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Saturday, March 25, 2023

Luis Dorante played six seasons as catcher, then turned minors manager, skill evaluator

Luis Dorante 1990 Lynchburg Red Sox card, Dorante posed in catching position

The new manager of the Expos' rookie Gulf Coast League affiliate in 1995, Luis Dorante updated The Montreal Gazette on the progress of the club's top draft choice that year, Michael Barrett.

At that level, Dorante explained to The Gazette, there's some instruction, but also a lot of watching.

"We want them to get used to playing every day and playing pro ball," Dorante told The Gazette. "We want them to get comfortable and show us their skills."

Dorante took over the club after his own playing career. He saw six seasons and made AA.

He then went on to his post-playing career as a minor league manager and even major league bullpen coach.

Dorante's career in baseball began in 1987, signed by the Red Sox as a free agent out of his native Venezuela. 

Dorante started with the Red Sox at short-season Elmira. He saw 31 games and hit .191. The catcher then stayed at Elmira for 1988 and 1989.

For 1990, he made high-A Lynchburg. He saw 14 games there and five in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He then saw regular time - 91 total games - in 1991 between high-A Winter Haven and AA New Britain. He hit .256 between them.

He's not credited as playing in 1992, then returned for 14 games at high-A Fort Lauderdale in 1993 to end is career.

Dorante then turned scout and started his managerial career by 1995 in the GCL. He moved to single-A Cape Fear for 1998 and high-A Jupiter in 1999. Back at Jupiter in 2000, Dorante assessed his new team to The Palm Beach Post early that April.

"This is a young club," Dorante told The Post. "We'll have to stay more on top, teaching them how to do little things."

In 2005, Dorante made the jump to Miami as bullpen coach. After two seasons back in the minors, he moved to the Pirates in 2008, also as major league bullpen coach. He's credited there for at least three seasons and then again returned to the minors.

Most recently, he's credited as managing the Marlins rookie league entry in 2021. In 2019, he earned Appalachian League Manager of the Year honors with Pulaski.

"My goal this year was to teach the little details about the game, along with discipline and respect for the game and others, and to make them understand that this is the start of a journey to become a good Major League Baseball player," Dorante told WSLS then. "Thanks to all for the help to accomplish this teamwork."

Luis Dorante 1990 Lynchburg Red Sox card, Dorante posed in catching position

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,146
Made the Majors:1,369-33.0%
Never Made Majors:2,777-67.0%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:557
10+ Seasons in the Minors:337

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