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Sunday, June 28, 2015

Ramon Cedeno had lucky night at Abilene, saw eight seasons

Ramon Cedeno 1990 Visalia Oaks card
Ramon Cedeno's team was up by two when he came to bat. When he returned to the dugout, that Abilene Prairie Dog lead had been extended to four, on Cedeno's 12th home run of the year, according to The Abilene Reporter News.

"Every time I step to the plate, I just try to hit the ball hard and look for a good pitch to hit," Cedeno explained to The Reporter News in August 1998. "Tonight, it was like my lucky night."

Cedeno played for independent Abilene in his eighth season as a pro, his fourth in independent ball. That eighth season also ended up being Cedeno's last, Cedeno's affiliated career never making it above high-A.

Cedeno's professional career began back in 1987, signed by the Astros as an undrafted free agent out of his native Dominican Republic.

Cedeno started that year with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He hit .292 in 60 games. He moved to single-A Asheville for 1988, hitting .314 in 87 games.

For 1989, Cedeno moved to single-A Osceola, keeping his average above .300, hitting .303 in just 67 games. That September, Cedeno was sent to the Twins with another player, completing an earlier deal that sent Steve Lombardozzi the other way.

With the Twins, though, Cedeno only lasted a year. Sent to high-A Visalia, Cedeno hit .281 over 91 games. He's not recorded as coming back for 1991.

Cedeno did come back, though, but not until 1995. He played that year in the independent Texas-Louisiana League between Pueblo and Mobile. In 97 games the then-28-year-old hit .337.

He played 1996 at Rio Grande Valley, then 1997 at Tyler. For 1998, his final year as a pro, Cedeno split time between Bayou and Abilene.

Earlie in that August with Abilene, Cedeno addressed a spate of injuries hitting the club. To The Reporter News, Cedeno suggested players just had to play through the nagging ones.

"You've got to do what you've got to do," Cedeno told The Reporter News.
Originally published Feb. 17, 2013

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