Raúl Casanova

Thanks to Giacomo Girolamo’s lecherous lifestyle, “Casanova” has become shorthand for a lothario prone to incorrigible womanizing. The term, however, literally translates “new house” or “new home” in Italian. This meaning is much more adequate for Raúl Casanova, whose 21-year professional career included stints with nearly 30 teams in the major, minor, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Mexican leagues.

Raúl Casanova was born on August 23, 1972, in Humacao, a town on Puerto Rico’s eastern coast. Casanova and his older brother were raised in Ponce by his maternal grandmother, Bertha Irizarry, after their mother, Silvia Pou, left the island to pursue better economic opportunities in New York City.

Raúl would hurry home after school to watch the New York Mets on television. His New York City-raised grandmother was a devoted fan, thanks to the abundance of telecasts on cable television, and together they cheered the 1980s Mets.

When he was about 8 years old, Casanova attended a clinic by former Ponce Leones player Enrique “Quique” Rivera, who promptly assigned the skinny, tall kid to catching duties.1 Casanova took to the position quickly: “Since then, I only played as a catcher. I liked it because you’re always in the action, receiving the pitches, paying attention to the manager’s signals … and giving signals to my own teammates.”2 Irizarry would attend her grandson’s baseball practice and avidly cheer from the sidelines: “I remember one time I hit a long home run and she almost fainted, she was so happy. They had to bring her water! She was famous in the parks we played, everyone could her rooting, ‘C’mon Rául, hit it in the hole!’”3

Casanova idolized Rubén Sierra, with whom he would later play with the Santurce Cangrejeros (Crabbers) in 1994-1995 and the Detroit Tigers (in 1996). Montréal Expos scout Pepito Centeno took Casanova under his wing and encouraged him to play with a team in the San Juan metropolitan area. Casanova would play Saturday and Sunday and then return to his grandmother’s house on Sunday evenings. He credits the 90-minute car ride with facilitating his career, as “baseball was more competitive in the San Juan area than in the southern portion (of the island). That helped me develop as a player … and to be determined about improving my skills.”4 In 1989, he played for the Río Piedras 134 team, which lost in the title game against Woodland Hills in the American Legion Baseball tournament.5

By his late teens, Casanova had grown to 6-feet and 200 pounds. Besides Centeno and the Expos, Kansas City Royals birddog Johnny Ramos scouted the prospect. Shortly after Casanova’s Ponce High School graduation, Luis Rosa and Rosendo “Junior” Román persuaded the New York Mets to choose the youngster in the eighth round of the 1990 amateur draft.

Casanova was shocked by the news: “I was young, so I didn’t know how (the baseball business) worked. My grandmother was very emotional, since it was her team. … It was a great blessing. I ran out to the streets and told everyone I had been drafted!”6 The $40,000 signing bonus, paltry by today’s standards, greatly helped the family, which lived in Section 8 housing and received additional government assistance.

Within a week of signing, Casanova reported to the instructional league. Away from his family for the first time, he struggled in 23 games with the Gulf Coast League Mets (5-for-65, no extra-base hits). Cuban American John Tamargo and Puerto Rican Román, Casanova’s first two managers in the Mets organization, helped him transition to the new culture.

In 1991 Casanova improved to .243 in 32 games in the GCL but managed only one hit in 18 at-bats for Kingsport in the Appalachian League. He improved to .270/.401/.438 for Kingsport in 1992 and enjoyed a five-game call-up with Class-A Columbia. More importantly, he tried switch-hitting: “I had finished my batting cage routine and started messing around from the left side. Our catching instructor, John Gibbons, saw me and said, ‘Wait a second, let me get the hitting coach.’ A few swings later, they suggested I try it, reasoning I had nothing to lose since it was still the instructional league.”7

On December 7, 1992, the Mets sent Casanova to San Diego as the player to be named later to complete a trade for infielder Tony Fernández.8 Casanova hit .265 in 76 games with the Class-A Waterloo Diamonds in 1993. He played with Santurce in the 1992-1993 and 1993-1994 Puerto Rico Winter League (PRWL) seasons.

