CLEVELAND -- In this age of free agency and aggressive trades, the World Series pits former teammates against each other just about every year. There always seems to be someone who shared a dugout with a player on the opposing team.
That isn't the case this year. There isn't a single player in the World Series who played for both the Cubs and Indians at some point in their careers. Well, at the major-league level, that is. There is one player who's spent time in both organizations: Hector Rondon.
Rondon signed with the Indians out of Venezuela way back in 2004, and after injuries -- including Tommy John surgery and a fractured elbow -- slowed his development, Cleveland dropped him from the 40-man roster in December 2011. The Cubs liked what they saw in winter ball in 2012 and took a chance on him.
"Yeah, it's a little weird," said Rondon with a laugh when asked about facing his former organization in the World Series. "I played with Carlos Santana for three years over there. I know most of those guys. I feels weird, but at the same time, I feel excited to be here against those guys."
Rondon never did pitch in the big leagues with the Indians. He reached Triple-A in 2010 before the injuries set in, but it wasn't until the Cubs picked him in the Rule 5 Draft that he pitched in the show. Rondon never wore suited for the Indians in the regular season.
Players selected in the Rule 5 Draft must remain on the team's active 25-man big league roster, or be offered back to their former club. At one point in 2013 there was some thought Rondon, who had a 4.77 ERA that year, would be returned to the Tribe, but that didn't happen.
Rondon does keep in touch with a few of his former minor league teammates with the Indians -- "I talk a lot with (Danny) Salazar. I have a really good relationship with Salazar," he said -- but otherwise enough time has passed that he feels at home with the Cubs.
"I'm glad to be here," Rondon said. "I'm glad to (get a chance to pitch in the World Series)."
