Angel Salazar – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Angel Salazar played five seasons in Major League Baseball as a shortstop. He finished his final campaign with the Chicago Cubs in 1988.

Born in Venezuela in 1961, Salazar made his mark as a defensive specialist. Teams trusted him to handle the demanding shortstop position for three different clubs.

Salazar’s MLB career ran from 1983 to 1988. He played for the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs before he retired at age 27.

His journey through pro baseball really shows the challenges that many utility players face. He brought valuable defensive skills to his teams, even though his offense wasn’t flashy.

You can look at Angel Salazar’s career and see a player who gave teams a steady, reliable presence. His path from Venezuelan prospect to major league veteran, along with his stats and role on each team, says a lot about the dedication it takes to stick around in the world’s top baseball league for five years.

Who Is Angel Salazar?

Angel Salazar was a shortstop from Venezuela who played five seasons in Major League Baseball between 1983 and 1988.

Born Argenis Antonio Salazar Yepez on November 4, 1961, in Anaco, Venezuela, he picked up the nickname “Angel” during his pro career.

Full Name and Background

Argenis Antonio Salazar Yepez came into the world on November 4, 1961, in Anaco, Venezuela.

He played right-handed, stood 6 feet tall, and weighed about 180 pounds during his career.

People pretty much called him “Angel” everywhere he played. That nickname stuck with him from his early days to his retirement.

Salazar represented Venezuela on the international stage while playing in MLB. He joined a growing wave of Venezuelan players who made their mark in the big leagues during the 1980s.

His full name shows off his Venezuelan roots, but fans and teammates just went with Angel. Baseball records usually list both his nickname and formal name.

Growing Up in Anaco, Venezuela

Anaco sits in the Anzoátegui state of Venezuela. It’s an oil-rich region in the northeast.

The town is known for its petroleum industry and farming. Salazar grew up there in the ’60s and ’70s, part of a generation of Venezuelan kids who loved baseball.

Baseball culture ran deep in Anzoátegui. Local leagues and youth programs gave future pros like Salazar the chance to develop their skills.

Anaco’s spot in northeastern Venezuela put it on the radar for major league scouts. That definitely helped young players looking for pro opportunities.

Baseball Beginnings

The Montreal Expos signed Salazar as an amateur free agent in 1980 when he was just 18.

He started his minor league journey with the Calgary Expos that same year. That Canadian team was part of Montreal’s farm system.

Salazar spent three years working on his game in the minors before he made his MLB debut. Scouts and coaches noticed his defensive abilities at shortstop.

The Expos saw something in this young Venezuelan infielder. They worked on his batting while using his natural defensive skills at short.

Professional Baseball Career

Angel Salazar played five seasons in Major League Baseball from 1983 to 1988 as a shortstop for three teams.

He spent time with the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs. He finished with a .212 batting average and 188 hits in 886 at-bats.

Major League Debut and Early Years

Argenis Antonio Salazar Yepez was born on November 4, 1961, in Anaco, Venezuela.

The Montreal Expos picked him up as an amateur free agent in 1980.

Salazar debuted in MLB on August 10, 1983, with the Montreal Expos at age 21. He went by “Angel” throughout his pro career.

The right-handed shortstop stood 6 feet and weighed 180 pounds. He lost his rookie status after the 1984 season.

Montreal Expos Tenure

Salazar played his first two MLB seasons with the Montreal Expos from 1983 to 1984.

He started out as a utility infielder. The Expos gave him his first shot at the big leagues.

His time in Montreal helped him get experience at the highest level. That team gave him the foundation for his baseball career.

Kansas City Royals Years

The Kansas City Royals brought Salazar in for the 1986 and 1987 seasons. He kept playing shortstop during these two years in the American League.

His stint with Kansas City was the middle part of his MLB career. The Royals leaned on his defensive skills at short.

Salazar played regularly for the Royals both seasons. His National League experience with Montreal helped him adjust to the AL.

Chicago Cubs and Final Season

The Chicago Cubs signed Salazar for his last MLB season in 1988. He worked as a backup shortstop behind Shawon Dunston.

