Julio Lugo was from Darahona, Dominican Republic and moved to the United States in 1982. He went to Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn and was one of the city’s top infielders. He hit .420 in his senior year in 1993 and then attended Connors State College in Warner, Okla.

He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 1994 MLB draft, but didn’t sign and returned to Connors State for a second year where he was a first-team shortstop for the NJCAA Region II Team. In May of 1995 he finally signed with the Astros.

He was 19 years old when he started his pro baseball career, and it took four seasons for him to advance out of Class-A ball. However, as he continued to hit, run and show improved defense, his stock rose in the organization. The Astros finally promoted him to Double-A Jackson in 1999 and was rated as the Astros’ No. 7 prospect before the season, and he did nothing to hurt his standing.

He began 2000 with the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs but was quickly promoted to the Astros and remained in the majors for the rest of his MLB career.

As the season wore on, he found ways to play more regularly. He played all three outfield positions as well as both middle infield positions. He took over the role of starting shortstop in 2001, but was slowed by injuries in spring training in 2002. His season came to an abrupt end in August when he took a fastball off his left forearm, breaking it.

Julio recovered, but his career in Houston came to an unexpected and controversial close in 2003, when he was arrested for assaulting his then-wife as she drove him to Minute Maid Park in April. He was released immediately by the Astros but was acquitted of the charges after his wife testified that she had exaggerated the incident.

Shortly after, he signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and played very well and held down the starting shortstop role for the next two seasons. His 2005 season was one of his best, as he batted .295 and a career-high 39 stolen bases.

Julio was next traded to the Dodgers who saw him as a super utility player, capable of playing all the infield and outfield spots as needed. Unfortunately, after several years of steady play at one position, shuffling all over the field didn’t suit him. He struggled at the plate, hitting .219 without a single home run.

David Ortiz, a good friend of Julio's, lobbied hard for his acquisition to Red Sox manager Terry Francona, and the Sox signed him to a four-year deal in December of 2006.

Julio had a disappointing season in 2007, but had some good moments. He had the two-run infield single that completed the “Mother’s Day Miracle,” as the Sox scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Baltimore 6-5. He and Jason Varitek homered in the ninth inning to beat the Rays 8-6 in September, clinching a playoff berth for the Sox.

His postseason was much better. He hit .300 in the sweep of the Angels in the ALDS, but was only a .200 hitter in the ALDS win over Cleveland in the AL Championship Series but hit two doubles and drove in two runs. Finally, he batted a sizzling .385 as the Red Sox swept the Rockies in four games of the World Series. He also made a couple of slick defensive plays to defuse potential Rockies rallies, too.

Julio never played in more than 100 games in a season after 2007. Injuries cut into his playing time in 2008. He hit .268, but his power all but vanished. His defense, which was about league average at his best, fell off as well. The Red Sox dealt him to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009.

Julio Lugo died on November 15, 2023, reportedly from a heart attack he suffered while leaving a gym, at the age of 45. He would have celebrated his 46th birthday the next day.