Eric Cesar Chavez (born December 7, 1977) is an American professional baseball coach and former third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics (1998–2010), New York Yankees (2011–2012), and Arizona Diamondbacks (2013–2014). During his playing career, Chavez won six Gold Glove Awards (–) and a Silver Slugger Award (2002). Chavez served hitting coach for the New York Mets in 2022 and presently is in the position of bench coach. Early life Chavez was the second of four children born to Cesar and Ruby Chavez in Los Angeles, California. Cesar, who was born in Mexico, was a custodian at an elementary school and Ruby worked at Rancho Bernardo High School. Chavez was baptized Catholic but his mother converted to Protestantism when he was eight or nine years old. Although all four of Chavez's grandparents were from Mexico, he did not learn to speak Spanish. Chavez was an early childhood friend as well as a high school teammate of Eric Munson at Mt. Carmel High School in San Diego. They were among only ten players named to the USA Today All-USA high school baseball team. Chavez was also named to the ABCA/Rawlings High School All-America Second Team. Professional career Minor leagues Chavez's high school success was such that in the 1996 Major League Baseball draft, he was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the first round as the tenth pick. Chavez eventually chose a professional baseball career over a full scholarship at the University of Southern California (USC), signing with the Athletics on August 27, 1996. His time in the minor leagues was relatively short, lasting just under two seasons. He spent the season playing for the Visalia Oaks, the Single-A team in the Athletics' farm system. He played 134 games, all at third base, and hit .271 with 18 home runs and 100 RBI. Before the start of the 1998 season, Chavez was promoted to the Double-A Huntsville Stars. After 88 games, he had a batting average of .328, 28 home runs, 86 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, and a triple. His efforts caused him to be promoted to the Edmonton Trappers, where in 47 games he hit 11 home runs and had a .325 batting average. When Edmonton's season finished up on September 8, 1998, he was called up to the major leagues. He finished his minor league career by receiving both the Baseball America Minor