Table of Biography
Ron Villone is a retired MLB left-handed relief pitcher and current minor league coach from the United States. In his 12-team career, Ron Villone ranks third all-time, behind only Octavio Dotel and Edwin Jackson, pitcher Mike Morgan, and outfielder Matt Stairs.
Early life
Ronald Thomas Villone Jr best known as Ron Villone was born on the 16th of January, 1970, in Englewood, New Jersey, the United States of America. According to his birth date, Ron is 54 years old and holds an American nationality.
He has a birth sign of Capricorn and his ethnical background is unknown. Besides this, there is no further information regarding his parents, siblings, and childhood life. Looking at his successful career, we may assume that his parents have raised him well as a child.
College Career
Talking about his academic career, he attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was a two-sport star, playing baseball and football. When he was a football player, he excelled as a tight end.
He was chosen for the first team of the 1990 Yankee Conference tight ends. On the pitcher’s mound, he was at his strongest naturally. He won the Atlantic-10 Left-Handed Pitcher of the Year award in 1991.
He not only pitched for Team USA in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona but he was also chosen for the third team of the All-American team after striking out 89 batters in just 591 innings.
Professional Life
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners selected Ron Villone in the first round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft, 14th overall. He improved his negotiating position while playing for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League. The Mariners sent him to Riverside, their Advanced-A affiliate at the time, in 1993. He threw 831⁄3 innings, allowing 74 hits, 62 walks, and 82 strikeouts.
While in Jacksonville, his walks per nine innings pitched as well as his walks and hits allowed per innings pitched both decreased. However, he averaged more than one strikeout each inning and his strikeouts per nine innings pitched rose to 9.33. He stayed in Jacksonville for the 1994 season, going 6–7 with a 3.86 earned run average.
He pitched 791⁄3 innings in 41 games, struck out 43 while walking just 19, and gave up 56 hits. In addition, he had eight saves in 1994 despite not being the main closer. Due to his outstanding 1994 season, Seattle promoted him to their AAA affiliate, Tacoma, beginning with the 1995 season.
On April 28, 1995, he pitched a scoreless ninth inning in his Major League debut. He struck out Tigers pitcher Travis Fryman for the first time in his career during that inning. In 1994, he saved 13 games and struck 43 hitters in 22 outings as the primary closer for the Seattle Mariners.
San Diego Padres
On July 31, 1995, the Mariners’ General Manager at the time, Woody Woodward, traded Greg Keagle and Andy Benes to San Diego in a trade for Ron and Marc Newfield. The rest of the season was spent with the Padres, where Ron went 2-1 with a 4.21 earned run average.
He pitched 252⁄3 innings, giving up 24 hits, 11 walks, and 37 strikeouts. He began the 1996 season with Las Vegas, a AAA Affiliate of San Diego. San Diego called up him after seeing that he had the potential to be dominant.
With the Padres, he was equally as effective, finishing 1-1 in 21 games with a 2.95 earned run average. During his 181⁄3 innings, of pitching, he gave 17 hits, 7 walks, and 19 strikeouts.
Milwaukee Brewers
Ron Villone was traded by the San Diego Padres to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 31, 1996. He pitched in 23 games for the Brewers, going 1–0 with a 3.28 earned run average. He stayed in the majors for the 1997 season, pitching in 50 games and giving up 54 hits, and 36 walks. For the second straight year, he averaged less than one strikeout per inning pitched.
Cleveland Indians
He once more had to leave his home on December 8, 1997, when Milwaukee traded him, Ben McDonald, and Mike Fetters to Cleveland. He had been moved for the third year in a row, but this was the first time he hadn’t been done so in the middle of the season.
Ron had a difficult 1998, especially because he spent his time between the main league team and Buffalo (Cleveland’s AAA affiliate).In Buffalo, where he made 23 appearances, he was 2-2 with a 2.01 earned run average. Additionally, he allowed 30 hits, and his earned run average was 6.00. On the 2nd of April, 1999, the Indians released him.
Cincinnati Reds
He was signed by the Cincinnati Reds three days later, and he started pitching again as a starter/long reliever. In 1999, he pitched in 29 games (22 starts) pitching 1422⁄3 innings. In 2000, he was not as effective, yet he posted a 10-10 record.