Casanova enjoyed his finest professional campaign in 1994 with the Class-A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Minor-league hitting coach Tom Robson, who had worked with Sierra in the Texas Rangers organization, altered Casanova’s batting stance to unlock his power. Because of a nagging injury to his throwing elbow, he was the primary DH in the first half of the season, which allowed him to concentrate on hitting. By July 14, he had broken the team’s single-season home-run record and had driven in 87 runs. However, he also excelled behind the plate and threw out four baserunners in the first three innings of a June 11 game.9

Casanova was chosen as the Padres’ minor-league player of the year, made the California League all-star team, and won the batting title. He did not go two straight games without a hit in last the 56 games of the season to finish at .340 with a team-high 23 home runs and 120 RBIs.10 He was even more dominant in the postseason (.485, 3 home runs, 12 RBIs in eight games) as the Quakes won the California League title. League managers named him the “Most Dangerous Hitter” and the runner-up in the “Hitter with the Best Power,” “Best Batting Prospect,” and “Best Defensive Catcher” awards.11

Teammate Bill Anderson singled out Casanova as the player who awed him the most: “What an unbelievable presence in the locker room and on the field.”12 The Padres added him to the 40-man roster after the season, and manager Tim Flannery was effusive in his praise: “You build ballclubs around guys like him. In my mind, he has made himself the top prospect in the organization.”13 Casanova was grateful for Flannery’s vote of confidence: “He fought for me to be the DH … and he helped me to better understand the game. He was very positive, always keen on the little things. He greatly boosted my confidence and was key in my development.”14 Casanova returned to Puerto Rico and played with Santurce in the 1994-1995 season but saw sporadic playing time as Junior Ortiz’s backup.15

In 1995 Baseball America ranked Casanova the 60th best prospect in the minor leagues (and second-best in the San Diego system).16 He was solid with Double-A Memphis, but not spectacular, slashing .271/.330/.448 in 89 games. Since the Padres had Brad Ausmus, a capable young catcher, as their starter, they felt no need to rush Casanova. He played with the Caguas Criollos under Sandy Alomar Sr., whom he credited as his best PRWL manager: “He gave me the opportunity as a rookie. He always taught and spoke about the positive aspects of the game. I learned a lot from him, and my confidence grew. I only played for a year with him, but afterwards, whenever he’d see me, he would continue to give me advice.”17

On March 22, 1996, San Diego traded Casanova to the Tigers in a six-player transaction. The Padres received Cade Gaspar, Sean Bergman, and Todd Steverson while Detroit also obtained Richie Lewis and Melvin Nieves. Tigers GM Randy Smith, newly hired from San Diego, was well-versed in the Padres farm system. He called the swap a “foundation for the future” despite “a lot of inexperienced players on both ends.”18

Casanova played eight games with Double-A Jacksonville (10-for-32) and was soon promoted to Triple-A Toledo. He was 3-for-4 with a double and a home run in a May 20 exhibition game between Toledo and the Tigers, prompting a call-up to the major leagues. According to Casanova, manager Bill Plummer “called me a few days later and asked me to come to the park very early … so I arrived, and I’m told, ‘You’re going to the big leagues.’ I got goosebumps … started crying, and my mind raced to memories of those who helped me get to this stage, but first and foremost was my grandmother, who raised me. In Detroit, my locker was next to Cecil Fielder’s. … All I did was listen to him, Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker.”19 Sadly, Casanova’s grandmother had died and was unable to see their dream fulfilled.

