Was named after the Venezuelan city where he was born and is also the nickname of his father, Raul, who played independent baseball for the Mexican League, Western League and the Atlantic League.
2023
Concluded the 2023 season slashing .233/.276/.356 with 16 runs, 12 2B, two 3B, three HR, 18 RBI, five SB and 10 BB against 35 SO across 75 games…set career highs in games, PA (220), AB (202), hits (47), 2B, HR, RBI, SB, average, SLG, OPS and total bases (72)…also matched career bests from 2022 in 3B and BB...Defensively, totaled 74 games (53 GS) across shortstop (58 G/44 GS), second base (18 G/9 GS), third base (1 G) and DH (1 G), combining for a .984 fielding percentage (3 E/187 TC) in 480.2 innings...Tied for fifth in the NL in pinch hits (5)…Vs. the NL West, hit .271 (19-for-70) with four 2B, one 3B, one HR and six RBI across 25 games, marking his best divisional opponent numbers in the league...Began the season with Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was the Opening Day starter at third base on March 31 vs. Omaha...Proceeded to hit safely in his first seven games with the Indians…going 14-for-28 with seven 2B, one 3B, one HR, nine RBI and a 1.446 OPS...Named the International League Player of the Week for April 4-9, after hitting .526 (10-for-19) with seven XBH and tying for the league lead in hits, total bases (20) and runs (seven)…Recalled to the Pirates on April 15 and remained with the big-league club until landing on the 60-day IL on July 25 for the balance of the season...April 17 @ COL, played the final inning at third base, marking his second career appearance there and first since April 3, 2021 (w/ SD)...In May, hit .267 (16-for-60) and led the Pirates with an .829 OPS...Hit his first HR of the season (3rd career) on May 10 vs. COL...On May 16 @ DET, was ejected by Paul Emmel after arguing the final strike call of the game...Connected with his first career grand slam off Joe Barlow on May 22 vs. TEX…at 23 years/248 days, he became the third-youngest shortstop in Pittsburgh franchise history to hit a grand slam behind Arky Vaughan (21 year/53 days) on May 1, 1933 and Dale Berra (23 years/171 days) on June 1, 1980...On July 24 @ SD, sustained a season-ending right knee ligament injury...had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament on Aug. 9…the surgery was performed by Dr. Darren Frank in Pittsburgh...Claimed off waivers by SD from PIT on Nov. 2
2022
Began the season with Double-A Altoona... Was recalled on 4/26 when Cole Tucker was placed on the COVID-19 injured list...Doubled as a pinch hitter and threw a runner out at home while playing the last two innings in left field on 4/26 vs. Milwaukee...Was optioned back to Altoona on 4/30 and was recalled by Pittsburgh on 5/27... Went 2-for-3 while making his first start in left field on 5/29 at San Diego...Connected off Walker Buehler for his first Major League home run; a three-run shot on 5/30 at Dodger Stadium...Homered again the next day off Julio Urias...Was placed on the COVID-19 injured list on 6/17...Began a rehab assignment with Bradenton on 6/26 before having his rehab transferred to Altoona on 6/28...Was returned from rehab and reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list on 6/30...Went hitless in three games after returning from the injured list before being optioned to Indianapolis on 7/5...Was recalled a second time on 8/3...Had eight assists while playing second base on 8/28; the most by a Pirates second baseman since Adam Frazier also had eight on 9/3/18...Was optioned to Indianapolis on 9/13...Was recalled for the final time on 10/4; went 1-for-1 in the final game on 10/5.
2021
Entered season ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Padres No. 1 international prospect... Also ranked by Baseball America as San Diego’s No. 9 overall prospect and the third-best infield prospect behind C.J. Abrams and Ha-Seong Kim... Began season in the Major Leagues with San Diego... Made Major League debut on 4/1 vs. Arizona and walked and scored a run as a pinch hitter...Singled as a pinch hitter off San Francisco’s Wandy Peralta for first big league hit on 4/6... Made first Major League start in right field on 4/15 at Pittsburgh and went 1-for-4 while collecting his first career RBI...Was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on 4/16 and went 2-for-20 in five games thru 5/10... Was recalled on 5/11 and went 4-for-17 with two RBI in eight games with the Padres before being optioned on 5/19...Was recalled again on 5/30... Went 2-for-15 in seven games and was optioned back to El Paso on 6/7...Made a total of eight appearances (five starts) at second base, four appearances (two starts) in left field, four appearances (two starts) in right field and one appearance at third base (4/3 vs. Arizona) while playing with San Diego... Hit his first Triple-A home run on 6/17 vs. Sugar Land; a solo shot leading off the bottom of the first inning...Homered twice and had a season-high five RBI on 6/19 vs. Sugar Land...Hit .417 (30-for-72) with four homers and 18 RBI in 18 games with El Paso during the month of June...Made 11 appearances each at second base, shortstop and in left field and right field while playing with El Paso...Was acquired by Pittsburgh on 7/26 and was assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis...Went hitless in his first two games with Indy before hitting safely in 10 straight from 7/30 thru 8/11...Hit a leadoff home run and the first of two back-to-back home runs with Cole Tucker on 8/7 at Iowa...Reached base safely in 16 consecutive games from 8/28 to 9/19. going 2-for-51 (.313) with seven walks (.397 OBP)....Made 34 appearances at second base, seven in left field, four at third base and one each at shortstop and in right field while playing with Indianapolis...Hit .251 (89-for-355) with 11 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 39 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 93 combined minor league games with El Paso and Indianapolis.
2020
Spent the season at the Padres' alternate training site in the 60-man player pool...had his contract selected and was added to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2020... Entered 2021 rated by Baseball America as the Padres' No. 9 overall prospect and their No. 3 INF prospect, behind C.J. Abrams (No. 2 overall) and Ha-Seong Kim (No. 5)... Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Padres No. 1 international prospect.