Rainer Gustavo Olmedo (born May 31, 1981) is a

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

n former professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field, between first base and third base. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns pla ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...

, and

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

. He was a

switch-hitter In baseball, a switch hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed, usually right-handed against left-handed pitchers and left-handed against right-handed pitchers, although there are some exceptions. Characteristics Right-han ...

who threw

right-handed In human biology, handedness is an individual's preferential use of one hand, known as the dominant hand, due to and causing it to be stronger, faster or more Fine motor skill, dextrous. The other hand, comparatively often the weaker, less dext ...

Career

Cincinnati Reds

Olmedo was originally signed by the

as an undrafted free agent on January 21, 1999. He made his Major League debut on May 25, 2003, against the

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park. The ...

, striking out as a

pinch hitter In baseball, a pinch hitter (PH) is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead (not in active play); the manager may use any player who has not yet entered the game as a substitute. Unlike basketball, A ...

. He made his first start the next day, against the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...

and was hitless in 4 at-bats with 2 strikeouts. He recorded his first Major League hit when he went 3 for 4 against the Marlins on June 1. In parts of 4 seasons with the Reds, he appeared in 171 games and hit .228. He hit 2 home runs with the Reds, the first was on September 23, 2005, against

Aquilino López Aquilino López Roa (born April 21, 1975) is a Dominican former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball and the KBO League. He batted and threw right-handed. Professional career Lopez was first signed by the Seattle Mar ...

of the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

and the second was on September 18, 2006, against

Roy Oswalt Roy Edward Oswalt (; born August 29, 1977) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Oswalt played for the majority of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Houston Astros. He also played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Texa ...

of the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...

Toronto Blue Jays

He was selected off waivers by the

on January 19, 2007. He appeared in 27 games for the Blue Jays, hitting only .216.

Pittsburgh Pirates/Philadelphia Phillies

On February 1, 2008, Olmedo was claimed off waivers from the

by the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

. On February 26, 2008, Olmedo was claimed off waivers by the

. On March 28, he was sent outright to the minors, but declined the assignment and became a free agent.

Washington Nationals

Olmedo signed a minor league contract with the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...

on March 29, 2008. He played in 108 games with the AAA

Columbus Clippers The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, merch ...

, hitting .252.

Tampa Bay Rays

He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a minor league contract with the

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...

in December. In 115 games with the

Durham Bulls The Durham Bulls are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are located in Durham, North Carolina, and play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened ...

, he hit .250.

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 16, 2009, Olmedo signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. On March 22, 2010, Olmedo was traded to the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

in exchange for catcher

Matt Treanor Matthew Aaron Treanor (born March 3, 1976) is an American former professional baseball catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Miami Marlins, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers, Kansas City ...

. He hit .284 in 114 games for the Triple-A

Nashville Sounds The Nashville Sounds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the ci ...

. Olmedo elected free agency after the 2010 season.

Tampa Bay Rays (second stint)

On January 7, 2011, Olmedo signed a minor league contract with the

. With the Triple-A

, he hit .260 in 124 games.

Chicago White Sox

After the season, he became a free agent and on December 1, 2011, he signed a minor league contract with the

. On July 29, 2012, he was called up from the Triple-A

Charlotte Knights The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field ...

. On October 10, Olmedo was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Charlotte, and subsequently elected free agency.

Tampa Bay Rays (third stint)

On January 6, 2014, Olmedo signed a minor league contract to return to the

organization. In 104 games for the Triple–A

, he batted .224/.281/.271 with no home runs, 25 RBI, and 9 stolen bases. Olmedo became a free agent following the season.

Rimini Baseball Club

On January 25, 2015, Olmedo signed with the

Rimini Baseball Club The Rimini Baseball Club, nicknamed the Pirates (), was a team that played in Serie A1 Italian Baseball League. The team was based in the city of Rimini and played its home games at the Stadio dei Pirati since 1973. Rimini has won 13 national c ...

of the

Italian Baseball League The Italian Baseball League (IBL, ), officially known as the Serie A (), is the top-level baseball league in Italy. Founded in 1948, it is governed by the Italian Baseball & Softball Federation (FIBS), which has its headquarters in Rome. Many o ...

(IBL). In 28 games for Rimini, he hit .285/.363/.363 with 1 home run, 13 RBI, and 4 stolen bases.

Nettuno Baseball Club

On March 3, 2016, Olmedo signed with the Nettuno Baseball Club of the

(IBL).

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olmedo, Ray 1981 births Living people Águilas del Zulia players Bravos de Margarita players 21st-century Venezuelan sportsmen Charlotte Knights players Chattanooga Lookouts players Chicago White Sox players Cincinnati Reds players Columbus Clippers players Dayton Dragons players Durham Bulls players Gulf Coast Reds players Louisville Bats players Major League Baseball players from Venezuela Major League Baseball shortstops Minor league baseball coaches Mudville Nine players Nashville Sounds players Baseball players from Maracay Rochester Red Wings players Syracuse Chiefs players Tiburones de La Guaira players Tigres de Aragua players Toronto Blue Jays players Venezuela national baseball team players Venezuelan baseball coaches Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Canada Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Italy Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States 2015 WBSC Premier12 players

Career

Cincinnati Reds

Toronto Blue Jays

Pittsburgh Pirates/Philadelphia Phillies

Washington Nationals

Tampa Bay Rays

Milwaukee Brewers

Tampa Bay Rays (second stint)

Chicago White Sox

Tampa Bay Rays (third stint)

Rimini Baseball Club

Nettuno Baseball Club

See also

References

External links