Félix Maldonado

Felix Juan "Felo" Maldonado (May 24, 1938 – June 12, 2010) was a scout and player development official for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. A 48-year veteran of the Red Sox organization starting as a minor league outfielder after being traded to the club during the season, he went on to become a minor league manager in the farm system.

Early years Maldonado was born in Barrio San Antón, Ponce, Puerto Rico, on May 24, 1938. He was the son of Caro Maldonado.

Track and field Maldonado was also an accomplished track and field athlete. In 1956, he became the first Puerto Rican high school student to run the 800m in less than two minutos, and second only to Olympic medal-winner George Kerr. At Ponce High he won all the track and field events including 200m, 400m, and 800m, as well as 4 × 400 m relay and 4 × 800 m relay.

Baseball career Maldonado's entry into professional baseball occurred in 1958 when Pedrin Zorrilla signed him with the Santurce Crabbers. He played 13 seasons, winning five championships.

From 1971 to 1988, Maldonado spent 18 years as an amateur scout for the Boston Red Sox in his native Puerto Rico. He then worked as a manager of Red Sox farm clubs for seven years (1989–95), six at the Rookie level and one in Class A, compiling a record of 238–262 (.476) in an even 500 games managed. From 1996 to 2002, he was an instructor and Latin American coordinator of instruction for Boston's minor league system and became a player development consultant in .

Maldonado also worked as coach for the Ponce Lions and the Mayagüez Indians.

Death and legacy Maldonado died of cancer June 12, 2010, at his home in Fort Myers, Florida. He was interred at Cementerio La Piedad in his hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was inducted into the Puerto Rico Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009. A practice field at Boston's Fort Myers spring training facility is named in his honor.