| Juan Berenguer | |
|---|---|
 Berenguer in 1987 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1954-11-30)November 30, 1954 (age 70) Aguadulce,Coclé,Panama | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 17, 1978, for the New York Mets | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 4, 1992, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 67–62 |
| Earned run average | 3.90 |
| Strikeouts | 975 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Juan Bautista Berenguer[beh-ren-gher'] (born November 30, 1954) is a Panamanian formerlong relief pitcher inMajor League Baseball (MLB) who played for eight teams from 1978 to 1992. Listed at 5'11(1.80 m), 200 lb.(91 k), Berenguer batted and threw right-handed. He was born inAguadulce, Coclé, Panama.[1][2]
A mean-looking, husky pitcher with long hair and a mustache, Berenguer was nicknamed 'Pancho Villa' by his teammates, and Twins fans admiringly referred to him as 'Señor Smoke' or 'El Gasolino' due to hismid-90s mph fastball.[1]
Extremely wild as a youngster, Berenguer learned to harness his sneaky fastball which he liked to throw inside, and added a deceptiveforkball. His effectiveness was aided by his intimidating appearance and disposition.
Berenguer was signed by theNew York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1975. He made his MLB debut with the team in 1978. By April 1981, Berenguer had a 1–4 win–loss record and a 4.75earned run average (ERA) in 16 career appearances with the team, and he was still having problems controlling his fastball, so the Mets traded him to theKansas City Royals in exchange for outfielderMarvell Wynne and pitcher John Skinner.[3]
Berenguer pitched for seven organizations before joining theMinnesota Twins.[2] His breakout season came in 1987, when he posted an 8–1 record with a 3.94 ERA and foursaves for the American League champion Twins, en route to the1987 World Championship over theSt. Louis Cardinals.[2] During the 1987 playoffs, Juan recorded “The Berenguer Boogie,” a music video that featured Juan dancing and singing in a trench coat and briefcase.[1] Berenguer previously won a World Series ring with the1984 Champion Detroit Tigers, though he did not play in the Series.[2]
Following his MLB career, Berenguer continued to play in the minors. After spending 1993 and part of 1994 in theMexican League, he returned to Minnesota and pitched for the independentMinneapolis Loons andSouthern Minny Stars in thePrairie League.[2] He then signed to pitch for theDuluth–Superior Dukes of theNorthern League prior to the 1998 season, but never played for them. In between, he played winter ball in theDominican Republic andVenezuela.[1]
After baseball, Berenguer returned toMinnesota, where he worked in marketing for a local television station. He also became a salesman for an automobile dealership in Bloomington, Minnesota.[1]
His son Chris was a hockey player with theSioux Falls Stampede of theUnited States Hockey League.[4]
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