Julio Linares has coached, scouted, more over 4 decades

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Julio Linares had a long career as a player in the minors, 15 seasons played with the Giants. But when the Astros came calling with a coaching job, Linares couldn't pass up the opportunity, he told The Johnson City Press in 1976.

"I was 34 and I had to make a decision about my future," Linares told The Press. "At best I could play perhaps two more years or I could accept Houston's offer to coach. I really wanted to get into this phase of the game and I have no regrets."

For Linares, it turned out to be the right decision - and the right organization. He went on to spend more than four decades in the Astros system, as a coach, manager and a scout. He even got time in the majors as a bench coach.

Linares' career in baseball began in 1957 out of his native Dominican Republic at Class C Tucson. By 1960, he was formally with the Giants at Class D Quincy.

He then continued with the Giants over the next 13 seasons. He first made AA at Rio Grande Valley in 1961, then AAA at Phoenix in 1969. He saw five seasons at Phoenix. He's even recorded as playing a game in Japan with Taiyo in 1971.

Linares then started his coaching career as a coach at rookie Covington, Virginia in 1974. He then made manager there in 1976.

By 1977, he was managing in the rookie Gulf Coast League, a job he would continue off and on through at least 1998.

In 1990, he worked with Astros first-rounder Tom Nevers. 

"He'll learn how to get a better jump," Linares told The Houston Post of Nevers' defense, amidst promising hitting. "The Astros could always move him to third base in case his range doesn't get better."

In between his work as rookie league manager, Linares also served as a scout. 

From 1994 to 1996, he served as a bench coach in the majors with Houston.

In 1999, Linares served as Astros director of operations in the Dominican Republic. He spoke to The Battle Creek Enquirer about the difficulties Latin players face in the pros surrounding the language.

"The one thing I used to tell the American players all the time about the Spanish-speaking kids is to give them the benefit of the doubt," Linares told The Enquirer. "... More than 90 percent of these guys come from very poor families and it takes a lot of time to make changes and adjust."

Linares has continued with the Astros. In 2022, he was the Astros special advisor for Latin American development. 

His son Rodney Linares has also followed his father into the coaching ranks, first in the Astros system and then with the Rays. Rodney Linares serves in 2025 as Rays bench coach.

More: The 1990 Gulf Coast League Astros

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,538
Made the Majors:1,434-31.6%-X
Never Made Majors:3,104-68.4%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:582
10+ Seasons in the Minors:359

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