In 34 games with Chicago, he put up a .250 batting average, his best ever in the majors.

His final MLB appearance came on October 1, 1988, with the Cubs. After leaving baseball in 1989, he tried a comeback with the Expos’ organization in 1990.

Salazar played 15 games for Indianapolis in 1990, hitting .208 before calling it a career. He finished with 2 home runs and 59 RBI across 383 games.

Playing Positions and Role

Angel Salazar spent almost all of his five-year MLB career at shortstop, playing 374 of his 383 games at that spot.

He sometimes filled in at second base, third base, or as a pinch-hitter or pinch-runner, but his glove really belonged at shortstop.

Shortstop and Infield Positions

Angel Salazar earned a reputation as a reliable shortstop for all three of his MLB teams.

His fielding stats show he played SS in 374 games, which says a lot about his value as a defensive specialist.

His best defensive years came with the Kansas City Royals in 1986 and 1987. In 1986, he posted a .978 fielding percentage at short over 115 games. The next year, he bumped that up to .981 over 116 games.

His range factor numbers look solid. In 1987, Salazar put up a 5.06 range factor per nine innings, better than the league average of 4.59. He got to balls and made plays some other shortstops couldn’t.

The Montreal Expos gave Salazar his first chance at shortstop in 1983 and 1984. His bat struggled, but his glove kept him in the lineup for 114 games across those two seasons.

Secondary Roles: 2B, 3B, PH, PR

Salazar also filled various utility roles during his career. He appeared at 2B three times, including one game with Kansas City in 1986 and two games with Chicago in 1988.

He played 3B just once, during his last season with the Cubs in 1988. In that game, he posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with two putouts and three assists.

As a PH and PR, Salazar gave his teams some bench depth. He wasn’t exactly a speedster, with just six career stolen bases, but managers sometimes used him as a pinch-runner in certain situations.

These secondary roles showed Salazar’s value as a utility infielder. Teams relied on him to fill in at different spots, though his glove at short was his main strength.

Career Statistics and Performance

Angel Salazar’s five-year MLB run from 1983 to 1988 produced a .212 batting average with 188 hits in 383 games.

His offensive numbers included 2 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 6 stolen bases.

Batting Averages and Key Metrics

Salazar’s career batting average of .212 shows he struggled at the plate.

His best season came in 1988 with the Cubs, when he hit .250 in 34 games.

His on-base percentage for his career was .230, so he didn’t get on base much. His slugging percentage was .270, which means he didn’t hit for much power.

Season-by-Season Batting Performance:

• 1983 (Montreal): .216 average
• 1984 (Montreal): .155 average
• 1986 (Kansas City): .245 average
• 1987 (Kansas City): .205 average
• 1988 (Chicago Cubs): .250 average

Salazar actually hit better in the American League (.224 average) than in the National League (.185 average). His two years with Kansas City were his most productive at the plate.

Runs Batted In (RBI) and Offensive Highlights

Salazar knocked in 59 RBIs over his five seasons, averaging about 25 RBIs per 162 games.

His best RBI season came in 1986 with Kansas City, driving in 24 runs over 117 games.

In 1987, he added 21 RBIs in 116 games for the Royals. With Montreal, he managed just 13 RBIs across two seasons.

Career RBI Breakdown:

• Kansas City Royals: 45 RBIs (2 seasons)
• Montreal Expos: 13 RBIs (2 seasons)
• Chicago Cubs: 1 RBI (1 season)

Most of Salazar’s hits were singles, as you can tell from his 188 career hits. He added 33 doubles and 6 triples, so he had a little gap power now and then.

Home Runs and Slugging

Salazar didn’t hit for power, with just 2 home runs in 383 games. Both came while he played for the Kansas City Royals.

He didn’t homer with Montreal or Chicago.

His slugging percentage was .270, which is pretty low compared to the league average. He finished with 239 total bases, mostly from singles and doubles.

For a defensive-minded shortstop in his era, those power numbers weren’t unusual. He didn’t hit a home run at all between 1983 and 1985.

