Ronny Cedeño

Ronny Alexander Cedeño (born February 2, 1983 in Carabobo, Venezuela) is a shortstop for the Chicago Cubs. He bats and throws right handed.

After making his big-league debut for the Cubs on April 23, 2005, he became the team's starting shortstop in 2006.

Cedeño spent his five-season minor league career playing in the Cubs' farm system, reaching the Double-A level in 2004 with the Diamond Jaxx. In 116 games he posted a .279 batting average with six home runs and 48 RBI. He was selected as a midseason Southern League All-Star.

Cedeño was called up in April 2005 to replace Nomar Garciaparra on the Cubs' roster, but spent most of his time on the bench, as Neifi Pérez was awarded the starting job. After the Cubs signed Enrique Wilson, Cedeño was sent back down to the Iowa Cubs (AAA). In 65 games at Iowa in 2005, Cedeño batted an impressive .355, and slugged over .500 for the first time in his professional career. He returned to the Cubs in June after Wilson was himself sent down to Iowa.

In 2006 he walked only 3.1% of the time, the worst percentage in the National League, and 4 of his 17 walks were intentional walks. He also had the major league's worst walk/SO ratio -- 0.16.

He played in the 2006 winter league for Venezuela, and averaged .355 in 45 games with 25 runs and 28 RBI.

Cedeño began with the major league club on the bench, as the Cubs were set at shortstop and second base with César Izturis and Mark DeRosa. However, his offensive struggles continued and he spent several more months in AAA Iowa.

When the Cubs traded their starting left-handed center fielder Jacque Jones in November 2007, general manager Jim Hendry indicated that the club isn't necessarily looking outside for a veteran, with Félix Pie and Sam Fuld in the mix, as well as Cedeño, who has been asked to play some center field during the winter.

In 2008, Cedeño made the Major League club out of Spring Training, and has spent the entire season in Chicago, albeit in a bench role. As the season has progressed, he has seen more opportunities to start at second base and shortstop, and has gotten many opportunities off the bench as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement.

See also

• List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball

External links