Houston Jiménez – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Alfonso “Houston” Jiménez González left his mark on Major League Baseball with a short but memorable five-year run from 1983 to 1988. The Mexican shortstop suited up for three teams—Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians—before he called it quits after the 1988 season.

Jiménez played his final MLB game for the Cleveland Indians on September 12, 1988, wrapping up a journey that started with his debut for the Minnesota Twins on June 13, 1983. His major league stats show a .185 batting average and 29 RBIs in 158 games, but honestly, his influence on baseball goes way beyond those numbers.

Born in Mexico City on October 30, 1957, Jiménez’s story is about more than just his MLB days. He went from teenage prospect to big leaguer and then spent decades in Mexican baseball as a player and coach. He really dedicated his life to the sport, working across different leagues and countries.

After his playing days, he earned a spot in the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. That says a lot about how much he’s given back to baseball.

Early Life and Background

Alfonso “Houston” Jiménez González came into the world on October 30, 1957, in Mexico City. He actually started his professional baseball career incredibly early, joining Puebla in 1974 when he was just 16.

Birthplace and Family Origins

Jiménez grew up in Mexico City, the capital and largest city in Mexico. His full name sticks to the Spanish tradition—Jiménez is his dad’s last name, González is his mom’s.

Mexico City shaped his early years. The city’s lively baseball scene played a big part in his development as a player.

Not much is out there about his family background or what his childhood was like. What people do know is that his family encouraged his baseball dreams from the start.

He picked up the nickname “Houston” early on, and it just stuck. That name followed him from his first days in Mexican baseball all the way to the majors.

Early Passion for Baseball

Jiménez showed real baseball talent at a very young age. He started playing pro ball with Puebla at 16.

That’s not something you see every day, and it just shows how skilled he was as a shortstop. Starting that early was rare and proved he had something special.

Mexican League teams back then were looking for young talent, and Jiménez fit the bill. Turning pro at 16 took guts and probably a lot of belief from his family.

Those teenage years in pro baseball gave him a solid base for what came next. His early experience in Mexico really set him up for the majors later on.

Professional Playing Career

Houston Jiménez’s baseball career stretched over three decades. He started in the Mexican League at 16 and played in MLB until 1988. He spent time with several organizations, from the Chicago Cubs system to three big league teams, before heading back to Mexican baseball.

Debut in Mexican League

Jiménez began his pro career in 1974 with Puebla in the Mexican League, still just a teenager.

Scouts noticed his skills pretty quickly. Even though he was young, he impressed people with his play at shortstop.

By 1976, Jiménez picked up the Mexican League Rookie of the Year award. That was a big deal and put him on the map as one of Mexico’s rising stars. He kept developing his game during his early years with Puebla.

Rise with Key West Cubs and Minor Leagues

The Chicago Cubs signed Jiménez as a free agent in 1975. He landed with the Key West Cubs and played shortstop there, but he only managed a .215 average.

After the Key West stint, he went back to play for Pericos for two seasons. His time in the Cubs system gave him a taste of American baseball, but he clearly needed more time to develop.

In 1978, Jiménez got a quick shot with the Chicago White Sox system. He played just 13 games and hit .220, but that didn’t turn into a long-term gig.

He then spent two more seasons with Puebla. Playing back in Mexico helped him sharpen his skills. Those years proved valuable for his growth.

Major League Baseball Career Highlights

The Minnesota Twins picked up Jiménez before the 1981 season. He started out in their minor league system and made it to the majors by June 1983. He debuted on June 13, 1983, for the Twins.

That first season, Jiménez shared shortstop duties with Ron Washington. In 1984, he became the Twins’ main shortstop and played 108 games—his only full big league season.

He finished his MLB run with a .185 average, 29 RBIs, and no home runs. After hitting .201 in 1984, he spent all of 1985 with the Toledo Mud Hens. The Twins let him go before the 1986 season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates brought Jiménez on in December 1986. He only played six games for them in 1987 and didn’t get a hit in seven at-bats. Most of that year, he played with the Vancouver Canadians in Triple-A.

In June 1988, the Cleveland Indians signed him. He got into eight games with Cleveland and managed just one hit in 21 at-bats. His last MLB game was September 12, 1988.

Retirement from Professional Baseball in 1988

Jiménez wrapped up his MLB career in 1988 with the Cleveland Indians. His last game came on September 12 that year. He spent most of that season with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in Triple-A.

