Julio Vega came from tough background, saw 2 pro seasons
He eventually landed with the Lee family, who helped get him the supports he needed, using his newfound love of sports to ensure he kept up his grades, Newsday wrote.
"Every once in a while he starts to let things slip," Jean Lee told Newsday. "I say, 'Don't think I'm going to sign that baseball permission slip.'"
Vega went from there on to the pros. His pro career lasted two seasons, ended by injuries from a car accident, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Vega's pro career began in 1990, taken by the Giants in the fifth round of the draft out of Shoreham-Wading River High School in New York.
At Shoreham-Wading River, Vega was described by Newsday as a "switch hitting leadoff batter and an intimidating baserunner." He stole 18 of 19 bases and scored a school-record 36 runs.
Vega started with the Giants at short-season Everett. He got into 35 games and hit .147. He then moved to the rookie Arizona League for 1991. He saw 37 games there and hit .257. That season proved his last as a pro.
Vega later got into coaching and managing. In 1999, he served as manager of the collegiate summer league Bluff City Bombers. In 2000, he served as coach for the independent Evansville Otters.
With Bluff City in August 1999, he talked up one of his pitchers, Steve Ellis, to The Post-Dispatch. Ellis went on to play two pro seasons.
"I think Steve will get the chance to play pro ball," Vega told The Post-Dispatch. "I'm pretty sure he will get drafted next year."
- Newsday, March 22, 1990: This Season, East Islip Looks to Get Over Top
- Newsday, April 7, 1990: Vega Triumphs Over Past
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aug. 12, 1999: Bombers closer attracts the scouts
Made the Majors:1,487-31.6%
Never Made Majors:3,224-68.4%-X