Sandy David (Balan) León...he and his wife, Liliana, were married in February 2016 and have two children: Noah (b. 2017) and Nahomy (b. 2019)...both children’s names are tattooed behind his right ear…got his first tattoo in 2016 (almond tree behind his left forearm) and has employed the same Colombia-based artist ever since...was active in the community during his time with the Red Sox...in December 2018, bought and delivered Christmas presents to children in his hometown of El Mojan, Maracaibo, VZ, as well as in his wife’s hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia...in July 2018, provided a catching lesson to a fan as part of a Picnic in the Park auction experience...was active with the Red Sox Novatos program, which donates tickets to children and allows them to meet with Spanish-speaking players at Fenway Park.
2022
Split the campaign with three different organizations (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Minnesota) and combined to bat .169 (12-71) with three doubles and four RBI over 33 G in the Major Leagues with the Guardians and Twins…signed with Cleveland as a free agent on 11/22/21 and was released at the end of Spring Training on 3/31/22…was signed by the Reds as a Minor League free agent on 4/16 and batted .222 (16-72) with one HR and seven RBI in 26 G at Triple-A Louisville…was re-acquired by CLE from CIN in exchange for cash considerations on 6/28 and reported to Triple-A Columbus…played in eight G with the Guardians from 6/28- 7/6, incl. one appearance as a pitcher on 7/5 at DET (2.0 IP, 0 R), before he was designated for assignment on 7/8…cleared waivers and accepted assignment to Columbus on 7/10… saw action in four G with the Clippers before he was acquired by Minnesota from Cleveland in exchange for RHP Ian Hamilton on 8/2…hit .179 (10-56) with three doubles and four RBI in 25 G for the Twins, splitting catching duties with Gary Sánchez down the stretch...was on 10-day Injured List from 9/24-end of season after it was determined he would require season-ending right knee meniscus surgery.
2021
Entering his 16th professional season, his second stint in the Cleveland organization…Signed Minor League deal with Miami on Jan. 3, assigned to Alternate Site to open season and was promoted to the ML roster on April 21, spending the rest of the season with the Marlins... Appeared in 83 games while making 48 starts behind the dish for the Marlins... Miami was 24-24 in his starts as the staff posted a 3.23 ERA with Sandy behind the plate (157ER/437.1IP), the lowest mark among the club’s six 2021 catchers...He threw out 26.7 pct. of would-be base stealers (8cs/22sb), started four of the club’s eight shutouts and made six late-inning relief appearances for the fish (7.50 ERA, 6.0IP, 7H, 5R/ER, 3HR, 1BB, 2SO).
2020
Played in 25 games for the Cleveland Indians during the 2020 season. Hit .136 (9x66) with two home runs and four RBI...Recorded a 3.24 catchers ERA in 186.0 innings behind the plate...Caught American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber three times. Helped Bieber to a 2-0 record with a 1.29 ERA and 32 strikeouts, including a 13 strikeout performance on July 30.
2019
Entering his 14th professional season, his first in the Indians organization…Originally signed with the Nationals in January 2007 after participating in a private workout in his native Venezuela in front of General Manager Mike Rizzo...In 2019, completed his fifth and final season in the Boston organization, making 50 starts at catcher…Caught four of the team's eight shutout wins and threw out 18.7% (6-for-32) of runners attempting to steal…Opened the season in AAA Pawtucket after being outrighted off the 40-man roster prior to Opening Day, appearing in seven games…Selected to the Major League roster on Apr. 16 and spent the remainder of the season in the Majors.
