On Board with Hector Luna

He's one of the newest guys in town.

After two tours with the Cleveland Indians, plus stops in Tampa Bay and St. Louis, Hector Luna now finds himself anchoring the Syracuse Chiefs infield, taking up the space where Ray Olmedo roamed most of the season.

Luna has made an immediate impact including a triple, a solo and two-run home run in the Chiefs' recent homestand series with the Ottawa Lynx.

The 26 year-old native of the Dominican Republic began the season with the Buffalo Bisons, but was snatched by an alert Toronto staff on August 3, when the Indians tried to pass him through waivers.

While most of his time these days is spent concentrating on baseball, Luna also likes and excels at volleyball. "I chose to stay with baseball because volleyball didn't pay much," Luna said through interpreter and teammate Al Quintana, who had difficulty relaying the message due to the fact that he was laughing so hard he doubled over. "But I still like to play very much," Quintana finished after he finally composed himself enough to complete the translation.

As far as his baseball future, Luna hopes now is the right time to jump start his career. He'll use this year's winter ball season to get ready for the Jays' camp in the spring.

Luna teamed with current Boston Red Sox pitcher Julian Tavarez as members of league champions Aguilas Del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League during the 2004 season.

"I'm going to come focused and ready to play next year," Luna said. "You can't think too much ahead because you still have to concentrate on the rest of this season. I do plan on at least making the Jays out of spring training but the starting shortstop spot is my goal."

After toiling in the Indians' minor league system for four years, Luna's baseball career became a little complicated. During the 2002 season, Luna batted .276 and established career highs with 11 home runs and 51 RBI for A-Kinston of the Carolina League.

Tampa Bay took notice and selected Luna in the Rule 5 Draft in December of 2002. However, he didn't make the Devil Rays roster and was returned to Cleveland the next April. After batting .297 for AA-Akron the following season, Luna was chosen again in the Rule 5 Draft in 2003, this time by St. Louis.

On April 8, 2004, Luna made his Major League debut and he connected on a home run in his first at bat (on the second pitch he saw) against Milwaukee, becoming just the sixth player in Cards history to accomplish the feat.

While with St. Louis, Luna hit .276 with eight homers and 61 RBI in 223 Major League games as a versatile utility infielder, but was traded back to the Indians in 2006 as part of a deal that sent Ronnie Belliard to the Cardinals.

Hector Luna was born in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic and is the oldest son of Hector and Ramona's five children (he has an older sister).

"Ever since I grew up in the Dominican I knew how it is there," Luna said. "One thing I enjoy now as a professional baseball player is to help out others less fortunate in my home town," he continued. "I help out mostly with the place where I work out in Monte Cristi. It's a nice community and where a lot of kids play baseball."

One person benefiting from Luna'a generosity is his brother, Omar. Hector helped supply Omar with equipment and supported him financially as Omar made his own bid to play professional baseball.

IL fans should keep an eye out for Omar, who, in his first year of pro ball as a Tampa Bay farmhand, was just promoted to the Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York-Penn League.