Eric Gutierrez, Miami Marlins (Retired) First Baseman, Red Raiders Coach

Lefty-throwing, righty-hitting first baseman Eric Gutierrez started the 2018 season with the single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, then retired two months later.

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 175 of 286. For the first 100, click here.

Eric Rigoberto Gutierrez is a 5’8″, 195 lb. first baseman from McAllen, Texas. He attended Sharyland HS in Mission, Texas, and played college ball for Texas Tech University, in Lubbock, Texas. Born on December 28th, 1993, Gutierrez was a 20th round choice of the Miami Marlins in the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft. You can follow Gutierrez on Twitter @Ericgute12.

Gutierrez was thrice named to the Big 12 Conference All-Conference Team, following his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, respectively. In 244 games of Division I work, he slashed .302/.423/.505, with 36 round-trippers and 193 RBI. He also hit 52 home runs in the 2014 College Home Run Derby.

Gutierrez was the 593rd player off the board overall. Only two players chosen at that spot in the draft have advanced to the majors. Jerald Clark (1984, Los Angeles Dodgers, 3.1 career WAR), and Bronswell Patrick (1988, Oakland Athletics, -0.2 WAR).

After coming to terms with the Miami Marlins, Gutierrez was assigned to the Batavia Muckdogs, in the short-season-A New York-Penn League. He played in 54 games at the level, starting 50 times at first base. His stats suffered correspondingly to his professional debut, with a .218/.300/.361 slashline and five homers with 34 RBI. Defensively, he turned in a .987 fielding percentage with a solid 9.14 range factor.

2017 would see Gutierrez join the South Atlantic League’s Grasshoppers for the first time, and remain there all season. He ended up ranking fourth on the club with 90 appearances, and helped lead the team to a 75-61 record and a SAL Northern Division title. His slash stats improved to .258/.341/.366, and he only struck out 14.1 percent of the time. That was the second best number on the club, trailing only outfielder Brian Miller‘s mark of 13.6.

More from Marlins News

The first three weeks of 2018 would see Gutierrez remain with Greensboro and hit .264/.308/.403, followed by another promotion. On April 27th, he joined the high-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League, and played in 32 games for them. He posted the best slashline of his time in the pros, going .292/.375/.415 with only 12 strikeouts in 120 plate appearances. On June 20th, he announced his retirement from professional baseball.

Gutierrez didn’t have to wait long to find gainful employment. He rejoined his alma mater and is now an assistant coach for the Red Raiders.

We are extremely excited for Gute to be joining our staff and program. His work ethic & passion for the game and this university should serve our program well. – Coach Tadlock, Texas Tech, as quoted by Rob Breaux

Of course, if Gutierrez so desires, he can sign with any organization to continue his professional career.

Next. Sean Guenther's 2018 Miami Marlins Season. dark

Thanks for reading. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our daily newsletter to keep up with the Miami Marlins.

Home / Marlins News