Ever Magallanes: 20 years Playing Professionally, 11 DAYS in the Big Leagues

Ever Magallanes' advice for active professional baseball players is to "Play until you can't play anymore." He lived that advice. After 8 years playing affiliated professional baseball in the US, he played 12 more years in Mexico. That alone is an interesting story. He also tells us about his 11 days in the big leagues with Cleveland, and his time coaching and managing the Mexican National Team in the World Baseball Classic and other international competitions. He talks about his decision to retire from playing and pursue a job as manager in the minor leagues.

Transcript

Jeff Perro (00:36)
Hello everybody, I'm Jeff Perro Welcome to another episode of Catch Up with JP. Today's guest is Ever Magallanes Mr. Magallanes spent 11 days in the big leagues. Over that time, he got three played appearances and one assist in the field. He was a professional baseball player for 20 years overall. 12 of those years were spent in Mexico. Since retiring, he's coached and managed in the Angels and White Sox systems coached and managed the Futures Game team,

He's coached and managed in Mexico. He's coached and managed the Mexican national team. Also mentioned in this episode is Ever's brother Bobby. Bobby played coached for a long time both in United States and Mexico as well. Bobby's now the assistant hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners. I worked with Ever back in 2009 and 10 with the Birmingham Barons. been a long time since we talked.

It was very nice to catch up with him.

Speaker 1 (01:32)
reading up on you, Ever Magallanes I did not realize that you played, from my count in Mexico for 12 years, correct?

Speaker 2 (01:41)
I think it is twice, 12 years, year-round in Mexico. started playing in Mexico in the summer in 1995. And then my last year in the summer was 2005. So I was playing year-round, winter ball and summer ball since 1995.

So yeah, that's a long time.

Speaker 1 (02:06)
I you were born in Mexico and moved to California, young correct?

Speaker 2 (02:13)
Yes, when I was two years old, my dad brought my mom and myself over to say Los Angeles and I was raised in Southern Cal, Los Angeles, the East Los Angeles area. We went to high school out there, went to junior college.

I two years to Cerritos Junior College in Southern California and then I transferred to Texas A &M. I went there, I went to Cerritos in 84, 85, and then Texas A &M, 1986, 1987. And it was awesome. Great, great experience.

Speaker 1 (02:46)
You were drafted twice, You were drafted after that third year of college and then again after your fourth year of college.

Speaker 2 (02:54)
Correct. Yep, correct. was drafted by the Mets my junior year. Decided not to sign. I came close, but I really didn't think that I was ready professionally and decided to come back and in playing summer ball in Alaska that summer and came back for my senior year and had a good year and I got drafted by Cleveland Indians.

Speaker 1 (03:18)
10th round 1987 with the Cleveland Indians.

Speaker 2 (03:20)
when I signed, I went to Kinston, North Carolina and then went back for my first full professional season in 1988. Signed in 87, went to Carolina League and then in 88, I went back.

for the full season in Kinston so I was there full season, played double A the following year and then was up and down a couple of times to triple A. That's in 1989, and then in 1990 I was up triple A the whole season, and then 91 as well.

Speaker 1 (03:55)
You get the call in 91,

Speaker 2 (03:57)
In 1991. May, I got called up.

Speaker 1 (04:03)
How many days were you in the big leagues?

Speaker 2 (04:06)
I was up there 11 days. 11 days. went by quick, but it was the best, you know, best 11 days that a professional player, baseball player could have. It was awesome. I had three plate appearances, 0 for 2 with a walk. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (04:22)
and

Speaker 2 (04:48)
Yeah, was actually my first assist Ricky Henderson. I came in as a defensive replacement and Ricky Henderson hit a ground ball to me and I was, it's kind of funny because, Ricky and I think they were beating us by,

nine runs or something. It was an eighth or ninth inning. I, ground ball Ricky Henderson and Ricky's pretty fast, obviously. And I said, I got to rid of this ball. Well, it was a routine ground ball that was hit at me. And I look up and Ricky's barely halfway down, was late in the game and he's barely jogging. I'm getting rid of the ball and you know, I throw Ricky out by like, a lot.

Speaker 1 (05:26)
That has to be a relief to look up and see him jogging because Ricky Henderson to you at second base. He could beat that out

Speaker 2 (05:32)
yeah, but that was my, you know, assist. didn't, I didn't get any starts, which would have been nice, And yeah, that was it. 11 days, man. It was awesome.

