Rafael Bustamante

Rafael Enrique Bustamante (Rafi, Raffy)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 170 lb.

• Born June 15, 1967 in Maracay, Aragua Venezuela

BR register page

Biographical Information

Rafael Bustamante played for the Venezuelan national team and in the minors.

He was with Venezuela for the 1986 Amateur World Series and 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games, winning Bronze in the latter. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and hit .258/.296/.298 as a utility infielder for the 1987 Utica Blue Sox. Moving up to the Clearwater Threshers in '88, he slipped to .155/.191/.174. After being out of the minors in 1989, he was in the Cincinnati Reds chain in 1990. He batted .255/.339/.299 for the Charleston Wheelers then hit .257/.363/.275 and fielded .926 as their regular shortstop in '91.

Bustamante also played for the Venezuelan League's Tigres de Aragua; he coached for them from 1994-2001. He was also a Tampa Bay Devil Rays scout from 1996-1999 and has worked for Scott Hemond baseball as a coach.