After stepping away from MLB, he kept playing winter ball for a while. He eventually went back to the Mexican League in 1993 with the Saraperos de Saltillo.

Returning to Mexico gave his playing career a second wind. He stuck with Saltillo until he retired for good in 2001.

The 1988 season ended his six-year MLB run. He played for three different big league teams. After that, he moved into coaching and managing in the Mexican League.

Position, Skills, and Playing Style

Houston Jiménez spent most of his five-year MLB career at shortstop, from 1983 to 1988. He stood out for his defense, but his offense lagged behind with a .185 batting average and .454 OPS.

Shortstop Role and Defensive Strengths

Jiménez played 147 games at shortstop in the majors over four seasons. His .962 fielding percentage matched the league average for his time.

He showed reliable hands and decent range. In 1983, he posted a .969 fielding percentage in 36 games with Minnesota, a bit above the league average. His best year defensively was 1984, when he started 101 games at shortstop.

He also played second base in nine games and put up a .974 fielding percentage there. That showed he could handle more than one infield spot when teams needed it.

His defense was steady, if not flashy. He turned 85 double plays in his career, which shows good awareness and chemistry with his infield partners.

Offensive Contributions and OPS

Jiménez struggled at the plate during his MLB stint. His career OPS of .454 was way below average, and his OPS+ of 24 meant he hit 76% worse than the league average.

His “best” offensive year was 1984, when he hit .201 with a .483 OPS. Even then, that’s a tough line for a big leaguer.

He managed 76 hits in 411 at-bats. He hit 16 doubles and two triples, but never a home run in the majors.

He drew 20 walks and struck out 49 times. His .221 on-base percentage really limited what he could do, even as a contact hitter.

Performance in Runs and Batting Metrics

Jiménez scored 34 runs and had 29 RBIs in 158 MLB games. Those numbers show he didn’t have much offensive impact.

His peak run production happened in 1984, when he scored 28 runs in 108 games. That was his most productive stretch, but it still wasn’t enough for a regular starter.

He finished with a .185 career batting average, which is well below the Mendoza Line. Teams couldn’t really justify keeping him in the lineup, even with his solid glove.

Advanced stats back that up. His -1.3 career WAR shows he was below replacement level during his time in the majors.

Career Achievements and Recognitions

Houston Jiménez earned recognition that went beyond his short MLB career. Most of his honors came from his long run in Mexican baseball and his 2007 induction into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.

Statistics and Milestones

Jiménez’s MLB career numbers are modest. He played 158 games from 1983 to 1988, with a .185 batting average, 0 home runs, and 29 RBIs for three teams.

His most active MLB season was 1984 with the Minnesota Twins, where he played 108 games and hit .201.

He found much more success in Mexican baseball. Jiménez won Mexican League Rookie of the Year in 1976 at just 18. In 1995 with Saltillo Saraperos, he hit .337 with a .503 slugging percentage and 40 doubles—that’s pretty impressive.

He played 14 seasons in the Mexican League and 25 seasons in the Mexican Pacific League. That kind of longevity says a lot about his value in Mexican baseball.

Induction into Halls of Fame

Jiménez got his biggest honor in 2007 when he entered the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. That induction celebrated everything he did for Mexican baseball over more than two decades.

The Hall of Fame recognized both his playing and his work in developing the sport in Mexico. With 25 years in the Mexican Pacific League, he became one of its most well-known figures.

In 2013, Jiménez was inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame as well. That honor showed how much he meant to Latin American baseball as a whole.

With both honors, Jiménez joined the ranks of the most respected figures in Mexican and Caribbean baseball. He was still managing when he got those awards, which says he never really left the game behind.

Legacy in the Mexican Pacific League

Jiménez spent 25 seasons in the Mexican Pacific League, making his career one of the longest tenures in league history.

He really became a cornerstone for the league, helping establish its credibility and competitive standards.

Fans in Mexico saw his sustained excellence in winter ball year after year. Jiménez’s presence drew other talented players to the league and raised its profile.

Playing in the Mexican Pacific League let Jiménez keep his skills sharp during MLB off-seasons. Other Mexican players noticed and started following this dual-league path to stretch their careers.

Jiménez showed that building a meaningful, successful baseball career in Mexico was possible. He proved players could thrive outside MLB and still maintain high standards.

