Jose Rijo, baseball player, 1984-2002

Jose Rijo

Born: 5/13/1965 in San Cristobal, San Cristóbal, D.R.

MLB Debut: 1984-04-05 | Final Game: 2002-09-28

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 200 lbs

Full name: Jose Antonio Rijo

Biography

José Rijo, born in 1965, was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1984 until his retirement in 2002. Over the course of his career, Rijo compiled a record of 116-91 with a commendable earned run average (ERA) of 3.24, demonstrating his effectiveness on the mound. He struck out 1,606 batters and recorded three saves, showcasing his versatility and ability to perform in high-pressure situations. Rijo was known for his powerful fastball and sharp breaking pitches, which made him a formidable opponent during his peak years. Rijo achieved significant recognition in the postseason, notably earning the World Series MVP award for his outstanding performance, which solidified his legacy in baseball history. He was selected as an All-Star once, further highlighting his status among the elite pitchers of his era. Throughout his career, Rijo played a pivotal role in the transition of pitching styles in the late 20th century, contributing to the game's evolution during a time marked by both the rise of power hitting and the increased emphasis on pitching strategy. His contributions to the Cincinnati Reds and other teams remain a testament to his skill and dedication to the sport.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
116 91 376 269 22 4 3 1880.0 1710 676 147 663 1606 3.24 0

Season-by-Season Pitching

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
377 445 25 85 13 0 2 29 2 8 101 0.191 0.205 0.234 0.439 -1565.5

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
4 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.125

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1990 NLCS CIN 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.000
1990 WS CIN 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.333

Playoff Career Pitching

W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
3 0 4 4 0 27.7 19 7 12 29 2.28

Playoff Pitching by Year

Year Round Team W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
1990 NLCS CIN 1 0 2 2 0 12.3 10 6 7 15 4.38
1990 WS CIN 2 0 2 2 0 15.3 9 1 5 14 0.59

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 376 269 144 248 14 12

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 376

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1992 Pitcher of the Month September
1991 TSN All-Star RHP
1990 Player of the Week Week of 1990-09-22
1990 World Series MVP
1989 Player of the Week Week of 1989-05-13

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
2002 CIN NL $500,000
1997 CIN NL $6,150,000
1996 CIN NL $6,150,000
1995 CIN NL $5,750,000
1994 CIN NL $3,975,000
1993 CIN NL $4,083,333
1992 CIN NL $3,520,833
1991 CIN NL $2,333,333
1990 CIN NL $630,000
1989 CIN NL $457,500
1988 CIN NL $127,500
1986 OAK AL $85,000
Total Career Earnings $33,762,499

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1993 Cy Young Award NL 5th 8.0 140 0
1993 Most Valuable Player NL 21th 2.0 392 0
1991 Cy Young Award NL 4th 13.0 120 1
1990 Most Valuable Player NL 19th 6.0 336 0