2018
Played a career-high 89 games for the Red Sox in his 4th season with the club...Led MLB with a 3.29 catcher's ERA, the lowest by a qualifying Red Sox catcher since at least 1974. Caught 9 team shutouts, including 8 after 6/24. The Red Sox went 55-23 (.705) in his starts, 27-10 (.730) when he recorded at least 1 hit, 5-0 when he hit a HR, and 13-2 (.867) when he drove in a run. Committed just 1 error in 814 chances...His .999 fielding % was the 3rd-highest ever by a qualifying Red Sox catcher, trailing only 1.000 marks by Rick Cerone in 1988 (499 TC) and Pete Daley in 1957 (309)...Is 1 of 8 catchers to post a fielding percentage of .999+ in a season with 800+ total chances...The only other AL catchers to do so are CWS's A.J. Pierzynski in 2005 (.999) and HOU's Jason Castro in 2015 (.999). Threw out 8 of 36 base stealers (23.5%). Recorded his 4th career pickoff on 6/8 vs. CWS, throwing Trayce Thompson out at 2B to end the 7th inning in a 1-run game...Was his 1st pickoff since 8/31/16 vs. TB. Hit .278 (10-for-36) with an .838 OPS with RISP & 2 outs. In the Sox' 4-3 win vs. TB on 4/29, broke a 3-3 tie with a 2-out, RBI single in the 8th inning...Also in that game, stole his 1st career base in his 248th career game. From 5/6-29, hit .419 (13-for-31) over 10 games, scoring 7 runs with 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, and a 1.180 OPS. Hit safely in a career-high-tying 5 straight games from 5/14-24 (.438/7-for-16). Hit his 1st HR of the season on 5/6 at TEX off former batterymate Doug Fister. On 5/29 vs. TOR, doubled twice and homered, tying career highs with 3 XBH (also 7/4/16 vs. TEX) and 8 TB (also 5/7/17 at MIN)...Drove in a season-high-tying 3 runs. From 6/21-8/8, the Red Sox won 25 of his 26 starts, including 14 straight from 7/14-8/8...According to Elias, it marked the only time in franchise history that the Sox won 25+ games in any span of a catcher's 26 starts. Elias notes that it had been 16 seasons since any team won 25+ games in a span of a catcher's 26 starts (last: OAK, Ramon Hernandez, 25-1 from 8/3-9/4/2002). Drove in at least 1 run in a career-high 5 straight games from 6/19-30 (8 RBI, .438/7-for-16). Homered in consecutive games on 6/27 vs. LAA and 6/30 at NYY...Marked the 3rd time in his career he homered in back-to-back games (also 8/17-18/16, 5/6-7/17). Recorded his 100th career RBI with a 9th-inning single on 7/7 at KC. Hit a go-ahead HR on 8/14 at PHI in an eventual 2-1 win...Was his 3rd career go-ahead HR... POSTSEASON: Appeared in 10 of the Red Sox' 14 playoff games and made 4 starts. Went 3-for-6 in the World Series.
2017
Played a career-high 85 games with the Red Sox (77 starts), batting .225 (61-for-271) with 32 runs, 14 2B, and 7 HR...Also set career highs with 39 RBI and 25 BB...Ranked 3rd in MLB with a 3.41 catcher's ERA, the lowest by a Red Sox catcher since at least 1987. Caught 7 of the Red Sox' 11 team shutouts. Threw out 16 of 47 attempted base stealers (34.0%). Had 5 game-winning RBI. 5 of his 7 go-ahead RBI came in the 6th inning or later, including 1 in the 12th inning (4/5 vs. PIT, 3-run walk-off HR) and 1 in the 13th (7/25 at SEA, single). The Sox won 5 of his 6 games with a HR and went 16-8 when he drove in a run...Went 11-1 in his multi-hit games and 9-1 in his games with multiple RBI. 6 of his 7 HR came in the 6th inning or later, including a team-leading 4 as late as the 8th inning. Hit .280 (7-for-25, 2 HR) with RISP and 2 outs. In 14 extra-inning PA, went 5-for-11 (.455) with 2 runs, 2B, HR, 4 RBI. Hit safely from each side of the plate in each of the Sox' first 2 games of the season...The last Sox catcher with multiple hits in each of the team's first 2 games was Sammy White in 1954. Caught the first 3 runners attempting to steal over his first 4 games of the season. From 5/6-7 at MIN, went 5-for-9 (.556) with 3 HR...Marked his 1st time hitting 3 HR over a 2-game period. Recorded his 1st career multi-HR game on 5/7 at MIN, tying a career high with 4 RBI (3rd time). Through 5/13, was hitting .400 (8-for-20) with 2 XBH and a 1.055 OPS from the right side. Hit safely in 10 of 11 games with a PA from 6/9-7/1, going 14-for-39 (.359) with 8 R, 3 2B, HR, and 7 RBI. Scored at least 1 run in a career-high 6 straight games from 6/20-7/3 (7 total runs). From 7/25-8/25, drove in 13 runs over 15 games, including 4 multi-RBI efforts. Hit his 7th HR of the season on 9/26 vs. TOR, tying his career high set in 2016. POSTSEASON: Caught Games 1 and 3 of the ALDS vs. HOU, going 2-for-4 with an RBI in each game. Was the 1st Red Sox catcher to record multiple hits and at least 1 RBI in consecutive postseason games since Carlton Fisk in 1975 (ALCS Games 2 & 3). Caught the only runner who attempted to steal against him (Derek Fisher in Game 1).
