Benji Gil


‧ Position: Infielder.

‧ Height: 6-foot-2.

‧ Weight: 210 pounds.

‧ Bats: Right.

‧ Throws: Right.

‧ Age: 31.

‧ Acquired: Signed as a minor league free agent Jan. 5, 2004 after finishing
             last season with Cleveland's Class AAA Buffalo affiliate.

‧ Status: Battling with Luis Gonzalez and Denny Hocking for utility infield
           job.

‧ Career highlights: Was a member of 2002 world champion Anaheim Angels,
                      hitting .285 in 61 games during regular season and went
                      8-for-12 in the postseason . . . Originally signed with
                      Texas as a first- round draft choice in 1991 from
                      Castle Park High School in Chula Vista, Calif.

‧ Personal: Created the Benji Gil Charities to assist children's charities...
             Born in Tijuana, Mexico, he played Little League and semipro
             baseball in his native Mexico but grew up in Chula Vista . . .
             He and his wife, Carly, have two sons, Mateo and Gehrig.

‧ Who had the biggest impact on your career?
             "My brother Gilbert taught me about hard work. Even though he
              never played the game professionally he made me realize as soon
              as possible that this is a game of adjustments. There are other
              people who had more knowledge and a stronger background to
              teach the finer parts of the game, but he always stuck with me."