Now Batting, Number…18?
Saturday, March 1st, 2008
Mini-update from Roch Kubatko’s invaluable Spring Training coverage. Yesterday, catcher Ramon Hernandez arrived in Jupiter, FL to play the Marlins, but forgot to bring his orange #55 jersey with him. With the top half of his uniform sitting in his locker in Fort Lauderdale, Ramon wore #18 for one game only. As we’ve seen on the Spring Training Roster, #18 is the lowest number not claimed by a player or coach (not counting retired numbers, of course). It has most recently been worn by a string of catchers: Javy Lopez (2004-2006); Chris Widger (2006); and Alberto Castillo (2007), who spent some time in Baltimore while Ramon battled injuries last year. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find photographic evidence of Hernandez in #18 yesterday. If anyone comes across a picture, you can send it to kevin AT oriolesnumbers.com.