Luis Salazar (born May 19, 1956 in Barcelona, Anzoátegui State, Venezuela) is a former third baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball, a right-handed batter who played from 1980 to 1992. In his 13-year career, Salazar played in three different times with the San Diego Padres (1980-84, 1987, 1989), and for the Chicago White Sox (1985-86), Detroit Tigers (1988) and Chicago Cubs (1989-92). As a young prospect he was let go by the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates. After seven minors seasons, finally, he got a chance with San Diego in the 1980 season.
An extremely versatile reserve who played every position but catcher in his career, Salazar was the Padres' third baseman between 1981 and 1983. He was traded to the White Sox along with countryfellow rookie Ozzie Guillén (1985), and returned to the Padres as a free agent (1987). Then, he signed with Detroit (1988), before being dealt back to San Diego. Salazar finished his career with the Cubs in a nice way.
In his first stint with the Padres, Salazar hit 29 home runs with 187 runs batted in and 109 stolen bases in 525 games. In 126 games with the White Sox, he played on third base, first base, shortstop and outfield (eventually was DH and relief pitcher), batting .245 with 10 homers and 45 RBI. For Detroit, mostly in the outfield, he hit .270, 12, 62. Also, he kept the Tigers in a pennant race by filling in at shortstop for injured Alan Trammell.
On August 31, 1989, a few minutes before the postseason rosters must be filed, the Cubs obtained Salazar from San Diego in a last effort to replace their four slumping third basemen. Salazar gave the club a lift in September, playing a solid third base and batting .326 (26-80) with 12 RBI and a .357 on base percentage. The Cubs won the National League East division title. The next three seasons Salazar played predominantly on third base, batting .243 with 31 homers, 110 RBI, and 78 runs in 316 games.
In 1302-games career, Salazar batted .261 with 179 home runs, 653 RBI, 438 runs scored, 1070 hits, 144 doubles, 33 triples and 117 stolen bases. Salazar was also a valuable pinch-hitter in his career. He went 28-for-91 for a .308 of batting average, with four home runs and 17 runs batted in.
Currently, Luis Salazar is a minor league manager for the Vero Beach Dodgers.
See also
List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball
