Robert Daniel Refsnyder...was born in Seoul, South Korea...moved to the U.S. at five months old and was adopted, growing up in Laguna Hills, Calif...attended Laguna Hills High School, playing football and baseball...was recruited by Division I programs to play quarterback, but committed to the University of Arizona as an outfielder.
2025
Hit .269 (49-for-182) with 29 runs, 12 doubles, nine homers, 30 RBI and 24 walks, posting an .838 OPS in 70 games with the Boston Red Sox...Batted .302 (35-for-116) with seven homers and 25 RBI with a .959 OPS in 138 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers...Signed a one-year Major League pact on Dec. 22, 2025...when he first appears in a game, will become the fourth Korean-born Mariners player and will join Shin-Soo Choo (2005-06), Cha-Seung Baek (2007) and Dae-ho Lee (2016)...Since 2022, is hitting .312 (133-for-426) with a .924 OPS against lefties, with the average ranking sixth and OPS ranking seventh (min. 400 PA)...his .407 OBP against LHP since 2022 ranks third in MLB behind Aaron Judge-NYY (.452) and Paul Goldschmidt-STL/ NYY (.412) during that span.
2024
Completed his third season with the Red Sox...Set career highs in games played (93), hits (77), HR (11), runs scored (32), RBI (40) and total bases (128)...Hit 11 HR in 93 games, after hitting 11 HR in 362 games over his previous seven seasons. Made 31 starts in LF, 20 in RF and 10 as the DH...Ranked in MLB’s 84th percentile in arm strength (89.9 mph)...Batted .302 with a .393 OBP/.548 SLG/.941 OPS vs. LHP (38-for-126, 7 2B, 8 HR, 23 BB), compared to a .267 AVG/.329 OBP/.404 SLG/.733 OPS vs. RHP (39-for-146, 9 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 12 BB)...Ranked T-9th in MLB with 28 pinch-hit PA (.393 OBP, 4-for-21, 6 BB, 1 HBP)...Recorded a .302 AVG/.875 OPS on the road (45-for149, 6 HR) and a .260 AVG/.776 OPS at home (32-for-123, 5 HR)...Each of his first 10 XBH came on the road...Batted .311 with a .921 OPS in 60-night games (56-for-180, 12 2B, 9 HR, 22 BB), compared to a .228 AVG/.649 OPS in 33-day games (21-for-92, 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR)...In 31 games, batting third in the order, posted an .887 OPS (.309 AVG; 34-for-110, 9 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 10 BB)...Reached base safely in 50 of his 61 starts (.841 OPS)...On 9/9 vs. BAL, went 4-for-5 with a double, 2 HR, 5 RBI, and a walk, his second multi-HR game of the season (also 8/3 at TEX)...Set a new career high in RBI and matched career highs in hits, XBH and times on base...Both HR on 9/9 were part of back-to-back HR with Tyler O’Neill (third and eighth innings)...They became the second pair of teammates in Red Sox history to hit back-to-back HR multiple times in a single game, joining Mo Vaughn and Tim Naehring on 4/19/1994 (second and sixth innings) (source: Elias)...Missed the last nine games of the season due to a right forearm strain...Was placed on the IL on 9/20.
2023
Spent the entire season with BOS...With the exception of 2020, it marked his first time not playing a single game in the Minors...On 6/3, agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2024 season, with a club option for 2025...Set career highs in games played (89), hits (50), runs scored (31), RBI (28), BB (33) and SB (7-for-9)...Batted .308 with a .428 OBP and .828 OPS vs. LHP (37-for-120, 6 2B, 3B, HR, 23 BB), compared to a .159 AVG/.271 OBP/.466 OPS vs. RHP (13-for-82, 3 2B, 10 BB)...Pinch hit 33 times, tied with MIN’s Donovan Solano for most in the AL and second-most in MLB (SF’s Austin Slater-39)...Was 4-for-24 with six BB as a pinch hitter (.344 OBP)...Had a .450 OBP in 20 PA as the Sox’ first batter of the game (3-for-14, 6 BB, 2 SO)...Batted from each spot in the lineup at least once: first (28 G), second (3 G), third (18 G), fourth (1 G), fifth (12 G), sixth (4 G), seventh (5 G), eighth (4 G) and ninth (7 G)...Had a .382 OBP with RISP and a .423 OBP with two outs...In his first 41 games (through 6/14), batted .287 with an AL-leading .427 OBP (min. 100 PA) and .821 OPS (27- for-94, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 19 BB)...In 48 games after 6/14, hit .213 with a .306 OBP/.556 OPS (23-for-108, 4 2B, 14 BB)...Entered 8/5 with a team-leading .393 OBP, the sixth-best mark in the AL and 11th-best in MLB (min. 150 PA).
2022
Earned the Heart and Hustle Award from the Boston Baseball Writers. Played 57 games over two stints with BOS, batting .307 with an .881 OPS (47-for-153, 17 XBH, 21 RBI, 25 R). Appeared in RF (28 G, 16 GS), CF (17, 13), and LF (six, two). Set career highs in plate appearances (177), at-bats (153), hits (47), doubles (11), HR (6), RBI (21), AVG (.307), OBP (.384), OPS (.881) and fWAR (1.3). His six HR averaged 409 feet, tied with Christian Arroyo for longest among Red Sox (min. five HR). Against LHP, was 23-for-64 (.359) with nine XBH. As a pinch-hitter, was 4-for-13 (.308) with four BB. In 25 home games, hit .370 with a .960 OPS (30-for 81, three 2B, four HR, 12 RBI, four BB). Reached base safely in each of his first 15 games with the Red Sox...The most recent players to reach base safely in at least their first 15 games with the Sox were Kevin Millar and Todd Walker in 2003 (both 16). Also played 42 games for Triple-A Worcester...Hit .306 (45-for-147) with a .953 OPS, 20 XBH and 28 RBI.
2021
Spent the season in the MIN organization, playing 51 games for the Twins and 18 for Triple-A St. Paul...Was his third season playing 50+ ML games (58 in 2016, 52 in 2017)...Missed time due to three IL stints: 6/1-7 (concussion), 6/14-8/4 (left hamstring strain), and 9/18-10/3 (right elbow impingement)...In the majors, appeared defensively only at the three OF positions, making 20 starts in CF, 10 in LF and seven in RF...Recorded two OF assists...Hit .304 (17-for-56) with a .784 OPS vs. LHP...Attended Major League Spring Training camp as a non-roster invitee and began the season with St. Paul. Selected to the ML roster on 5/15 and posted a .316/.391/.461/.851 batting line through his first 26 ML games (24-for-76, 14 R, 5 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 10 BB).
2020
Signed minor league contract with invite to Texas' spring training Dec. 5, 2019...Began season on Rangers Opening Day roster, second of career (Tampa Bay - 2018)…Recorded first career pinch-hit (single) on July 31 at San Francisco (1-for-19 in career as PH)…Played four games (2 starts) at first base, two games (1 start) in right field and one game (start) in left field...Began season going 4-for-7 in first three games, but went 2-for-next-23 from Aug. 2-22.
2019
Was a non-roster invitee in ARI's Major League spring training camp…opened year at Reno (AAA) and went 0-for-4 in season opener on 4/5 at Fresno before trade to CIN on 4/7… made starts in RF (40), LF (21), and CF (5) for Louisville…was 7-for-30 (.233) in first 11 games for the Bats before hitting at a .325 (87-268) clip in final 74 contests…hit .300 or better in each of season's first 4 months: .328 in April, .300 in May, .370 in June, and .313 in July…had a .360 (31-86) AVG vs. LHP and a .329 (24-73) figure with RISP…was on the DL from 6/22-7/2 and 7/8-31, played 2 games on rehab assignment at AZL Reds (Rookie)…was released by CIN on 8/26.
2018
Appeared in 40 games with the Rays and hit .167 with 3 doubles, 2 home runs and 5 RBI…also played in 51 games with Triple-A Durham, batting .283 with 10 doubles, 4 home runs and 15 RBI...Made 21 starts in left field for the Rays, 7 at designated hitter and 3 in right…also appeared in 1 game at first base...Went to Spring Training with the Indians and was traded to the Rays for cash considerations on March 27... Made his first Opening Day roster…was the sixth player since 1908 to start at designated hitter and bat out of the No. 9 spot in the lineup: Kelly Johnson/TB (2013), Nick Johnson/NYY (2002-03), Junior Felix/DET (1994), Dave Bergman/DET (1990) and Pat Sheridan/DET (1989)… Homer on April 27 @ Red Sox snapped a 266 at-bat homerless streak (previous: Oct. 1, 2015 vs. Red Sox).
2017
Split the season between the New York and Toronto organizations...Optioned out of spring training and was recalled for the first of four times by the Yankees on May 2...Last stint with the Yankees came June 26-July 14 before being designated for assignment on July 19 and traded to the Blue Jays four days later...Was assigned to AAA Buffalo after the acquisition and was recalled on July 29 by Toronto and spent the remainder of the season at the Major League level with the Blue Jays. Overall on the year appeared in 20 games at second base, 10 games in LF, 6 games at first base and 4 games in right field...Second career 3-hit game, Aug. 12 vs. Pittsburgh...Has gone 112 games and 281 plate appearances since his last home run (10/1/15 vs. BOS)...Was 2-for-28 vs. LHP on the year.
2016
Hit .250 (38-for-152) with 25R, 9 doubles and 12RBI in 58 games (21 starts at 1B, 14 in RF, 5 at 2B and 4 in LF) over three stints with the Yankees (5/17-26, 5/30-8/11 and 9/2-10/2). Played at 1B, 2B, 3B and in LF and RF at the Major League level…entering the season, had never played 1B or LF in his professional career. His .321 (17-for-53) batting average through his first 20 career games (7/11/15-6/2/16) was the highest by a Yankee since Kevin Thompson hit .323 (10-for-31) in his first 20 career games from 2006-07…the mark was surpassed by Gary Sánchez (.366) later in 2016. Hit safely in 12 straight starts from 9/24/15-6/4/16, batting .390 (16-for-41) with 5R, 7 doubles, 1HR and 7RBI in those games. Doubled in five straight starts from 10/3/15-6/4/16, becoming the first Yankee to do so since José Molina from 4/4-11/08 (also five straight)…became the first Yankee to begin a season with at least 1 double in each of his first four starts since at least 1913. Made his season debut in 5/21 win at Oakland, starting in RF-his first Major League appearance at the position-and going 1-for-3 with 1 double and 2RBI before being removed defensively in the seventh. Made his first start at 1B in his professional career in 6/4 win at Baltimore…was his first of four consecutive starts at 1B from 6/4-7…was 0-for-3 in 6/3 loss at Baltimore, entering the game at 1B in fourth after Teixeira injury…was his first appearance at 1B in any professional game. Hit .357 (15-for-42) with 8R, 4 doubles, 4RBI and 5BB in his 12 starts from 6/11-7/5, hitting safely in nine of those games. Collected a career-high three hits in 6/14 loss at Colorado, going 3-for-5 with 1R. Made his first career appearance at 3B as a defensive replacement on 7/1 at San Diego…made his first appearance-and start-in LF on 7/25 at Houston. In 54 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hit .316 (66-for-209) with 25R, 10 doubles, 2HR, 20RBI and 6SB (in six chances)…hit .397 (23-for-58) with 9R, 6 doubles, 2HR and 5RBI in 15 games in May, including a multi-HR game on 5/15 vs. Indianapolis.
