Andújar Cedeño
When the Houston Astros signed Andújar Cedeño out of the Dominican Republic in 1986, their manager, Hal Lanier, said what many were thinking: “He’s got a lot to live up to.”1 After all, Dominicans Joaquín Andújar and César Cedeño (no relation) had each been big-league standouts. Although Andújar Cedeño never became an All-Star like his similarly named countrymen, the shortstop spent all or part of seven seasons (1990-1996) in the majors. His winter-ball success for his hometown Azucareros del Este earned Cedeño the nickname “El Hombre” (The Man). More than two decades after his tragic death at age 31, that team still recalled him as its “eterno capitán” (eternal captain).2
Andújar Cedeño Donastorg was born on August 21, 1969, in La Romana, a port city about 75 miles east of Santo Domingo.3 His father, Feliciano Cedeño, operated a colmado – a small, neighborhood grocery store – with the assistance of his wife, Ana Donastorg. They had five children, three boys and two girls. Aleida and Evelin were Andújar’s sisters. His older brother, Domingo, reached the majors, too. “We played all the time when we were little,” Domingo said.4 Younger brother Eduardo also played professional baseball, peaking in Class A.
“When I was a kid, I played with no uniform, no ball, no bats, no nothing,” Andújar recalled.