Meibrys Viloria #72

Meibrys John Viloria…first name is pronounced: MAY-breeze...has a son, Valentino, who was born on 10/31/19… originally signed by Kansas City as a non-drafted free agent on 7/2/13…signed by Royals scout Rafael Miranda...nickname is “El Fresco.”

2021

Split the season between Omaha (AAA) and Northwest Arkansas (AA), batting .242/.368/.384/.752 (68-281) with a career-high-tying 8 HR and 31 RBI in 85 games...opened the campaign at Kansas City’s Alternate Training Site and was assigned to Omaha on 4/29 at the outset of the minor league regular season…was assigned to NW Arkansas on 8/11 just 2 days after the Royals promoted top catching prospect MJ Melendez to Triple-A (8/9)…worked walks in 50 of his 342 (14.6%) plate appearances, the 4th-highest walk rate among Kansas City minor leaguers (min. 300 PA)…produced a .263/.398/.415/.812 (54-205) slash line vs. RHP, but hit .184 (14-76) vs. LHP…made 51 starts at catcher, throwing out 9 of 28 (32%) attempted base stealers...batted .231 (9-39) with 12 walks and 5 strikeouts in 15 G with Estrellas de Oriente of the Dominican Winter League...elected free agency on 11/7 and signed a minor league contract with Texas on 12/1.

2020

Made his first Opening Day roster, but was optioned on the second day of the season to make room for Brady Singer, who made his big league debut on July 25...Appeared in 15 games between Aug. 16-Sept. 11, when Salvador Perez was on the Injured List, and made seven starts behind the plate...Collected a hit in three straight games from Aug. 22- 24, including his lone extra-base hit of the season – a double at St. Louis on Aug. 24...Reached base twice in back-to-back games, with a single and a hit-by-pitch on Aug. 23 vs. Minnesota and a double and a walk on Aug. 24 at St. Louis.

2019

Spent the first half of the season at Northwest Arkansas (AA), where he hit .264 (58-for-220) in 63 games ... Threw out 17 of 41 base stealers (29%) with the Naturals ... Hit .100 (8-for-80) through his first 24 games through May 9, but hit .357 (50-for-140) over his next 39 games from May 10-July 14, including a 15-game on-base streak from May 9-28 ... Recalled on July 16, the day after Martín Maldonado was traded to Chicago, and remained with the Royals for the rest of the season ... Hit .263 (10-for-38) with seven RBI through his first 11 games with the Royals, including his first Major League home run on Aug. 5 at Fenway Park off Nathan Eovaldi… became the first Royal to hit his first Major League homer at Fenway Park since Ruppert Jones on Aug. 29, 1976 ... Had the go-ahead RBI single with two outs in the seventh inning off Shawn Armstrong on Sept. 1 vs. Baltimore, in an eventual 6-4 comeback win ... His 19 career RBI are tied for the third most by a Royals catcher through 52 career games, trailing only Salvador Perez (29) and Mike Macfarlane (21) ... Threw out eight of 21 base stealers (38.1%) with Kansas City ... His 4.90 catcher's ERA was best among Royals catchers.

2018

Spent majority of the season with Wilmington (A+), where he hit .260/.342/.360 (93-for-358) with 23 extrabase hits and 44 RBI in 100 games... Recalled Sept. 1, becoming the sixth known Royal to make the jump from A-ball to the Majors (not including Rule 5 picks), according to Royals Hall of Fame Director, Curt Nelson, joining: Donnie Murphy (2004), Dee Brown (1999), Mike Sweeney (1995), Jeff Granger (1993) and Buck Martinez (1969)...Became the first Colombian-born player in Royals history and the fourth Colombian-born catcher in Major League history... Made his Major League debut on Sept. 2 vs. Baltimore and recorded his first career hit, a two-run double in the eighth inning...Set a career high with three hits on Sept. 29 vs. Cleveland, two of which came off Corey Kluber...In his seven starts behind the plate, Royals starters posted a 1.84 ERA (9 ER in 44 IP)...Played in a Carolina League-high 88 games at catcher, and led catchers in assists (86) and double plays (9, tied)...Threw out 38 of 92 would-be base stealers (41.3%), the second-highest rate among league qualifying catchers.

2017

Spent the entire year with Lexington (A), playing in a career-high 101 games ... Ranked second among South Atlantic League catchers in doubles (25) and RBI (52)…also led the league's catchers in runners caught stealing (45) and percentage (.398) ... Tabbed SAL Player of the Week on May 7, going 9-for-19 (.474) with three doubles, two homers, five RBI and five walks during the previous week ... After struggling in the first half, batted .287/.333/.425 (48- for-167) after the All-Star break, including .312 (24-for-77) with six doubles, two homers and 15 RBI from Aug. 1 to the end of the season (22 games) ... Collected season highs in hits (4) and RBI (4) on Aug. 18 in a win over Asheville ... Named the Royals' 17th-best prospect by MLB.com, following the season.

2016

Named Idaho Falls (Rookie) Player of the Year and Pioneer League Most Valuable Player in 2016…led league in batting average (.376), doubles (28) and RBI (55) ... Tabbed a Pioneer League midseason and postseason All-Star, MiLB.com Organization All-Star and Baseball America Rookie All-Star in 2016 ... Led all Royals' minor league players in batting average in 2016…also led the Pioneer League, throwing out 33 wouldbe basestealers ... Enjoyed a Pioneer League-best 20-game hitting streak (July 7-Aug. 7, 2016), earning MiLB.com Player of the Month honors in the league for July.

2014

Named Dominican Royals Player of the Year in 2014, hitting .306 (34-for-111) with eight doubles, a triple, two homers and 20 RBI in 33 games.