Jorge Luís Cantú Guzmán (born January 30, 1982) is an American-born Mexican former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cincinnati Reds, Florida Marlins, Texas Rangers, and San Diego Padres, and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears.
Cantú bats and throws right-handed. He was born in McAllen, Texas and went to Sharyland High School, but was raised and makes his home in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Career
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Cantú was spotted by a scout while playing in a Junior Olympic tournament in Mexico City while in high school, and offered a contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at age 16. In 2003, Cantú played for the Mexico national team in the regional Olympic qualifying tournament. His team defeated the U.S. team, eliminating them from the 2004 summer games in Athens.
Cantú made his major league debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the season, batting .301 with two home runs and 17 runs batted in in 50 games played.
In , Cantú began the season expecting to play a utilityman role, but due to the retirement of second baseman Roberto Alomar during spring training, he became the full-time second baseman. He showcased his talents, having a breakout year, and was named the Devil Rays Most Valuable Player by Tampa Bay sportswriters, after hitting .289 with 28 home runs, 117 RBIs, 40 doubles, and 171 hits in 150 games (80 at second base, 63 at third). Cantú was a valuable young player for the rebuilding Devil Rays, who finished last in the American League that season.
In however, he had a down year as he struggled with injuries. His production from the previous year dropped precipitously, as he hit just .249 with 14 home runs and 62 RBIs.
The following season, he failed to make the Opening Day 25-man roster for , and was assigned instead to the Triple-A Durham Bulls. He threatened not to report, and demanded a trade. However, on the April 4, 2007, edition of ESPN's Baseball Tonight, Cantú retracted his trade demand and said he would voluntarily report to Durham. He hit just .207 with zero home runs and 4 RBIs in 25 games with Tampa Bay that year.
Cincinnati Reds
On July 28, , Cantú was traded to the Cincinnati Reds along with minor league outfielder Shaun Cumberland for pitchers Brian Shackelford and Calvin Medlock. With the Reds, he hit .298 with 1 home run and 9 RBI. During the 2007 season, he played primarily first base (as opposed to second base) as he played 21 games at first base, 2 games at second base and one game at third base (combined with Tampa Bay and Cincinnati). The Reds released him during the offseason on December 5 of that year.
Florida Marlins
On January 4, , the Florida Marlins signed Cantú to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. On March 22, Jose Castillo was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants, opening the door for a possible roster spot for Cantú. Cantú was added to the active roster on March 27. Cantú impressed the Marlins so much during spring training that he was named the team's starting third baseman. He spent the season hitting third in the Marlins lineup. On September 12, Cantú hit his 25th home run of the season joining Hanley Ramírez, Dan Uggla, and Mike Jacobs as the first group of infielders on the same team to have 25 or more home runs. Cantú finished the year with a career high 29 home runs, 95 RBI, and a .277 batting Average.
In the offseason Cantú signed a 1-year, $4.5 million contract, avoiding arbitration. After spring training 2009, the Marlins announced that they would shift Cantú to first base after Gaby Sánchez struggled in the spring, and Emilio Bonifacio would play third base.
Cantú's left wrist was injured during the third game of the 2009 season and he was forced to miss five games. He played well after returning to the lineup despite lingering pain. On May 4, he was named the National League Player of the Week.
Cantú started the 2010 season with a 21-game hitting streak Cantú hit his 100th career home run on June 23, 2010.
Texas Rangers
On July 29, 2010, Cantú was dealt to the Texas Rangers (with $600,000 cash) for Evan Reed and Omar Poveda.
Though he was a good home run and RBI hitter when in Florida, Cantú did not hit a single home run or RBI in his first 83 plate appearances for the Rangers. However, on September 25, he got his first RBI, and later his first home run, the latter giving his team a 4–3 lead, which turned out to be the final score, clinching the Rangers' their first divisional title since 1999.
That year he played in the World Series with the Rangers.