Rick Gutierrez to be Honored at Diamond Dinner

Former Honorees
2018	Jon Gray, Dillon Overton
2017	Zach Neal
2016	George Frazier
2015	Chase Anderson, Jackson Williams
2014	Garrett Richards, Bobby Witt
2013	Javier Flores
2012	Ryan Rohlinger
2011	Daniel McCutchen
2010	Greg Norton
2009	Darron Cox
2008	Bob Stephenson, Reggie Willits
2007	Eddie Fisher, Geoff Geary, L. Dale Mitchell
2006	Jeff Bajenaru, Rich Hills
2005	Kyle Denney, Damon Minor, Ryan Minor
2004	Mark Redman, Russ Ortiz

NORMAN – University of Oklahoma baseball head coach Skip Johnson announced Tuesday that former Sooners All-American Rick Gutierrez will be recognized as the team's honoree at the 16^th annual Diamond Dinner on Feb. 2.

The OU baseball preseason Diamond Dinner is set for Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Marriott Conference Center at NCED (postal training center) in Norman. The event begins at 7 p.m. Tickets, which cost $50 per person, must be purchased in advance by contacting Ryan Gaines in the OU baseball office at 405-325-8354 or by email at rgaines@ou.edu. Tickets can also be purchased by clicking HERE, where the official flier can be printed and returned to the OU baseball office.

Gutierrez and current Oklahoma baseball student-athletes and alumni will be available for an autograph session during the event. Attendees will also be the first to see a video preview of the 2019 baseball season as well as have the opportunity to bid on exclusive items in a silent auction.

“It's a tremendous honor to have one Ricky come back here for our Diamond Dinner,” Johnson said. “As one of the leaders of our 1994 national championship team, he had such an impact on the baseball program at the University of Oklahoma. His accomplishments set the standard that we strive for with our program every day.”

Honoring Gutierrez at the Diamond Dinner will kick of a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Oklahoma's 1994 national championship. A key leader of that national title team, Gutierrez was that season's Big 8 Player of the Year and a First-Team All-American. He was also named to the Big 8 Tournament and College World Series All-Tournament teams. In leading the Sooners to the national title, which culminated with a 13-5 win over Georgia Tech, Gutierrez posted the seventh-highest CWS batting average (.563) in a single series.

Gutierrez played the 1993 and 1994 seasons at Oklahoma, electing to return for his senior year after being drafted in the 22nd round of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft. His .358 career batting average still ranks 14th in school history, and his 54 stolen bases tie for 10th place. The second baseman tallied 95 hits, 68 RBI and 32 steals in 1994, and he set a program record with 30 consecutive stolen bases between 1993-94. In 1994, he batted .352 with 10 home runs, 18 doubles and 68 RBI.

A 28th Round selection in the 1994 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians, Gutierrez played four professional seasons. He went on to coach in the Indians organization for three years and served as manager of the Class A Columbus Red Stixx in 2000.

The Diamond Dinner, held two weeks prior to opening day, is the first opportunity of the year for fans and community members to be introduced to the 2019 Sooners. The event is open to the public. All attendees must register ahead of time, as walk-up sales will not be available.

Season tickets for the 2019 OU baseball season are on sale now. Season packages range from $180 to $300 for the 27-game home schedule at L. Dale Mitchell Park, and can be purchased online or by contacting the OU Athletics Ticket Office by phone at (800) 456-GoOU (4668).

The Sooners open the 2019 season Feb. 15-17 against Cal Poly at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Rick Gutierrez to be Honored at Diamond Dinner

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