Speaker 1 (05:45)
What was the rest your 91 like? Did you think you were going to another chance to call back? I don't know what the Indians roster was or who they had there if there were injuries going through.

Speaker 2 (05:56)
So yeah, finished well. I I went back down and did well, up hitting okay there, 91 in AAA, Colorado Springs.

And so towards the end of the season, I broke my pinky, catching a ground ball on a bad hop. I just took a little hop that I wasn't expecting. put my hand in front and it nicked my pinky finger. it broke my pinky and played with it.

This was in August, So I kept on playing with it, kept on playing through it. And it just started getting, I couldn't grip a bat. And, left-handed. So it my bottom hand. So was basically, hitting with, three, four, fingers. And then it was starting to lag. So I ended up getting surgery at the end of the season,

and then I got taken, taken off the roster, I was debating whether or not to sign back with Cleveland or not, but I ended up, declaring free agency and I ended up, going over to the White Sox.

in 92.

Speaker 1 (07:02)
Was that the right choice for you? Go get yourself a fresh start.

Speaker 2 (07:06)
Yeah, I ended up, you know, I to big league camp with the White Sox as a non roster invitee and I ended up playing AAA that whole year and did okay. I didn't offensively fair all that well. I think I hit two 30, two 40, whatever it was. But I met, we had a good group guys season.

was okay, I ended up making playoffs, I met some really good friends, that I still, we still keep in touch. So I was there in 92 that whole year with the White Sox and AAA didn't get called up. And then the following year I signed with

the Texas Rangers, I was with Texas 93 and 94, the 93 season, 94 season in AA.

Speaker 1 (07:58)
How was the Ranger experience for two seasons?

Speaker 2 (08:00)
Good, was in double A split time both seasons between double A and triple A the majority of the time in double A. I once again, I played with some really good players in double A that end up having really good careers one of my friends that I still keep in touch with.

Benji Gill was a shortstop my, first year with the Rangers in AA. So I played second, he played shortstop. And then the following year, I signed back with the Rangers ended up going back to AA. and I was, paired double play combination with Rich Aurilia who ended up playing for a lot of years.

We actually roomed together on the road as well.

Yeah, Rusty Greer was one of my teammates.

Speaker 1 (08:41)
and Darren Oliver probably who know pitched in the big leagues for what seemed like forever

Speaker 2 (08:45)
Darren was on that team. just saw him last year at an event here in Arizona. yeah, was, there was some really good players and really good people, really good people. So it was a good experience.

Speaker 1 (09:00)
then after 94 is when you started your career south of the border. another, 12 or so years.

South of the border playing in Mexico. I've always had an interest in international baseball, be it Korea, Italy, Mexico.

And I could just probably sit here and listen to you for hours, talk about your experiences in Mexico.

Speaker 2 (09:20)
Well, one, probably the best thing was that I was making a living, decent living down there.

Speaker 1 (09:25)
How's the money compared to say being a triple-a baseball player in Oklahoma City at that time?

Speaker 2 (09:32)
If you've got a little bit of big league time, it depends on the team that you play for in the summer. At the time, there's probably four or five teams that paid really well. I was fortunate enough and blessed that I was on one of those teams, Monterey, Plus, the fact that I had some big league time helped when I negotiated my contract. So they paid me well.

And in the winter as well, when I went down there, had some good years, played in Culiacan That 95 season after, in the winter, I played in Culiacan did well. ended up winning the Caribbean World Series that year, 95-96

once you win, once you do well, you kind of establish yourself and you get the pay scale. It kind of doesn't get down, it just keeps on going up. that's kind when I started making money. And that's why, you know what, said, I can make a decent living down here.

So I stayed there and played a bunch more years and was making really good money and it paid for my first house. I ended up meeting my wife in Mexico. I played with her brother just kind of...

talked we ended up dating and ended up marrying her so.

Speaker 1 (10:53)
I saw a Caribbean Hall of Fame in 2013. That's quite an honor.

