PHILIPPINES – San Francisco Giants reliever Geno Espineli is set to visit the Philippines from December 12-16, 2008.

Espineli, born on Septemer 8, 1982 in Houston, Texas to Filipino parents, is expected to arrive in Manila on December 12 for a five-day visit.

Espineli is scheduled to attend the championship games of the Muntinlupa Kids Tournament of Champions organized by the Junior Baseball and Softball Foundation, and to run clinics for the Alabang baseball and softball community. He has also been invited as the guest of honor of Baseball Philippines ’ Championship Series, and will throw the ceremonial pitch at the opening game. Baseball Philippines is now on its 4th successful season as the country’s premier baseball program for senior players.

Espineli will have a series of press conferences with leading sports writers, analysts and commentators. He is expected to make an appearance at Asia ’s first pay-for-play league, the Philippine Basketball Association, where he will be featured during the half-time show.

Also on the agenda is a visit to his mother’s hometown of Lumban, Laguna, a two-hour drive south of Manila, and to the nearby Pagsanjan Falls which continues to be one of the country’s top tourist attractions. A reception in Espineli’s honor will be hosted by US Ambassador to the Philippines, Kristie Kenney at her residence.

Espineli and his entourage will leave for Tokyo on December 17.

Espineli was drafted by the Giants in the 14th round of the 2004 amateur draft and was assigned to the Fresno Grizzlies, a AAA club which is part of the Giants organization. He was invited to join Team USA in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but opted instead to play for the Giants when he was called up on July 20, 2008. Espineli is the first full blooded Filipino to make it all the way to Major League Baseball (since Bobby Balcena in 1956), where he won his first Major League game against the Washington Nationals.

The 6’4’ Espineli played 15 games in the 2008 season and went 2-0 with a 5.06 ERA (9 ER, 16 IP). For the 2009 season, Espineli will again see action with the Fresno Grizzlies. His immediate goal, however, is to be called up by the Giants a second time, and to become a permanent fixture in Major League Baseball.

Jonas Terrado is the Chief Writer at BaseballPhilippines.com.

Tags: Philippines