Playing Career
Berenguer signed with the Mets as an amateur free agent in 1975. He went 8–1 (3.94) for the 1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins and 8–4 (3.96) in 1988. Extremely wild as a youngster, he learned to harness his 90-plus-mph fastball, which he liked to throw inside, and added a forkball. His effectiveness was aided by his intimidating appearance and disposition.
In 1987, Berenguer also started a local craze due to his on-field dance, which fans dubbed "The Berenguer Boogie."
Berenguer suffered one of Major League Baseball's oddest off-field injuries while pitching for Atlanta in 1991. On an off day, while he was home wrestling with his kids, he broke his pitching arm and ended up missing the remainder of the season, also missing out on the Braves' Cinderella run to the World Series that year.
After his MLB career ended, Berenguer continued to play in the minor leagues. After spending 1993 and part of 1994 in the Mexican League, he returned to Minnesota, playing for the independent Minneapolis Loons and Southern Minny Stars. He signed to pitch for the Duluth-Superior Dukes of the Northern League prior to the 1998 season, but never played for them.
Read more about this topic: Juan Berenguer
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