint at New Orleans (AAA), he was activated on 5/6...Played in 64 games at
shortstop (52 starts), 22 at third base (17 starts) and 9 at second (3 starts)...Saw his first career postseason
action, starting all 3 games of the Division Series against Atlanta.
1996
Batted .284 in 89 games for the Astros - including a .309 average in his 49 starts...Started 47 times at
shortstop (74 total games at the position) and twice at third base (6 games)...Also appeared in 5 games at second
base.Batted .284 in 89 games for the Astros - including a .309 average in his 49 starts...Started 47 times at
shortstop (74 total games at the position) and twice at third base (6 games)...Also appeared in 5 games at second
base.
1995
Split the year between Houston and the Astros' Tucson (AAA) club, playing in 116 overall contests...Opened
the season with the Astros, but was optioned to Triple-A on 5/12...After batting .301 in 64 games with Tucson,
he rejoined Houston on 7/31...After returning to the majors, he saw the bulk of the action at shortstop for the
Astros.
1994
Spent his final season with San Diego, batting .240 in 90 games...Made 78 appearances at shortstop (71
starts) and 7 at second base (5 starts).
1993
Saw his first M.L. action, playing in 133 games for the Padres and batting .251 with 5 homers and 26
RBI...Was recalled from Las Vegas (AAA) on 4/13 and made his debut as a pinch hitter that night vs.
Pittsburgh...Made his first start on 4/14 and picked up his first M.L. hit - a single off Pittsburgh's Randy
Tomlin...Hit his first homer on 6/10 off Los Angeles' Ramon Martinez...Ranked 4th among N.L. shortstops with
a .971 fielding percentage in 117 contests...Also played in 6 games at second base, 4 at third base, 3 in leftfield
and 2 in rightfield.
1992
Opened the year with Baltimore's Rochester (AAA) affiliate, where he was utilized mostly at second
base...Batted .253 in 125 games...Was traded to the Padres in September and finished the year at Las Vegas
(AAA).
1991
Split the campaign between Hagerstown (AA) and Rochester (AAA), appearing in 133 games...While playing
at Hagerstown, he was selected as the league's top defensive shortstop in a poll of Eastern League managers and
coaches.
1990
Spent most of the year at Frederick (A), batting .275 in 112 games and earning Carolina League midseason
and postseason all-star honors.
1989
Led Carolina League shortstops with a .943 fielding percentage at Frederick (A).
1988
Began his professional career at Bluefield (Rookie), where he led Appalachian League shortstops in putouts (100) and total chances (309).
