Javier Méndez (baseball)

For other people named Javier Méndez, see Javier Méndez (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Méndez and the second or maternal family name is González.

Javier Méndez
Méndez in 1998
Outfielder
Born: (1964-04-22) 22 April 1964 Santa Fe, Havana, Cuba
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Medals Men's baseball Representing Cuba Olympic Games 2000 Sydney Team Baseball World Cup 1990 Edmonton Team 1998 Rome Team Pan American Games 1999 Winnipeg Team 2003 Santo Domingo Team Central American and Caribbean Games 1990 Mexico City Team 1998 Maracaibo Team Goodwill Games 1990 Seattle Team

Javier Méndez González (born 22 April 1964) is a Cuban former baseball player and manager. He played 22 seasons in the Cuban National Series, mostly with Industriales, and also was a stalwart of the Cuba national baseball team, with which he became an Olympic silver medalist. His play as a centerfielder earned him the nickname "El Seguro".

Career

Méndez debuted in the National Series with Metropolitanos in the 1981–82 season. Four seasons later, in 1985, he moved across town to Industriales. Hitting third, he finished the year batting .357, winning his first championship with Industriales that year. The following year, Méndez earned the batting title, hitting .408, and was awarded the Most Valuable Player Award. Mendez won three more championships with Industriales, in 1992, 1996, 2003. In 2003, his final season, Méndez set a league record of 92 runs batted in (a record which would later be surpassed by Alexeis Bell in 2008, with 111) and earned his second MVP award.

Cuban National Series career statistics

Seasons	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG
22	6432	1139	2104	381	41	191	1175	.327	.440	.488

Managerial career

Méndez managed Industriales for two seasons, from 2015 to 2017, before resigning due to family health concerns.

External links

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Cuban baseball profile