# Miguel Cairo
**Miguel Cairo** (Miguel Jesús Cairo, born 1974 in Anaco, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball infielder who played 17 seasons in [Major League Baseball](https://www.edgepedia.org/major-league-baseball) for nine teams, and who later became a coach and interim manager, most recently serving as the [Washington Nationals](https://www.edgepedia.org/washington-nationals)' interim manager in 2025 and as manager of the Gigantes del Cibao in the [Dominican Professional Baseball League](https://www.edgepedia.org/dominican-professional-baseball-league) (LIDOM).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1974, Anaco, Venezuela; bats and throws right-handed; 6' 1", 225 lb[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/miguel-cairo-111867) |
| Playing career | 17 seasons, 1996–2012, with nine major league teams; 1,490 games, 21st among Venezuelans as of the start of the 2024 season[2](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/miguel-cairo/) |
| Career batting line | .264 average, 41 home runs, 394 RBIs, 139 stolen bases, .675 OPS in 3,956 at-bats[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/miguel-cairo-111867) |
| Stolen-base efficiency | Finished with a 77.65 percent stolen-base success rate, higher than Craig Biggio, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, and Lou Brock posted in their careers[2](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/miguel-cairo/) |
| First interim manager job | Chicago White Sox, 2022: 18-16 as acting manager for the final 34 games after Tony La Russa stepped away for health reasons[3](https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-cairo-joe-singley-orioles-coaching-staff) |
| Second interim job | Washington Nationals, 2025: took over July 6 after Dave Martinez was fired; the team went 29-43 under him[4](https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/miguel-cairo-coaching-staff-not-returning-to-nationals-in-2026) |
| Current roles | Baltimore Orioles Major League infield coach for 2026; manager of the Gigantes del Cibao in LIDOM[3](https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-cairo-joe-singley-orioles-coaching-staff) • [5](https://www.mlb.com/es/news/gigantes-del-cibao-anuncian-a-miguel-cairo-como-su-nuevo-dirigente) |
## Playing career
Cairo signed with the [Los Angeles Dodgers](https://www.edgepedia.org/los-angeles-dodgers) as an amateur free agent on September 20, 1990, and spent five minor league levels and 642 games learning second base, third base, and shortstop before reaching the majors[2](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/miguel-cairo/). He debuted on April 17, 1996, with the [Toronto Blue Jays](https://www.edgepedia.org/toronto-blue-jays), batting second and playing second base against the Angels, and doubled on [Chuck Finley](https://www.edgepedia.org/chuck-finley)'s first pitch[2](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/miguel-cairo/). Attacking the first pitch remained a career trait: he hit .328 when swinging at it, his best average in any count[2](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/miguel-cairo/).
**Tampa Bay years.** Left unprotected by the Cubs, Cairo was chosen eighth overall by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 1997 expansion draft[6](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Miguel_Cairo). In 1998 he played 150 games at second base, batted .268, finished third in the [American League](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-league) in defensive WAR (2.6), and made the Topps All-Star Rookie Team alongside fellow Venezuelan Magglio Ordóñez[2](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/miguel-cairo/) • [6](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Miguel_Cairo).
**Journeyman and utility role.** After stops with Oakland, the Cubs, and St. Louis, where he went 4-for-4 in the 2002 Division Series, Cairo signed with the [New York Yankees](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-yankees) in December 2003 and won the second-base job in 2004, hitting .292/.346/.417 out of the ninth spot in the order[2](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/miguel-cairo/). He then played for the Mets (2005), the Yankees again (2006–07), Seattle (2008), Philadelphia (2009), and [Cincinnati](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati) (2010–12), appearing at every infield position, both outfield corners, and as designated hitter, pinch-hitter, and pinch-runner[2](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/miguel-cairo/). In 2011 with the Reds he set a career high with 8 home runs and, on August 12, tripled to become the 1,212th major league player to reach 1,000 career hits[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/miguel-cairo-111867). He was the Reds' recipient of the MLB Players Alumni Association's Heart and Hustle Award[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/miguel-cairo-111867). His final game came October 3, 2012, at age 38[7](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cairomi01.shtml).
