Orioles Gulf Coast League Manager Orlando Gomez records 1,000th career win
With a 7-4 win over the Twins' Gulf Coast League team today, Orioles Gulf Coast League team manager JUAN "ORLANDO" GOMEZ recorded his 1,000th career win. In his ninth season in the Orioles organization, Gomez has managed at four levels of the Baltimore minor league system and served as batting practice pitcher for the major league club for two seasons. Overall, 2013 marks Gomez's 49th season in professional baseball and his 18th year as a manager.
"On behalf of the Orioles, I congratulate Orlando Gomez on this milestone achievement in his coaching career," said Orioles Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations DAN DUQUETTE. "We proudly recognize his lifelong dedication and hard work to mentor young ballplayers by teaching them the skills needed to have successful careers in professional baseball."
A native of Juan Diaz, Puerto Rico, Gomez spent the previous three seasons managing the Single-A Frederick Keys, leading the club to the 2011 Carolina League championship and winning the Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award that year. He is the winningest manager in Keys history and is the only manager with more than 200 wins in Frederick franchise history. Prior to his time with the Keys, Gomez managed the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds in 2009, short-season Bluefield Orioles in 2008 and Gulf Coast Orioles in 2007. He spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons on the Orioles' major league staff, throwing batting practice, running the in-game radar gun at Oriole Park and catching pitchers warming in the bullpen.
Before joining the Orioles, Gomez spent the four seasons in the Seattle Mariners organization, including the last two as bullpen coach for the major league club. He also served on the major league staffs of the Texas Rangers (bullpen coach in 1991, first base coach in 1992) and Tampa Bay Rays (bullpen coach from 1998-2000). Gomez began his managerial career at Class A Medicine Hat in 1977 after spending 13 seasons (1964-76) as a catcher in the New York Yankees and Oakland A's minor league systems. He was named South Atlantic League Manager of the Year in 1989 after leading Class A Gastonia to the championship series. Overall, Gomez spent 40 seasons in the Rangers, Indians and Mariners systems as a coach, scout and manager before joining the Orioles.
Gomez and his wife, Nylsa, have six children. His son-in-law is former major league infielder and current Norfolk field coach JOSE HERNANDEZ.