College and Minor League Career
Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 1st round of the 1983 MLB amateur draft, Afenir made his major league debut with the Houston Astros on September 14, 1987, a win over the Dodgers. Afenir entered the game in the top of the 9th inning as a pinch hitter for catcher Ronn Reynolds and was struck out by Dodgers hurler Brian Holton. Afenir did not play in the major leagues in 1988, batting .247 in 137 games for Houston's Double-A affiliate.
Afenir would remain with the Astros until April 6, 1989, when he was traded to the Oakland Athletics for fellow catcher Matt Sinatro. Afenir spent 1989 in the minor leagues, and returned to the major leagues on July 6, 1990 in the first game of a doubleheader with the Cleveland Indians. Afenir would remain with the Athletics through the 1991 season, after which he became a free agent, and signed with the Cincinnati Reds. Afenir would appear in 16 games for the Reds during the 1992 season, and finished his career after 84 minor league games in 1993.
A good defensive catcher, Afenir made only one error in 129 chances for a .992 fielding percentage in limited duty at the major league level. Though he hit .239 with 117 home runs during his ten-year minor league career, he hit .190 with no home runs in 79 major league at bats.
Afenir attended Palomar College, and is one of four alumni to have played in the major leagues.
In 2009, he came back to Palomar's baseball team as an assistant coach. His nephew Ty Afenir also attended Palomar and started at shortstop his freshman year, and later transferred to Division I University of Washington.
Read more about this topic: Troy Afenir
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