## Coaching and managerial career
After retiring as a player, Cairo was a special assistant to the general manager for the [Cincinnati Reds](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati-reds) until 2017[8](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/tkpoj7bsdpkeofuysps1.pdf). He was hired as the [Chicago White Sox](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-white-sox) bench coach on November 18, 2020, and served in that role for the 2021 and 2022 seasons[8](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/tkpoj7bsdpkeofuysps1.pdf). When manager [Tony La Russa](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-la-russa) stepped away for health reasons late in 2022, Cairo acted as manager for the final 34 games and posted an 18-16 record[3](https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-cairo-joe-singley-orioles-coaching-staff). He then worked as the Mets' Minor League field coordinator in 2023[3](https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-cairo-joe-singley-orioles-coaching-staff).
**Washington Nationals.** Cairo joined the Nationals' staff as bench coach in 2024[4](https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/miguel-cairo-coaching-staff-not-returning-to-nationals-in-2026). When the club fired manager [Dave Martinez](https://www.edgepedia.org/dave-martinez) on July 6, 2025, Cairo took over on an interim basis; the Nationals went 29-43 under him[4](https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/miguel-cairo-coaching-staff-not-returning-to-nationals-in-2026). He interviewed for the full-time job but was removed from consideration, and the entire coaching staff was let go after the season as new president of baseball operations [Paul Toboni](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-toboni) restructured the baseball department; the club subsequently hired 33-year-old [Blake Butera](https://www.edgepedia.org/blake-butera) as manager[4](https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/miguel-cairo-coaching-staff-not-returning-to-nationals-in-2026) • [9](https://apnews.com/article/89b01bf760836b6b87f274ef073f9673).
**Orioles and winter league.** In November 2025, Baltimore hired Cairo as Major League infield coach on first-year manager Craig Albernaz's 2026 staff[3](https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-cairo-joe-singley-orioles-coaching-staff). In May 2026, the Gigantes del Cibao of LIDOM announced Cairo as their manager for the 2026-27 season, with Rafael Chávez as pitching coach and José Javier as bench coach; general manager Jaylon Pimentel cited the experience and leadership the new staff would bring[5](https://www.mlb.com/es/news/gigantes-del-cibao-anuncian-a-miguel-cairo-como-su-nuevo-dirigente). Cairo had earlier managed the Navegantes del Magallanes in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League at the start of the 2023/24 season before being fired on December 3[6](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Miguel_Cairo).
## Personal life
Cairo's son, shortstop Christian Cairo, was drafted in the fourth round by the Cleveland Indians in 2019[6](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Miguel_Cairo) and was later selected by the Atlanta Braves as a Rule 5 draftee in December 2024[10](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/09/96/42/00775/2025-01-09.pdf).
## References
1. [Miguel Cairo Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/player/miguel-cairo-111867)
2. [Miguel Cairo, Society for American Baseball Research BioProject](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/miguel-cairo/)
3. [Miguel Cairo, Joe Singley to join Orioles' coaching staff, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-cairo-joe-singley-orioles-coaching-staff)
4. [Cairo no longer being considered for Nats' manager, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/miguel-cairo-coaching-staff-not-returning-to-nationals-in-2026)
5. [Gigantes del Cibao anuncian a Miguel Cairo como su nuevo dirigente, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/es/news/gigantes-del-cibao-anuncian-a-miguel-cairo-como-su-nuevo-dirigente)
6. [Miguel Cairo, BR Bullpen, Baseball-Reference](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Miguel_Cairo)
7. [Miguel Cairo Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More, Baseball-Reference](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cairomi01.shtml)
8. [#22 miguel cairo](https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/tkpoj7bsdpkeofuysps1.pdf)
9. [Nationals finalizing hire of 33-year-old Blake Butera as manager, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/89b01bf760836b6b87f274ef073f9673)
10. [Tampa Bay Newspapers, January 9, 2025](https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/09/96/42/00775/2025-01-09.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Baseball and related bat sports › Professional baseball in the Americas › MLB players and personnel biographies › Designated hitters and utility players*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license