Jorge Rafael Posada Villeta was born on 17 August 1971, in Santurce, San Juan Puerto Rico, and is a retired professional baseball player, best known for playing as catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, winning five Silver Slugger Awards and being part of four World Series wins. All of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Jorge Posada? As of mid-2016, sources estimate a net worth that is at $45 million, mostly earned through a successful career in professional baseball; he signed high valued contracts, and was able to make the All-Star team five times. He also posted impressive statistics throughout his career, and all of these ensured the position of his wealth.
Jorge Posada Net Worth $45 million
Jorge attended Alejandrino High School where he played in several sports including baseball, performing very well and reaching the all-star team as a short stop. After matriculating, he went to Calhoun Community College because his SAT scores were not high enough for him to enter a four-year college. Despite racism from some people in the college, he became the co-captain of the baseball team.
Jorge then joined the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft, and was selected by the New York Yankees to play as an infielder, with a signing bonus of $30,000 along with a three year contract. He played in the minor leagues for the Oneonta Yankees, where he was transitioned to a catcher after a year, then played for the Greensboro Hornets and the Prince William Cannons. He was promoted to the Albany-Colonie Yankees and became an all-star, continuing to improve his statistics. His next promotion was to the Columbus Clippers but he then suffered a broken leg which ended his season.
In 1995, he made his MLB debut but only appeared in one game during this season. He was then given a chance in the post-season, appearing in the 1995 American League Division Series which the team lost against the Seattle Mariners. His next appearance would be in 1997, becoming the backup catcher of the team, but starting more games than intended. He helped the team get to the post-season, but they lost against the Cleveland Indians. Posada started to work on his physical conditioning and hired a personal trainer to improve his skills; 1997 became a great year for him as the Yankees would go to the 1997 World Series and win against the San Diego Padres. The following year, his contract was renewed for $350,000 which started to improve his net worth. He struggled somewhat, but then bounced back, eventually leading the team to another World Series win, against the Atlanta Braves.
In 2000, Posada became the first-choice catcher of the team, and this would lead to his first All-Star game appearance, also leading to the 2000 World Series which they won against the New York Mets. He continued to appear as an All-Star in 2001, but the Yankees lost the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2002, they lost against the Anaheim Angels in the ALDS, but Posada won his second Silver Slugger Award. The following year, they went to the World Series, but lost against the Florida Marlins. In the next two seasons, despite great performances for Posada they would not make it past the ALDS.
In 2007, he would get his fifth Silver Slugger Award, and became a free agent, but turned down an offer from the New York Mets, preferring to sign a four-year $52 million contract with the Yankees, but was then put in the Disabled List in 2008; during his injury, the team was unable to make the postseason. He returned in 2009 and would lead the team to a 2009 World Series win against the Philadelphia Phillies. After ending his contract in 2011 and the Yankees not extending another offer to him, he decided to retire.
For his personal life it is known that Jorge married attorney Laura Mendez in 2000 and they have two children. His son suffers from craniosynostosis and Jorge created a Foundation to help people with the condition.
