Larry Jacinto played semi-pro, then pro, saw 2 seasons

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Larry Jacinto 1991 Great Falls Dodgers baseball card

Playing for the semi-pro Santa Maria Tigers in June 1990, Larry Jacinto helped his team beat a seemingly much stronger opponent shocking even Jacinto, The Santa Maria Times wrote.

"We thought they were unbeatable," Jacinto, the team's starter who gave up only one extra-base hit, told The Times afterward. "I thought it was impossible to beat them."

By that point, Jacinto had already been taken in the draft and he would soon sign. His pro career ended up lasting two seasons. He spent both in rookie ball.

Jacinto's career began that year in 1990, taken by the Dodgers in the 40th round of the draft out of Southern California College.

At Southern California College, Jacinto went 6-3, with a 3.09 ERA as he sported a fastball, slider, off-speed pitch and curve, his hometown Lompoc Record wrote.

With the Dodgers, Jacinto then played the season at rookie Great Falls. He saw 17 relief outings and had a 4.29 ERA.

That September, The Record featured him and his non-traditional uncle, Ben Gonzales, then also a minor leaguer. Gonzales was just seven months older than Jacinto.

Gonzales recalled to The Record playing ball with Jacinto and Gonzales' older brothers starting at a young age.  

"I remember that Larry and I would compare our red hands after a game" Gonzales told The Record.

Jacinto returned to Great Falls for 1991. He got into 15 games in relief and ended with a 7.47 ERA. That season marked his last as a pro.

Larry Jacinto 1991 Great Falls Dodgers baseball card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,569
Made the Majors:1,446-31.7%
Never Made Majors:3,123-68.3%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:590
10+ Seasons in the Minors:362

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