After eight years of playing professional baseball in the minor leagues, Jorge Saez has returned to Lee University and will complete his finance degree in the spring of 2021. He will also serve as a baseball student assistant coach. Saez came to Lee from a powerful Miami Dade program and quickly left his mark with the Flames during the 2012 campaign.
Brew calls Saez one of best: "Jorge was a great catcher and leader for us in the 2012 season," commented Lee head baseball coach Mark Brew. "Though his time playing at Lee was short due to him getting his name called in the MLB draft, he made a mark on our program as one of the top catchers we have ever had. He brings a tremendous amount of experience with him from his eight years of minor league baseball. He has a great perspective to share with our young catching group and has also been a great asset to Coach (Jocobby) Robinson and our hitters. He is a tremendous young man and I am excited to have him working alongside us as he completes his college degree. If he wants to stay in coaching I am sure he would have a bright future ahead of him."
Lee playing career stats: Saez became a standout on the Lee program that had five other players drafted after the 2012 season. His impressive accomplishments behind the plate saw him record 389 putouts and a .995 fielding percentage. He also blasted six homers and recorded a .500 slugging percentage. Those numbers were by far good enough to earn SSAC All-Conference honors and Saez was also named the MVP of the SSAC Tournament. He was later selected to the SSAC All-Academic Team.
Eight years of pro ball: Saez entered professional baseball after being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. He spent five seasons in the Blue Jays system before being traded to the Yankees for his final three years. He played two years in rookie ball, two years in Class A ball and four years in Class AA. During his three seasons with the Yankees, Saez worked in the Major League camp until receiving his Class AA assignments.
"Some of the best guys I caught in the minors for an extended period of time were Matt Boyd, Justus Sheffield, Michael King, Ryan Borucki and Roberto Osuna. In the big league camp, I caught all the guys that are with the Yankees, including Aroldis Chapman and Chad Green during some rehab stints," he recalled.
COVID-19 Pandemic: Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all of minor league play this past season, Saez had already enrolled at Lee. "I actually returned to the campus for the spring semester. I injured my throwing arm and it required surgery for a sustained time off," he explained.
"Because both options required time, I decided to finish my degree and wait to see what happened after I recovered from my injury. When COVID-19 hit, it changed everything. I presumed I was going to lose a year and further my development as a baseball player. But, when the minor leagues shut down for an entire year, I have some decisions to make because the option of returning to play baseball is possible again."
Losing starting catcher: The Flames starting catcher over the last two years decided to forego his final season and left the team with three freshmen catchers. Saez stepped up and spoke about his top priority as a student assistant. "I'm working to get the catchers the best prepared as possible. This is important due to the quality of pitching on this team," he noted. "This is a very talented pitching staff and we have a lot of returning position players that gives us a solid all-around team. The catching position is a vital defensive spot and it will be important to the success of the team."
Involved with pitchers and catchers: "Being a catcher gets you involved both in the hitting and pitching side of things. I do help the hitters and I'm in communication with Jocobby (Robinson) about what I am saying. We both want to be on the same page. As well, I'm talking with (pitching coach) Richie Goodenow about some of our guys when our pitchers and catchers are in bullpen sessions. It has always been easier for me to correct a pitcher from behind the plate than standing behind the pitcher. I am a creature of habit."
Saez comments on new facilities: Jorge said Lee's new baseball facilities "are amazing. I like to compare the current facilities from when I was here in 2012 and we only had bleachers behind home plate. This stadium has more upgrades than what we had before. I am very proud that I played here and seeing this program grow into what it is today."
Special interest in World Series: The former Lee catcher took a little extra interest in this year's World Series. "There were a few guys I played against in the Series this year. There was only one year that I played against the Dodger organization and none of those guys are in the big leagues right now. On the Ray's team, I played against a few; some of them when they were in other organizations. I actually played against (Ray's third baseman) Joey Wendle in the Coastal Plains League before coming to Lee. He led the league in hitting average that year," he pointed out.
Saez also competed against Ray's Willy Adames, both when he was in the Tiger's and Ray's organizations. "I played against (fifth-game hero) Brett Phillips when he was with the Astros' organization. I faced pitcher Tyler Glasnow when he was with the Pirates as well as Austin Meadows," he stated.
Meeting former Flames in pro ball: Over the past eight years, Saez has run into several former Flames. "I played against Blake Barber when he was in the Marlins' organization and Clint Terry who was with the Brewers. I got a hit off Terry," he boasted. "I was able to meet Lance Zawadski in my first spring training when we were on the Blue Jays together. I have talked with teammate Jose Samayoa a few times because I played with his wife's cousin while I was with the Yankees."
Never say never: It is easy to see that baseball is still flowing freely in the blood of Jorge Saez. It would come as a surprise to no one if he returns to professional baseball when minor league play resumes.