2015
Batted .302 (13-for-43) with 3R, 3 doubles, 2HR, 5RBI, 3BB and 2SB in 16 games with the Yankees (12 starts at 2B) over two stints with the Yankees (7/11-19 and 9/1-10/4)...Became just the second South Korea-born player to play for the Yankees, joining RHP Chan Ho Park (27 relief appearances for the team in 2010)...became only the fourth South Korea-born position player in Major League history (also Texas OF Shin-Soo Choo, Pittsburgh INF Jung Ho Kang and former INF Hee-Seop Choi)...Hit .385 (5-for-13) off right-handed pitching compared to .267 (8-for-30) off left-handed pitching...Made his Major League debut in 7/11 loss at Boston, starting at 2B and going 0-for-3...was signed to a Major League contract and selected to the Yankees' 25-man roster from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to the game...Hit two-run HR off Alexi Ogando-the first homer of his Major League career-in the ninth and was 2-for-4 in 7/12 win at Boston...recorded his first career hit with a seventh-inning single off Tommy Layne...became the first Yankees second baseman since at least 1914 to homer in either of his first two Major League games...Started eight of the Yankees' final 11 games at 2B (beginning on 9/24)...hit safely in all eight of those starts, batting .393 (11-for-28) with 2R, 3 doubles, 1HR, 3RBI, 3BB and 2SB...Was 2-for-4 with 1 double, 1RBI, 2BB/1IBB and 1SB in 9/30 loss vs. Boston, becoming just the second Yankee since 2011 to reach base safely at least four times in a game within his first 13 career games, joining Yangervis Solarte (4/3/14 at Houston in his second career game)... collected his first career stolen base in the seventh inning...Hit .271 (122-for-450) with 66R, 28 doubles, 2 triples, 9HR, 56RBI and 12SB in 117 games with Scranton/WB...through 8/31, ranked fifth in the IL with 56BB...Was named International League "Player of the Week" for the period from 5/11-17, batting .400 (12-for-30) with 6R, 4 doubles, 2HR and 6RBI over the stretch...hit 2HR on 5/17 at Durham...Hit safely in 16 of 17 games with the RailRiders from 6/24-7/22, batting .404 (23-for-57) with 13R, 5 doubles, 2HR, 10RBI and 16BB over the span...reached safely via hit or walk in all 17...In 26 spring training games, hit .364 (16-for-44) with 10R, 6 doubles, 1HR, 7RBI, 8BB and 2SB...tied for second on the team in hits...Following the season, was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 8 prospect in the Yankees organization...was also tabbed by MiLB.com as an Organization All-Star.
2014
Combined with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to bat .318 (164-for-515) with 82R, 38 doubles, 6 triples, 14HR, 63RBI, a .497 slugging pct. and .387 OBP...ranked third among Yankees minor leaguers in batting average...Hit .385 (55-for-143) off left-handed pitching, compared to a .293 (109-for-372) mark vs. right-handers...Posted a .977 fielding percentage at 2B (12E, 528TC), including a .988 mark with Scranton/WB (3E, 245TC)...also made nine starts in RF with the RailRiders (0E, 14TC)...Began the season with Trenton, hitting .342 (78-for-228) with 35R, 19 doubles, 5 triples, 6HR and 30RBI in 60 games...Was named Eastern League "Player of the Week" for the period from 5/26-6/1, batting .500 (14-for-28) with 7R, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 1HR and 7RBI in seven games over the span... Recorded multiple hits in 15 of his final 17 games with the Thunder, batting .493 (34-for-69) with an .855 SLG% (10 doubles, 3 triples, 3HR) over the span from 5/22-6/8...Was promoted to Scranton/WB on 6/10 and spent the remainder of the season there, batting .300 (86-for-287) with 47R, 19 doubles, 8HR and 33RBI in 77 games... had 27 multi-hit games with the RailRiders...went 6-for-31 in his first eight Triple-A games, but hit .313 (80-for-256) over his final 69 games...Hit a three-run "walk-off" HR on 7/4 vs. Buffalo, earning him a 2014 MiLBY Award for "Best Home Run"... hit a "walk-off" RBI double in 8/31 win vs. Lehigh Valley...Following the season, was ranked by Baseball America as the Yankees' seventh-best prospect...was also tabbed an Organization All-Star by MiLB.com...was also named to the Baseball America Triple-A All-Star team.
2013
Combined at Single-A Tampa and Single-A Charleston to bat .293 (137-for-467) with 75R, 32 doubles, 3 triples, 6HR and 57RBI in 130 games...stole 23 bases in 29 attempts (79.3%)...ranked fourth among Yankees minor leaguers in stolen bases and third in batting average...Started a combined 108 games at 2B, his first season at the position (25E, 441TC)...Began the season with Charleston, batting .370 (20-for-54) with 9R, 4 doubles and 6RBI in 13 games...Was transferred to Tampa on 4/18 and spent the remainder of the season there, hitting .283 (117-for-413) with 66R, 28 doubles, 6HR and 51RBI in 117 games...ranked second in the Florida State League in walks (78) and OBP (.408)...led Tampa in runs scored and walks, and tied for the team lead in doubles...Hit safely in his final six games with Charleston and his first 12 games with Tampa, combining to bat .405 (30-for-74) during that stretch (4/12-30)...Following the season, was tabbed by MiLB.com as an Organization All-Star.
2012
Made his professional debut with Single-A Charleston, batting .241 (39-for-162) with 8 doubles, 4HR and 22RBI in 46 games...made 42 starts in RF and four at DH.