Casanova debuted for the Tigers on May 24, 1996, against the Cleveland Indians as the designated hitter. He fought the customary nerves: “Even though people couldn’t see it, my knees were shaking, but I settled down after that first at-bat. Detroit was predominantly an African American city and I was given a Barry White song (“Casanova”) that stuck with me. The fans liked the song and started singing along when I came to the plate.”20 He struck out on three pitches against Brian Anderson in his first at-bat and was hitless in the next three, but almost got a hit in his last appearance with a line drive that Albert Belle, a notoriously poor fielder, caught before it hit the grass. He was the starting catcher the next day and walked in his last plate appearance.

Casanova started 0-for-10 as Baseball Weekly fretted that he “might represent management’s first premature call-up,” though it noted “[G]ood defensive mechanics but needs work at the plate.”21 He broke through against Kansas City with a single off Tim Belcher on May 27 for his first major-league hit. Two days later, a seventh-inning solo home run off Kevin Appier tied the game before Nieves drove in the winning run in the eighth.

On June 6 Casanova became the 73rd player to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game.22 Both his third-inning shot against right-hander Jimmy Haynes and his seventh-inning blast against left-hander Rick Krivda were in vain as the Orioles bested the Tigers, 13-6.23 It was be the only time in his major-league career that Casanova hit two home runs in one game, and the feat may have bought him some additional time on the big-league roster. But a freak injury derailed his rookie season. While swinging a bat in the clubhouse, Casanova fractured a bone in his left wrist and spent two months on the disabled list. In his absence, Smith traded for Ausmus, but Detroit recalled Casanova in September. He ended the season with a .188 batting average in 25 games.

Detroit traded Ausmus to Houston during the winter meetings. While the Tigers envisioned Casanova as their future catcher, they optioned him to Toledo to begin the 1997 season. After 12 games in Triple A, he was called up when Matt Walbeck broke his wrist. Despite trepidation given his struggles the prior year, Bell and Smith “would rather see Casanova get at-bats every day, but they didn’t want to send a message that would affect his confidence.”24 Casanova caught a career-high 92 games (and appeared in nine others). He enjoyed a trio of three-hit games and a nine-game hitting streak in late May to early June but cooled off in July to end the season with .243/.308/.332 averages.

In 1998 a poor start (.143 in April) and injuries limited Casanova to 16 games with the Tigers and 50 with Toledo. Detroit had signed veteran Joe Oliver to “push Casanova a little bit,” but Paul Bako ended up catching most of the team’s games.25

A rib fracture sidelined Casanova in the first half of 1999. He appeared in 44 games with Toledo, a pair with the GCL Tigers, and four with Class-A Advanced Lakeland. He became a free agent on October 15, and two months later signed with the Colorado Rockies.

Casanova hit .331 and won the 1999-2000 PRWL batting title for his hometown Leones.26 At the time, he was the fifth catcher to pace the league in hitting.27 He cherished the opportunity to play at home: “The stadium was five minutes away from my house. The owners (the Muñoz family) treated me very well, with a lot of respect. Those years were spectacular. … I had a lot of fun and developed greatly as a player.”28 Santurce added him to its roster for the Caribbean Series, which the Crabbers dominated (unbeaten in six games) as Casanova hit .313 with 6 RBIs.29

Despite his winter-league success, the Rockies released Casanova at the end of spring training. He signed with Milwaukee and had a strong comeback year in 2000. He played in 86 games and drove in a career-high 36 runs while sharing catching duties with Henry Blanco, a better defender but weaker hitter.

On June 12 Casanova had three hits and three RBIs against the Montréal Expos. He hit his first career grand slam a day later, the only runs Milwaukee scored in a 9-4 defeat. On August 2 he doubled to break a 4-4 tie against the San Francisco Giants in a 6-4 Brewers victory. Manager Davey Lopes lauded his catcher, noting, “He’s been doing an outstanding job ever since we brought him up the big leagues. He’s had several chances before but has failed. … This is a new lease on life for him. … Right now, he’s a guy you like to see at the plate on these situations.”30

In the last game at Milwaukee County Stadium, on September 28, 2000, Casanova had the team’s last two hits and last run, the lone Brewer to cross the plate in an 8-1 loss to San Diego.