Speaker 2 (10:58)
Yeah, was actually I was surprised that when they called that I you know what I I had gone to four Caribbean World Series and My first one is my first year in the league

1988 and we ended up going to the Caribbean World Series with Mexicali and okay, you know, did okay, played second base. wasn't supposed to play our, being my first year, the regular second baseman, he got hurt the first game of the Caribbean World Series so

I came in and played the rest of the five games of the Caribbean World Series. Didn't fare very well offensively. But then I went again in my first year in Culiacan

1995 96 when the end winning it and did well and then went again the following year did well and then I went a fourth time I got picked up by Mexicali and they

picked me up for the Caribbean World Series, so I ended up playing with them, so it's four. when they called me, they said, hey, congratulations, you're gonna be inducted in the Caribbean World Series, hall the fame. I was like, wow, did I do that well? So I started going back going, you know what, I did do well. was going back, you know what, I hit, I got

this number hits and my first one and then this Caribbean World Series I did well and then two out of the three Caribbean World Series, actually three out of the four, I was voted the All-Star Second Baseman of the Caribbean World Series.

One of those years was over, I got it over Roberto Alomar. So that's my claim to fame.

Speaker 1 (12:53)
that's awesome

Speaker 2 (12:55)
So I was like, you know, I was honored. Caribbean World Series, Hall of Fame, which was an incredible honor. You know, I didn't realize it until I went down there and for the ceremony and everything else. And I found out who else has been inducted. And I'm like, wow, that's

pretty decent company. very honored, very blessed, very humbled to be enshrined with a lot of players that have had big league careers and did well in those Caribbean World Series as well.

Speaker 1 (13:31)
and that's never going go away the Hall of Fame isn't a seasonal thing like you're gonna have that forever

it's getting toward the end you played professional baseball for a long time. When and how did you realize that, your time as a player might be time to move on to something else and move on,

Speaker 2 (13:46)
You know what, JP, it was a culmination of a couple of things factored into my, retiring or, starting my coaching career, managerial career. One was my last year was 2005 playing. I tore my Achilles tendon in summer, Mexican league in 2005. So I was rehabbing that.

And then I was getting ready to play winter ball. So I rehabbed my Achilles tendon, And I was, you know, getting ready to play. But then my brother called. My brother Bobby was working at the time for the Angels And he said, Hey bro there's a position that's going to open in rookie ball the managerial position in the Arizona league.

is gonna open up next year. No one knows yet, but I he goes I I do know the You know the managers not gonna be there. He's gonna get promoted. So that's gonna open up a spot Do you want me to throw your name in the hat?

And I said, know what, let me think about it. He goes, because if you do, you have to let me know if you're ready to full board you gotta be all in. You gotta be all in.

I said, you know what, let me give you a call back. So I called him up the next day. I told my brother, said, yep. I said, throw my name in the hat. So I got interviewed for the job. And I ended up getting the job, I think, a day later after the interview.

Speaker 1 (15:09)
Is that

so it wasn't too much of an internal debate. it took a day to sleep on it to say it's time to start something else. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (15:17)
Yeah,

and so, but playing that year before, my body was just getting beat up. So I was close I was already kind of in the back of my head thinking, you know, this might be my last couple of years playing anyway. But I was making decent money, so it's kind of hard to give that up. So as long as they kept on playing, you know, was doing well. My body was still halfway decent. You know, I was getting beat up a little bit, but...

I was getting paid well, you know what? I'll play one more year. And then I played, you know, played another year and that's when I tore my Achilles and I think you know what? I think I'm done. I think I'm done. So the combination of my injury, blowing out my Achilles tendon and then that job that opened up with the Angels that just, brought it all together. And I said, you know what? That's it for me.

Speaker 1 (16:07)
You spent three years with the Angels moved over to the White Sox for quite a while, and then now you're back with the Angels

Speaker 2 (16:13)
the

Speaker 1 (16:21)
what goes into your decision making as far as changing organizations from the Angels to the White Sox and then back? I don't know the financials behind what a minor league manager, coach or roving instructor makes, but I know it can't be a ton. what goes into the decision making for you?

Speaker 2 (16:38)
Well, me, you don't make a whole lot of money in the minor leagues as a coach. You don't. I knew that going in when I signed. So that's why I was like, when I'm going to save up enough money, when I was playing in Mexico, so when I do decide to make the transition into coaching, I'll be OK.