Salazar’s extra-base hits broke down to 33 doubles, 6 triples, and 2 home runs. That shows he could occasionally find the gap, but he wasn’t a threat to go deep.

Base Running: Stolen Bases and Caught Stealing

Salazar’s base running stats show he wasn’t much of a base stealer. He finished with 6 stolen bases and got caught 6 times, so he broke even.

His busiest year on the bases was 1987 with Kansas City, swiping 4 bags but getting caught 4 times. He tried, but the success rate wasn’t great.

His other 2 steals came in 1984 and 1986, with one successful steal in each. He got caught once each of those years.

Salazar took a pretty conservative approach to base running, which made sense for a defensive specialist. With a 50% success rate, he probably could have used a little more work on timing.

Highlights and Notable Achievements

Angel Salazar’s five-year MLB career from 1983 to 1988 showcased steady defensive play at shortstop across three organizations.

He made his biggest impact with reliable fielding and veteran leadership during his time with the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs.

Memorable Games

Salazar stepped onto a major league field for the first time on August 10, 1983, playing for the Montreal Expos. That debut happened three years after the Expos signed him as an amateur free agent back in 1980.

He saw the most action in 1988 with the Chicago Cubs, showing up in 34 games during the regular season. That year turned out to be his last in professional baseball, as he wrapped things up on October 1, 1988.

Over his career, Salazar managed 188 hits in 886 at-bats. He hit two home runs in the majors, which gave fans the occasional offensive spark from a utility infielder.

Defensive Contributions

Salazar’s main value came from his defensive abilities at shortstop. He played that position for all three teams he joined, showing off a versatility that kept him around for five seasons.

The Montreal Expos especially appreciated his defensive skills. They started developing him in their minor league system with the Calgary Expos in 1980. The Expos spent three years working with him before he finally made it to the majors.

The Kansas City Royals relied on Salazar’s defense during the 1986 and 1987 seasons. He offered steady glove work and gave them some much-needed depth at shortstop during his two years there.

Team Impact

Salazar brought more to his teams than stats ever could, lending a veteran presence to three organizations. His .212 career batting average showed he was a defense-first player, but he made the infield more reliable.

With the Montreal Expos from 1983 to 1984, he worked as a developmental player and gained plenty of experience. He drove in 59 runs in his career, mostly while playing for Montreal and Kansas City.

In 1988, the Chicago Cubs picked up Salazar for his final season, using him for infield depth and experience. He scored 69 runs during his career, chipping in offensively when he had the chance—even if his batting stats weren’t flashy.

Retirement and Life After Baseball

Angel Salazar played his last MLB game in 1988, closing out a five-year career in the majors. His final game took place on October 1, 1988, ending a journey that started in Venezuela and led him to three big league teams.

Final Season in 1988

Salazar’s final season started off with some uncertainty. The Cincinnati Reds let him go during spring training in 1988, but the Chicago Cubs picked him up pretty quickly as a backup.

He backed up Shawon Dunston at shortstop that year. Even in a limited role, he hit .250 in 34 games—his best batting average in the majors.

He didn’t see as much playing time as he had in earlier years, especially compared to his regular starts for Kansas City in 1986 and 1987. The backup spot in Chicago made it clear his time in the league was winding down.

On October 1, 1988, Salazar made his final major league appearance. Across five MLB seasons, he spent time with the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs.

Post-Retirement Activities

Salazar didn’t walk away from professional baseball right after 1988. He tried to make a comeback with the Montreal Expos organization in 1990.

He played for Indianapolis and hit just .208 over 15 games. That run didn’t last long, but he kept at it.

In 1991, he wrapped up his minor league days with the Salinas Spurs of the California League. This team wasn’t affiliated with any major league club, but they gave him one more shot at playing.

He batted .254 in 22 games there. After that, he called it a career.

Years passed, and then Salazar found his way back to baseball in a new role. In 2006, he managed the DSL Braves in the Dominican Summer League.

That job let him pass along his knowledge to young players from Latin America. He seemed to enjoy helping the next generation.

Moving from player to coach feels pretty common for a lot of former big leaguers. The Dominican Summer League opened doors for players from Venezuela, his home, and nearby countries.