In 2001 Casanova slashed .260/.303/.484 in 71 games with a career-high 11 home runs but missed the last two months of the regular season with cartilage damage in his left knee. The Brewers re-signed him for $800,000 during the offseason.

Before the 2002 season, the Brewers traded Blanco to the Atlanta Braves for Bako, but Casanova endured his worst year since 1998. A rare highlight came on April 7, a single off Curt Schilling in the third inning of a scoreless game. Schilling allowed no other safeties, walking two and striking out 17 for his second career one-hitter.

Casanova hit a grand slam on May 12 against the Cubs but suffered a miserable start (16-for-87). After a three-month stint on the disabled list with a torn UCL, Milwaukee released him on September 3. Eight days later, he signed with Baltimore and appeared in two games but struck out in his sole plate appearance. The club released him on October 1.

Casanova spent the next two years in the minors with the Rockies (2003), Orioles (2003), Red Sox (2004), and Royals (2004) organizations. Though he hit .296 in 2003 and .310 in 2004, he was not promoted to the major leagues. In 2004 he led the PRWL in RBIs as the primary DH (sharing catching dues with José “Cheo” Molina) for the title-winning Ponce team, managed by José Cruz Sr.

The White Sox signed Casanova to a minor-league deal on February 17, 2005. He was solid in 70 games with Triple-A Charlotte (.266/.326/.489) but the parent club, which led the AL Central wire-to-wire, was set at catcher with A.J. Pierzynski (18 home runs in 460 at-bats) and capable backup Chris Widger (.241 in 45 games). On the last day of spring training, GM Ken Williams had told Casanova, “Raúl, if you do a good job, I’ll bring you up.”31

The club called up Casanova in September once rosters expanded. He appeared in six games, five as a defensive replacement and one as a pinch-hitter. Behind the plate, he fielded nine chances without an error in 14 innings. Chicago was 5-1 in his appearances and Casanova went 1-for-5 at the plate, his lone hit being a single against the Angels on September 10.

Casanova recalled his White Sox experience fondly: “It was a wonderful learning experience. I had the opportunity to be surrounded by many talented teammates. It was an unforgettable year. Once the game started, we were unbeatable. Ozzie Guillén kept the team relaxed and with a good attitude.”32 The manager “did not pressure us, he gave us good advice. … Whenever he would get upset with us, it was with the goal of improving our play.”33

Casanova enjoyed the camaraderie with Guillén, third-base coach Joey Cora, and pitchers Orlando “El Duque” Hernández, José Contreras, and Freddy García. Though he was not on the postseason roster, he was on the reserve list, capable of being activated in case of injuries to the White Sox catchers, and received a World Series ring.

Granted free agency after the World Series, Casanova signed with the Oakland Athletics on January 5, 2006. He played eight games in the minors (9-for-34). Oakland did not call him up and did not re-sign him at the end of the season. Casanova won the MVP award in 2006-07, this time with Caguas.34

Casanova agreed to terms with Tampa Bay on January 12, 2007. He was solid with Triple-A Durham (.291/.346/.461) and received a midseason promotion to the major leagues when backup receiver Josh Paul sprained his left elbow. Casanova appeared in 21 games in June and July and hit six home runs. He returned to the majors in mid-September but managed only one extra-base hit in 24 at-bats. In 89 plate appearances with Tampa Bay, he hit .253/.315/.519.

Casanova played in the Dominican Republic Winter League during the 2007-08 season. His .355 on-base percentage was solid, but he had only four extra base-hits among his 28 singles for the Leones (Lions) del Escogido.

