Kiko Calero

Enrique Nomar "Kiko" Calero (born January 9, 1975 in Santurce, Puerto Rico) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher.

Professional career

Calero is a graduated from University Gardens High School in Puerto Rico and attended Miami-Dade College Kendall Campus. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 41st round (1142nd overall) of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft, but Calero did not sign with the Tigers. Instead he attended St. Thomas University (Florida) and was drafted again in the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft, when he was picked in the 27th round (799th overall) by the Kansas City Royals.

Kansas City Royals

Mainly a starting pitcher in the Royals minor league organization, he spent 6 years at the Single-A and Double-A levels before finally reaching Triple-A Omaha in 2002. During his minor league career, Calero excelled for the Royals organization. In 1996, he finished fourth in the Single-A Northwest League in ERA. He was also named to the Texas League All Star team in 1997. Through 2000, Calero had 31 wins in a Wrangler uniform and worked as a reliever in 2001 after 105 starts. The Royals traded Calero to the Philadelphia Phillies for shortstop Brian Harris in 2002 but was returned to the Royals and granted free agency.