Colorado Rockies and Houston Astros
He was traded to the Colorado Rockies on November 8, 2000, in exchange for Justin Carter and Jeff Taglienti. In addition, he had a record of 1-3 and a 6.36 earned run average as a spot starter and long reliever. He threw 462⁄3 innings in 22 games (6 starts), giving up 56 hits, 29 walks, and 48 strikeouts.
Caption: Ron Villone pitching for his club in a match (Source: Zimbio)
Moreover, he was moved five times, the last time being on June 27, 2001. He was sent to the Houston Astros in exchange for Jay Powell on this occasion. He kept having trouble, going 5-7 with a 5.56 earned run average.
On the Astros’ pitching staff, he continued to be a long reliever and spot starter. He allowed 77 hits over 68 innings, but his walk total was reduced to 24 and he struck out 65 hitters. On November 5, 2001, he gained free agency.
Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks
He signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on February 16, 2002. Further, he had a 4-6 record and a 5.81 earned run average with the Pirates. He pitched 93 innings over 45 games (seven starts), giving up 95 hits, 34 walks, and 55 strikeouts.
On October 29, 2002, free agency was given to him. He got a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks five months later. He was sent to Tucson, one of their AAA affiliates. Ron had a 1-1 record and a 3.55 earned run average while at Tucson.
He was, however, given the job to pitch just from the bullpen. In 251⁄3 innings, he struck out 22 batters while giving up 20 hits and 12 walks. He was discharged on May 15, 2003, despite his limited achievement.
Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners
Ron Villone signed a one-year contract to join the Astros on May 19, 2003. In addition, he was given the AAA New Orleans position. He was promoted to the major leagues after posting a 3-1 record with a 1.23 earned run average in 5 starts (291⁄3 innings), where he had a 6-6 record and a 4.13 ERA.
With the Astros, all 19 appearances were starts, totaling 1062 3 innings. He had 91 strikeouts while giving up 48 walks and a total of 91 hits. Later, he chose to once more test the free agent market on November 2, 2003. He was given a one-year deal by the Mariners. With them, Ron had a good season, finishing 8-6 with a 4.08 earned run average.
At the end of the season, his contract expired, and he once more declared himself free to sign with anyone. On December 19, 2004, he signed a new one-year contract with the Mariners. Ron had a 2005 record of 2-3 with a 2.45 earned run average.
New York Yankees and other clubs
Likewise, Ron Villone signed a deal with New York Yankees on February 13, 2007. Ron was offered the opportunity to compete for a position in the Yankee bullpen during spring training in 2007, but Sean Henn beat him out for the last opening. But in the middle of May, he was called back up.
Later he was signed by the St.Louis Cardinals in 2008 and was invited to spring training. He was a member of the Opening Day roster after training camp. On February 27, 2009, he signed with the New York Mets and was invited to spring training. He was released on March 27 since he did not make the team. Later, he signed a deal with the Washington Nationals on April 10 and was assigned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Coaching career
In 2012, Ron Villone was hired as the Peoria Chiefs’ Single-A affiliate’s pitching coach. He spent the 2013 season as the pitching coach for the Cubs’ new Single-A club, the Kane County Cougars, which was announced in December 2012.
Moreover, he spent many seasons as the pitching coach for the Daytona Cubs of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League after being elevated to that position in December 2013. He is the Triple-A pitching coach for the Iowa Cubs as of 2021.
Awards and Net Worth 2024
Being a retired baseball player and coach, Ron Villone has earned a huge fan following. Playing for so many years and spending time on the baseball field, yet he has not earned any major awards and recognition.
Playing for several franchises and coaching for several, he has collected a good sum of money in his profession. As of 2022, his net worth estimates at around $6 million.
Relationship Status
Caption: Ron Villone with his wife Brooke (Source: Ellwood City Ledger)
He is a married man and married his wife, Brooke in 2004. With the marriage, the couple has three kids, whose names are Megan, Ronald Thomas III, and Sofia Francesca, Moreover, his wife has also appeared on the VH1 reality show “Baseball Wives”, which premiered in 2011.
Ron Villone – Body Measurement
Ron Villone player stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs around 104 kg. Moreover, he has brown eyes with black hair color and there is no other information regarding his other body stats.
Ron Villone – Social Media
At moment, this former baseball player and coach is not active on Social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.