Paulo Orlando
He raced from the Brazilian baseball wilderness to a World Series ring with the Royals, blazing a trail for his country.
Born 1985 (age 41)·Brazilian baseball coach and former player·Birthday: November 1·Millennials
Biography
Paulo Orlando's path to the major leagues was anything but conventional. Growing up in Brazil, a nation obsessed with football, he was a standout athlete in track and field—specifically the 400-meter hurdles—before baseball truly captured his focus. His raw speed and athleticism caught the eye of scouts, leading to a long apprenticeship in the minor leagues that lasted nearly a decade. His perseverance was rewarded in 2015 when, at age 29, he finally debuted for the Kansas City Royals. Orlando didn't just arrive; he contributed immediately with his blistering speed and clutch hitting, becoming a valuable platoon outfielder and pinch-runner for a team destined for glory. That same year, he earned a World Series ring as the Royals triumphed, making him one of the few Brazilian-born players to achieve the feat. Now, as a coach for the Brazilian national team, he is dedicated to building the sport that gave him an unlikely and thrilling career.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Paulo was born in 1985, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Paulo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Paulo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a World Series championship as a member of the 2015 Kansas City Royals.
- One of only a handful of Brazilian-born players to reach Major League Baseball.
- Hit an inside-the-park home run in his first MLB playoff start during the 2015 ALCS.
- Represented Brazil as a player in the 2013 World Baseball Classic and now serves as the national team's baserunning coach.
Did You Know?
He was a national-level track and field athlete in Brazil, competing in the 400-meter hurdles.
Orlando recorded the first hit in the history of the Kansas City Royals' Kauffman Stadium scoreboard's 'Water Spectacular' fountains.
He did not play organized baseball until he was a teenager.
His MLB debut came after 9 seasons playing in the minor leagues.
“From the track to the baseball field, my speed was always my ticket.”
