Martín Maldonado

Martín Benjamín Maldonado Valdés (born August 16, 1986) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals, and Chicago Cubs. Maldonado was drafted by the Angels in the 27th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut in 2011, with the Brewers. He is primarily known for his defense and pitch-calling;[1] he won a Gold Glove Award in 2017.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Maldonado and the second or maternal family name is Valdés.
Martín Maldonado
Maldonado with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018
Houston Astros – No. 15
Catcher
Born: (1986-08-16) August 16, 1986
Naguabo, Puerto Rico
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 3, 2011, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Batting average.218
Home runs69
Runs batted in244
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Puerto Rico
World Baseball Classic
2013 San Francisco Team

Professional career

Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels

Maldonado was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 27th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. He played his first professional season for the rookie-level Arizona League Angels that season, and batted .217/.277/.233.[2] In 2005, he again played for Arizona and the rookie-level Orem Owlz. After he played one more season for the Arizona Angels in 2006, in which he batted .222/.329/.270, he was released.[2]

Milwaukee Brewers

In 2007, Maldonado signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers and played for the West Virginia Power of the Class A South Atlantic League, and batted .221/.309/.288. He played for the Brevard County Manatees of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League and the Huntsville Stars of the Class AA Southern League in 2008. He began the 2009 season with the Manatees, but was called up to the Nashville Sounds of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League at mid-season. However, he returned to the Manatees to finish out the 2009 season. In 2009 he batted a combined .201/.295/.257.[2]

Maldonado preparing catch for the Brewers in 2011

Maldonado played the majority of 2010 with Nashville, but also spent time with Huntsville and Brevard County. He made his Major League debut on September 3, 2011 and played in 3 games for the Brewers after his callup, striking out in his only at bat.

Maldonado was called up to the Brewers yet again in May 2012 when starting catcher Jonathan Lucroy went down with a freak hand injury due to his wife dropping a suitcase on it. In 2012 with Nashville he batted .198/.270/.347.[2] He played 78 games for the Brewers in 2012.

Maldonado with the Brewers in 2013

He remained in the majors for the 2013 season. In 2013 he batted .169/.236/.284 for the Brewers.[2]

Maldonado was involved in an unusual play in which he hit the cover off the baseball. In a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 18, 2014, Maldonado hit a ground ball to third base. However, by the time Pirates third baseman Pedro Álvarez fielded the ball, the cover had partially come off the baseball and was hanging off the side; Alvarez threw the ball to first anyway but the ball fell apart in midair, made it to first on several hops, and Maldonado was awarded an infield hit.[3] Two days later he punched Travis Snider in the face in Pittsburgh, and was suspended for five games and fined $2,500.[4][5]

On May 31, 2015, Maldonado caught a 17-inning game and also hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 17th against the Arizona Diamondbacks, his first career walk-off home run. In 2015 he batted .210/.282/.293.[2]

In 2016 he batted .202/.332/.351 for the Brewers.[2]

Second stint with Angels

On December 13, 2016, Maldonado and Drew Gagnon were traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Jett Bandy.[6] Maldonado was named the starting catcher and played in a career high 138 games, batting .221 with 14 home runs and 38 RBIs. He won a Rawlings Gold Glove Award after the 2017 season.[7]

Houston Astros

On July 26, 2018, the Angels traded Maldonado to the Houston Astros in exchange for pitcher prospect Patrick Sandoval and international pool space cash.[8] He became a free agent on October 29.[9]

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals signed Maldonado to a one-year, $2.5 million contract on March 11, 2019, following an injury to Salvador Pérez.[10] He batted .227/.291/.366 for the Royals.[2]

Chicago Cubs

On July 15, the Royals traded Maldonado to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery.[11] He had 11 at bats with the Cubs, in which he failed to get a hit.[2]

Second stint with Houston Astros

On July 31, 2019, the Cubs traded Maldonado to the Houston Astros in exchange for outfielder Tony Kemp.[12] He batted .202 for Houston. On defense, he threw out one of 11 attempted base-stealers for the Astros.[13]

Maldonado was Gerrit Cole's personal catcher during this stint. Over 10 starts with Maldonado behind the plate Cole pitched to a 1.57 ERA.[14]

On December 23, 2019, Maldonado signed a 2-year contract with the Astros, worth $7 million.[15]

In 2020 he batted .215/.350/.378 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 135 at bats.[16]

References
  1. "The curious ripple effects of the Cubs' trade for Martin Maldonado". Sports.yahoo.com. 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  2. "Martin Maldonado Winter & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  3. Brooke, Tyler. "Martin Maldonado Hits Cover off Ball and Baffles Pirates' 3B Pedro Alvarez". Bleacher Report.
  4. "Martín Maldonado Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. 2019-09-21. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  5. Cork Gaines (2014-04-22). "Brewers Player Received An Incredibly Light Penalty For Punching Opponent In The Face". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  6. Hoornstra, J.P. (December 13, 2016). "Angels deal Jett Bandy to Brewers, acquire catcher Martin Maldonado". ocregister. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  7. "Andrelton Simmons and Martin Maldonado win Rawlings Gold Glove Awards". MLB.com.
  8. "Gold Glove winner Maldonado to Astros". ESPN.com. July 26, 2018.
  9. "Martín Maldonado Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  10. "Maldonado, Royals finalize $2.5M, 1-year contract". Sports.yahoo.com. 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2019-10-05.
  11. "Cubs land Maldonado, deal Montgomery to KC". July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  12. "Astros bring back catcher Maldonado". July 31, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  13. "Martin Maldonado Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
  14. "Why Martin Maldonado Makes Sense for the Yankees". 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
  15. "Maldonado back to Astros on 2-year deal". December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  16. "Martin Maldonado Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
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