Rolando Meriño

From BR Bullpen

Rolando Meriño Betancourt

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 2", Weight 207 lb.

Born February 17, 1971

Rolando Meriño has been a productive catcher in Cuban baseball for almost two decades and briefly was on the Cuban national team. He twice has been intentionally walked shortly before the tourney-deciding hit in the Cuban finals. He playes for Santiago de Cuba in Cuba, having helped them to six titles through 2008.

Meriño was on the Cuban roster for the 2000 Olympics but did not play as he backed up both Juan Manrique and Ariel Pestano at catcher. In the 2001 Baseball World Cup, he hit .333/.400/.500 as Pestano's backup. He batted .243/~.300/.324 as Cuba's catcher in the 2001 World Port Tournament. He was 1 for 4 with a double and two walks in the 2006 Haarlem Baseball Week.

Meriño's career batting line in Cuba through 2006-2007 (17 seasons) was .304/.405/.464 with 298 doubles, 138 home runs and 740 walks in 5,628 plate appearances (4,713 AB). He had scored 875 runs and driven in 733. He hit .361/~.479/.579 in 2007-2008, not showing any decline from old age. He was 6th in the Serie Nacional with 77 runs, second to teammate Alexei Bell with 80 RBI (31 behind Bell, though), second with 29 doubles (trailing Alfredo Despaigne) and 7th with 63 walks. He was named to the Serie Nacional All-Star team at catcher. He then set a postseason record with 25 RBI and won the playoff MVP award.

In game six of the 2004-2005 finals, Rolando drew an intentional walk to load the bases with two outs and a tie game, but Pedro Poll delivered the Series-winning hit. During the regular season, he had hit .356, third in the league behind Osmani Urrutia and Yoandry Urgellés. In the finals three years later, he was given a free pass by Cuba's all-time win leader (Pedro Luis Lazo) to set up the Series-winning hit by Alexei Bell in game four of a sweep by Santiago de Cuba.