Casanova signed with the New York Mets organization on December 4, 2007, coming full circle to his first professional franchise. He broke camp with the parent club in 2008 and played in 20 games through early June. In his last major-league game, on June 8 against the San Diego Padres, he was 1-for-3 with a single and a walk. His last home run, off John Smoltz, was memorable: “I went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. … I thought, ‘Hey, today I’ll be the Player of the Game … but then Carlos Delgado hit two home runs!”35

Although Casanova’s.344 OBP was respectable for a catcher, the Mets optioned him to Triple-A New Orleans given his anemic power output (one home run, two doubles in 61 plate appearances). He hit .295 with the Zephyrs in 44 games but did not return to the major leagues, despite lackluster numbers from Brian Schneider, Ramón Castro, and Robinson Cancel with the parent club.

The Mets granted Casanova free agency on September 30, and he ended his major-league career with 387 games played, 255 hits, 98 runs scored, and a .236 batting average. Though he wished his career had been more successful, he nevertheless “gives thank to God. When a player suffers a lot of injuries, he is typically sent down to the minors and eventually released. I had many opportunities as people saw my talent, the sacrifices I made, and how seriously I approached the game.”36

Casanova played in the (summer) Mexican League in 2009 with the Tigres (Tigers) of Quintana Roo. After 64 games (.267/.373/.403) the club released him on June 15. He signed with Reynosa for the stretch run 10 days later and was spectacular in 31 contests for the Broncos (.342/.418/.513). He went 6-for-22 as Reynosa fell in the first round of the playoffs to Saltillo.37

Casanova retired from the PRWL after the 2010-11 season, which he split between Mayaguez and Ponce. To Casanova, the PRWL “was everything. It helped me develop as a player. I worked at all of things I need to improve, especially hitting from the right side and throwing to second base. … When you play against such fine competition, it’s imperative to learn as otherwise you’ll be on the bench.”38

Casanova concluded his playing career with the Patillas Leones of the Puerto Rico semiprofessional league (Liga Béisbol Doble-A de Puerto Rico) in 2010. A year later, he managed the Maunabo Jueyeros (Crabbers) to the championship, and led the Las Piedras Artesanos (Artisans) in 2014 and the Fajardo Cariduros in 2022.

In 2021 Casanova served as an envoy to Ecuador as part of the US State Department’s sports diplomacy program.39 As of 2024, he lived in the San Juan metropolitan area with his second wife, Mariela González, and five sons. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior in 2011 and operates two businesses named El Shaddai (a name for God found in the Book of Genesis): a restaurant and a hitting center that offers batting and catching instruction. The latter, a lifelong ambition, is a source of pride and joy: “I love what I do. I understand the need to teach. … Puerto Rico lags in the production of baseball players. I met with Commissioner (Rob) Manfred (and others) and was asked, ‘How come Puerto Rico is not producing many players?’ My answer was that Puerto Rico has a lot of talent … but the coaching from ages 8-14 is lacking. You can’t expect a young kid who does not get the right training to suddenly become a stud at 15. I’d love to run seminars for coaches.”40

Last revised: March 1, 2025

 

Acknowledgments

Raúl Casanova for answering the author’s questions via text message.

 

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author consulted Baseball-Reference.com, thebaseballcube.com, and beisbol101.com.

 

Notes

1 Rivera played eight seasons in the minor leagues, mostly with the St. Louis Cardinals.

2 “Raúl Casanova, un maestro con el bate que comparte la palabra de Dios en el mundo del béisbol,” Baseball Ahora, YouTube, July 6, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GKCavDjW58.

3 “Raúl Casanova, un maestro con el bate que comparte la palabra de Dios en el mundo del béisbol.”

4 “Raúl Casanova en vivo,” Baseball Fogueo PR, https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=280342146414113.

5 American Legion Baseball National Champions, https://www.legion.org/documents/baseball/national_champions.pdf.

6 “Raúl Casanova en vivo,” Baseball Fogueo PR.

7 “Raúl Casanova, un maestro con el bate que comparte la palabra de Dios en el mundo del béisbol,” Baseball Ahora.

8 Casanova was the player to be named later; Wally Whitehurst and D.J. Dozier had been originally included in the transaction.