My first couple, starting out. I didn't make a whole lot of money with the Angels, but my third year, my last year I was managing in, in Rancho Cucamonga, with the Angels and the White Sox came in and asked permission, asked our farm director,

permission to talk to me about a position with the White Sox. So they said yes and I ended up interviewing and talking to the White Sox, to the farm director and it was Buddy Bell, I don't know if you know Buddy. Buddy offered me the AA managing job in Birmingham in 2009 and it was more money, it was a multi-year contract.

you know, spring training was going to be, you know, seven minutes away from where I was living. was, it was, it was kind of a no brainer. I talked about it and we ended up, deciding that this was the best thing for, for our family, for myself, financially,

So I ended up signing. I ended up, you know, signing with the White Sox and, left in good terms with the Angels. answer your question. Sometimes financially it into play or an opportunity to manage at a higher level comes into play.

Speaker 1 (18:10)
I guess it's kind of the same as any job. If you're a web designer or a chef, you know, kind of have to keep your options open so that, you know, you keep options open to do what's best for you and what's best for your family. Similar scenarios.

Speaker 2 (18:25)
all of you have to factor all that in, you know, obviously money is, is probably the main thing, you know, also, you know, being, being in a place where, you're valued and, and you're comfortable,

I ended up talking to the farm director with the Angels calling, them up and, hey, this is what they offered me. And They just said, you know, we can't match that. So you ended up signing with the White Sox My mind was made up anyway, but.

I was kind of hoping maybe they would, hey, what would they take to keep you here? I think financially they weren't in a place where they could match that.

Speaker 1 (19:01)
That's interesting to me because I didn't know how different the pay would be between organization the organization had the other benefits and perks and whatnot but I guess it is pretty much the same as if you're Deciding to leave Walmart to go work at Target or is any other kind of career that's out there in civilian life

Speaker 2 (19:17)
Yep, absolutely.

Speaker 1 (19:19)
so now you're back with the Angels

Speaker 2 (19:20)
absolutely. it being Arizona's it's perfect. Obviously, you know, being with the team in Arizona, I live in the West Valley, Phoenix. So interviewed, with a couple of teams after my 21 season with the White Sox,

you know, the Angels were, the best team they offered. It was the best, offer. And I felt wanted. felt, you know, it's been, it's been great. It's been great. So, you know, I'm happy that I, that I ended up, signed with the Angels and you know, it's a little bit farther drive than when I was with the White Sox for spring training or the season, but, I get to be home every night.

Speaker 1 (19:58)
Good for you man, glad you found something that seems like you're really content with where you are.

Speaker 2 (20:04)
Yeah, I'm happy man. happy. get to be home. I get to see my my daughter have her first at bat in you know middle school softball or my son's you know soccer games taking them to school in morning picking them up. You know those things you can't they grow up so quick and you know already missed you know some things when I was you know traveling so I don't want to miss you know some important.

milestones in their lives. For me, this is perfect here.

Speaker 1 (20:35)
when the world baseball classic was invented, man, that was exciting. And watching that as a fan and always wanting to get to go to game, but I haven't quite had the opportunity. I'm getting these the Miami games. I'm like three hours from Miami. I'm getting to some of those games in the next WBC.

Speaker 2 (20:51)
I've been part of the coaching staff for three times for Team Mexico.

Speaker 1 (20:59)
the

Speaker 2 (21:00)
Yeah, well, yeah, I actually managed, I was manager for the Mexican national team in,

2012, 2013. managed Team Mexico in the Central American games. It was in Veracruz, Mexico. So I had a chance, to manage the team in the Mexican national team. But yeah, so it's been that and then three classics.

Speaker 1 (21:19)
That's awesome

Speaker 2 (21:31)
It's been great experience, incredible experience, very blessed.

Speaker 1 (21:36)
Watching that on TV is amazing. I can't imagine going to a game and I cannot imagine being on the field for those games.

Speaker 2 (21:42)
It's incredible man. we played, I'll tell you a quick story. played, was it 2009? I was coaching third base. My second classic. I was coaching third base and we were playing against the USA team and the first round was

in here in Phoenix and we played at Chase Field. So you can just imagine it was packed. was packed. And, people are on every pitch just yelling, you know, every at bat.

So probably I think it was like the second or third inning. David Wright is playing third base for the USA team.

Speaker 1 (22:28)
Captain America

Speaker 2 (22:29)
He's taking ground balls and I go over, stand close to third base and he comes over in between innings and he's looking up in the stands and I go, what do you think Dave? How do you like this experience? He goes, I would do this if they asked me every year I would play in this. This is awesome. this is like a World Series type atmosphere.

