Jeff Salazar Explained

Jeff Salazar
Position:Outfielder
Birth Date:24 November 1980
Birth Place:Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 7
Debutyear:2006
Debutteam:Colorado Rockies
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:August 14
Finalyear:2009
Finalteam:Pittsburgh Pirates
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.232
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:4
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:31
Teams:As player

As coach

Jeffrey Dewan Salazar (born November 24, 1980) is an American professional baseball former outfielder and current coach. He was most recently the assistant hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies. He has played in MLB for Colorado, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Career

As a player

Salazar was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Colorado Rockies on March 28, 2007. He was recalled by the Diamondbacks on July 6, 2007, after struggling outfielder Carlos Quentin was sent down. Salazar was batting .301 with eight home runs and 50 RBI with the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders at the time of his recall.

Salazar was non-tendered following the 2008 season, and became a free agent.[1] He signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 22, 2008. In October 2009 Salazar was granted free agency.

On January 15, 2010, Salazar signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles with an invite to spring training. Salazar became a free agent after the season ended.[2]

Salazar signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies on December 23, 2010. On February 14, 2012, Salazar signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays with an invite to spring training.[3] He was released during the All-Star Break on July 10.

As a coach

Following his playing career, Salazar served as a hitting coach for Santa Barbara High School. Salazar was hired by the Colorado Rockies, and served as the Hartford Yard Goats hitting coach in 2015 and 2016. Salazar was promoted to assistant hitting coach for the Rockies prior to the 2017 season.[4] On October 26, 2021, it was announced that Salazar would be leaving the Rockies organization.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: D-backs do not tender 2009 contracts to four . December 13, 2008 . July 20, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110720065052/http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20081212&content_id=3716208&vkey=pr_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari . dead .
  2. Web site: January 15, 2010 . O's sign ex-Pirate Salazar to minor league deal . February 15, 2012 . Baltimore Sun.
  3. Web site: Rays add Coon, Salazar to spring roster | Tampa Bay Rays, Tropicana Field, Evan Longoria: The Heater . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170113171140/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/rays/content/rays-add-coon-salazar-spring-roster . January 13, 2017 . February 15, 2012 . Tampabay.com.
  4. Web site: Patrick Saunders . December 22, 2016 . Rockies fill out coaching staff; Duane Espy, Jeff Salazar will be co-hitting coaches . November 13, 2019 . The Denver Post.
  5. Web site: Rockies Revamp Staff; Steve Foster to Become Organization Director of Pitching Operations. October 27, 2021 .