9 Back of 1996 Bowman Foil #352 baseball card, https://www.tcdb.com/GalleryP.cfm/pid/20195/Raul-Casanova?ColType=0&sYear=0&sTeam=&sCardNum=&sNote=&sSetName=&sBrand=&PageIndex=4#google_vignette.

10 Bruce Chick (.372) and Jason Thompson (.360) had fewer than 300 plate appearances.

11 “Quakes’ Casanova Wins Honor,” San Bernardino (California) Sun, September 21, 1994: C2.

12 David Blow, “Blow by Blow,” Lulu Publishing Services, 2013: 157.

13 Baseball Digest, March 1995, https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=casanra01

14 “Raúl Casanova en vivo,” Baseball Fogueo PR.

15 After winning the 1994-1995 PRWL title, Santurce outscored its opponents, 55-15, in the Caribbean Series, winning all its six games.

16 The Baseball Cube, Raúl Casanova page, https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/prospects_team_year/1995~24~BA/.

17 “Raúl Casanova, un maestro con el bate que comparte la palabra de Dios en el mundo del béisbol,” Baseball Ahora.

18 Associated Press, “Tigers Swap with A’s, Padres,” Kokomo (Indiana) Tribune, March 23, 1996: B4.

19 “Mi primera tacita de café (My first cup of coffee),” February 2023, https://open.spotify.com/episode/3QF3vK7IMP9ku0hxjPthKw.

20 “Mi primera tacita de café.”

21 Reid Creager, “Detroit Tigers, A.L. East,” USA Today Baseball Weekly, June 3, 1993: 31.

22 “Home Runs from Both Sides of the Plate in One Game,” Baseball Almanac, https://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats20.shtml.

23 Baltimore Orioles 13, Detroit Tigers 6, June 6, 1996, https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1996/B06060BAL1996.htm.

24 Redi Creager, “Catch-22: Casanova Gets Reluctant Call,” The Sporting News, April 28, 1997: 34.

25 Tom Gage, “Baseball: Tigers,” The Sporting News, January 5, 1998: 68.

26 Jorge Colón-Delgado, “Valores del año 2020-21,” Béisbol101, January 11, 2021, https://beisbol101.com/valores-del-ano-2020-21-johneshwy-fargas-hace-historia/.

27 He was preceded by Josh Gibson (1941-42), Brian Harper (1982-83), Orlando Sánchez (1984-85), and Héctor Villanueva (1990-91). Jonathan Morales (2020-2021) was the sixth (and last through 2023).

28 “Raúl Casanova, un maestro con el bate que comparte la palabra de Dios en el mundo del béisbol,” Baseball Ahora.

29 Tom Van Hyning, “Comparing the February 1995 ‘Dream Team’ to February 2000 Santurce Cangrejeros,” Béisbol 101, March 8, 2019, https://beisbol101.com/comparing-the-february-1995-dream-team-to-february-2000-santurce-cangrejeros/.

30 Associated Press, “When Good Road Tips Go Bad: Giants Lose Finale,” Santa Cruz (California) Sentinel, August 3, 2000: D1.

31 “Raúl Casanova en vivo,” Baseball Fogueo PR.

32 Text message conversation between Raúl Casanova and the author, May 4, 2024.

33 “Raúl Casanova, un maestro con el bate que comparte la palabra de Dios en el mundo del béisbol,” Baseball Ahora.

34 Jorge Colón-Delgado, “David Vidal: Jugador Más Valioso 2018,” Béisbol 101, January 27, 2018, https://beisbol101.com/david-vidal-jugador-mas-valioso-2018/.

35 “Raúl Casanova en vivo.”

36 “Raúl Casanova en vivo.”

37 https://www.milb.com/es/mexican/stats/games/2009/postseason-cumulative?page=2&sortState=asc.

38 “Raúl Casanova en vivo.”

39 “Raúl Casanova,” Sports Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State, https://sportsenvoy.org/cpt_alumni/raul-casanova/

40 “Raúl Casanova en vivo.”