And one and out, I mean, you gotta win. You know, got, you know, one, it's not like, best four out of seven, it's really intense. It's really intense. It's a, it's an incredible experience, man.

Yeah, yeah, we were there. We were two outs away from and shock in the world and we lost to Japan. Classic three years ago,

Speaker 1 (23:11)
It's been great talking about your your career. And I've learned so much about about you. And this is a great, interesting story that you have. Now, I'm going to wrap it up with two standardized questions that I have that I want to ask every person I talk to.

with all your experiences that you've had in college, professional baseball as a player and as a coach, if you could call 20-year-old you and give that 20-year-old you some advice, what would you give him from what you've learned?

Speaker 2 (23:43)
I would say never, never give up on your dream. don't give up on your dream of playing in the major leagues until someone just takes that uniform away from you. As long as you have uniform, you've got a chance. I think that's what I would tell me as a 20 year old.

I would tell anybody coming up, as long as you have a uniform on, you have a chance to play in the big leagues. If you know, obviously you go about it the right way and you know, you're doing well. But as long as you have a uniform on, you've got a chance. So think that's what I would tell, never give up. It doesn't matter how old you are. There's guys that make it to the big leagues at 30 years old, know, 31,

Speaker 1 (24:26)
Now the second question, it's similar to that, but it's probably a little harder. If you could call up Ever Magallanes from about 2004, 2003, four or five, when the playing career is kind of dwindling down, what would you give to 2004 Ever Magallanes advice for the next step?

Speaker 2 (24:49)
Gosh that's towards towards The end of my career I was 30 what 36 7 8 So, you know body starts feeling you know old you get up and Just another part of body starts aching. You're like wow, I never knew I could ache there. But anyway,

I would probably say just if retirement or giving up, the game is getting close, I would make sure that I just grind it out and got every ounce of playing out of my body, I'm gonna drive it to the wheels fall off, know?

Speaker 1 (25:27)
You could have driven it for another couple more seasons, then that opportunity with the Angels wouldn't have been there anymore. So maybe you the best advice would be to just to do what you did.

Speaker 2 (25:33)
Yeah.

Yeah, exactly. think it was. and God for me right now is first and foremost. So God puts things in your path, people in your path, and He gives you signs and He tells you it's not what you want, it's what God wants for you and in His time. So I think He kind of told me at that time that I

this is, this is it for you. Cause I think if I would have came back, I wouldn't have been, the same, player. I rehabbed it and I think, I would have played, but I wouldn't have played at a level where I was used to playing, and I didn't want to just play for the money,

towards that last year or last couple of years. So the opportunity came up to manage and combined with me thinking already about retiring. of, both those things just kind of.

came together and I ended up coaching,

So when you do, switch over to, you know, coaching, you're not going to have any regrets. You're not going to be wanting, gosh, I would have played one more year or gosh,

you want to go out and take batting practice with the guys or still be one, you know, it's out of me and it was, it was out of me once I decided and I never looked back.

Speaker 1 (26:55)
That's just that's just great to hear that somebody's Advice if they were to speak to themselves 20 years earlier. It would be just do what you did Yeah, you did it be played it perfectly and that's exactly what it sounds like you're saying that you really just played your cards perfectly

Speaker 2 (27:12)
Yeah, like I said, God put it in my path and my brother was a big reason, big help, big reason. He's been a big, not just because he's my brother, but a big part of my life my best friends. And the advice that he's given me and the opportunities, he helped me get my first coaching job. I had other opportunities with other teams, but this was perfect.

perfect opportunity for me and my family and where to start.

Speaker 1 (27:47)
Well, Ever made be honest, you're at home. It's spring training time. You've had a long day. It's time to go see your family and catch up with them. So I'm going to let you go. been a pleasure. talking to you and thank you for so much of your time today. And it's been nice reconnecting with you. It's also getting to know aspects of your life that I should have known. It's been an absolute pleasure talking to you,

Speaker 2 (28:09)
Well, JP, thank you for calling me up and including me in your project. please stay in touch, man. It was great hearing from you. And like I said, baseball puts people in your life. And that's kind one of the things that I've been really, truly blessed that I've

people that I've met, friends that I have, have been through baseball, relationships that I've had over the course of my coaching career. And you're one of them, dude, so you're a great person. please say hi.

Alright man, there's anything else let me know man, okay?

Speaker 1 (29:08)
Yes, yes sir, I sure will.