Coaching and Post-Retirement Involvement

When he retired as a player in 2001, Houston Jiménez jumped into coaching and management roles across several leagues.

He worked with the Colorado Rockies organization and contributed to Mexico’s national baseball team.

Transition to Coaching

Jiménez actually started coaching while he was still playing for the Saraperos de Saltillo. In 1999, the club named him manager, two years before he retired.

He left Saltillo in 2001 and managed the Guerreros de Oaxaca from 2002 to 2004. During that stint, he led the team to two championship series appearances in 2002 and 2003.

He kept moving forward and managed the Diablos Rojos del México in 2005. At the start of 2006, he briefly managed the Potros de Tijuana before the team released him mid-season.

Jiménez racked up 939 wins and 851 losses across 1,793 regular season games as a manager. He took teams to the playoffs several times, including a Serie Final appearance with Puebla in 2010.

Work with Colorado Rockies Organization

After leaving Tijuana in 2006, Jiménez joined the Colorado Rockies’ minor league system.

He joined the coaching staff for the Tri-City Dust Devils, the team’s Single-A affiliate.

In 2007, he became the hitting coach for the Asheville Tourists. He worked there for two seasons, helping young prospects in the Rockies organization.

That job marked his first time back in Major League Baseball circles since his playing career ended in 1988. He got to share his knowledge with up-and-coming players in the minors.

His time with the Rockies gave him valuable experience, which he later brought back to Mexican baseball.

Contributions to International Tournaments

Jiménez took on the third base coach role for Mexico’s national baseball team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

He held this position while managing the Pericos de Puebla for a second stint. The 2009 World Baseball Classic showed just how respected he was in Mexican baseball.

After the tournament, he kept managing teams in the Mexican League.

In 2024, Jiménez returned to coaching as third base coach for the Dorados de Chihuahua in the Mexican League. He’s still actively involved in professional baseball.

Personal Life, Net Worth, and Legacy

Houston Jiménez moved on from his MLB days and became a major figure in Mexican baseball management and coaching.

He earned most of his financial success through his managerial career in the Mexican League, though nobody’s really sure about the exact numbers.

Life After Baseball

Jiménez found his real calling after stepping away from playing in 1988.

He came back to the Mexican League in 1993 with the Saraperos de Saltillo and played there until 2001.

While still playing for Saltillo, Jiménez took over as the team’s manager in 1999. That kicked off a successful coaching career that lasted over twenty years.

He left Saltillo in 2001, then managed several teams, including the Guerreros de Oaxaca from 2002 to 2004. He also led the Diablos Rojos del México in 2005 and briefly managed the Potros de Tijuana in 2006.

Jiménez didn’t just coach in Mexico. He joined the Colorado Rockies organization as a coach for the Tri-City Dust Devils in 2006 and later spent two seasons as hitting coach for the Asheville Tourists.

His international experience included serving as third base coach for Mexico’s national team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

As of January 2024, he’s working as third base coach for the Dorados de Chihuahua.

Estimated Net Worth

Jiménez’s net worth mostly comes from his long career in professional baseball management, not his short MLB playing days.

His MLB earnings were modest, considering his .185 batting average and limited playing time from 1983 to 1988.

He earned most of his income from managerial jobs in the Mexican League. Over 20 seasons as a manager, Jiménez posted a .525 winning percentage across 1,793 games.

Mexican League managers usually make moderate to comfortable salaries. The exact numbers are private, but his steady employment suggests he’s financially stable.

Coaching for the Colorado Rockies organization probably brought in some extra income too. Those minor league jobs often pay competitively within pro baseball.

Impact on Mexican Baseball Community

Houston Jiménez really became one of Mexico’s most respected baseball figures. In 2007, he joined the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame, which pretty much cemented his legacy in the sport.

They also enshrined him in the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013. That honor recognized the impact he made across Latin American baseball.

He managed the Pericos de Puebla and led them all the way to the 2010 Final Series. Sure, they lost to Saltillo, but just getting there showed how well he could build a competitive team.

Jiménez didn’t just play—he bridged Mexican and American baseball cultures. With experience in both MLB and the Mexican League, he brought a unique perspective to player development.

He spent 25 seasons in the Mexican Pacific League and 14 in the Mexican League, so he really became a cornerstone figure. Young Mexican players often turned to him for guidance and mentorship when he coached.