2016
Began his 2nd year in the Red Sox organization with Triple-A Pawtucket, but served as Boston's primary catcher after joining the club in June...Played in more games and recorded more hits, doubles, HR, RBI, BB, and runs scored than he did in his first 4 ML seasons combined. Received the Unsung Hero Award from the Boston chapter of the BBWAA. His .310 AVG (78-for-252) was the highest by a Red Sox catcher (min. 250 AB) since Carlton Fisk hit .315 in 1977...Was batting .356 with a .967 OPS at the end of play on 9/12, but went 4-for-44 (.091) in his final 14 games. Among switch-hitters with at least 250 AB, ranked 2nd in AVG and 3rd in OPS (.845). Posted a .373/.450/.612 batting line vs. LHP (25-for-67, 4 2B, 4 HR)...Hit .313 with RISP (21-for-67), .330 with 2 outs (30-for-91), and .325 at home (40-for-123)...Batted .440 with a 1.131 OPS when batting 9th (22-for-50, 7 2B, HR). Recorded a 3.90 catcher's ERA...Threw out 13 of 33 (39.4%) attempted base stealers...Had the 2nd-highest fielding percentage among catchers with at least 500 total chances (.998; 1 E/597 TC). Caught 3 shutouts, each of which was started by a different pitcher: 7/10 vs. TB (Price), 7/19 vs. SF (Porcello), and 8/5 at LAD (Wright). Selected to the ML roster from Pawtucket on 6/5 and spent the remainder of the season with BOS. According to Elias, became the 1st player in Red Sox history to record a hit in each of his first 5 plate appearances of a season...Hit a pinch-hit, 10th-inning double in his 1st plate appearance of the season on 6/7 at SF, then recorded a hit in each of his first 4 PA on 6/11 at MIN before drawing a walk in his 5th...Elias also notes that Leon became the 1st Red Sox to reach base via hit, BB, or HBP in each of his first 6 PA of a season since Ted Cox in 1977 (first 7). Began the season 20-for-40...According to Elias, became the first Red Sox with 20+ hits in his first 40 AB of a season since David Ortiz in 2013 (also 20-for-40), and the first major leaguer to do so since Adrian Gonzalez in 2015 (22-for-40). Went 4-for-5 with 3 2B on 7/4 vs. TEX...Was the first Red Sox catcher with 3+ doubles in a game since Jason Varitek on 5/12/02 at SEA (3). Went 25-for-55 (.455) in 19 games (13 starts) in the season's 1st half, the highest AVG ever for a player at the All-Star break (min. 50 AB)...Homered in 6 of his first 25 games after the All-Star break. Went 2-for-4 with a HR and 4 RBI in the Sox' 5-2 win at NYY on 7/16...Also had a HR and 4 RBI on 8/5 at LAD. Began the season with the PawSox...Made 29 starts at catcher, throwing out 9 of 17 (53%) attempted base stealers. POSTSEASON: Started each of the Red Sox' 3 ALDS games at catcher...Hit a solo HR in Game 1 at CLE, his first ever postseason game...Became the 1st Red Sox catcher ever to homer in his 1st career playoff game...Threw out 1 of 2 attempted base stealers in the series.
2015
Made 33 starts at catcher in his 1st season with the Red Sox...BOS went 16-17 in his starts, including 11-8 beginning 6/2...Also appeared in 26 games with Triple-A Pawtucket. Named to 1st career Opening Day roster after being acquired from WSH for cash considerations on 3/30. Played in 33 ML games (28 starts) before being designated for assignment on 7/20...Cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A on 7/30...Selected back to the ML roster on 9/1 and made 8 more appearances (5 starts). Led the majors by throwing out 50% (10 of 20) of attempted base stealers (min. 20 SBA)...Posted a 3.47 catcher's ERA with BOS, 2nd best among AL catchers (min. 300.0 innings caught). Caught 4 of the team's 10 shutouts in only 33 starts...Caught all 13 innings of the Sox' 2-0 win on 9/13 at TB. Red Sox pitchers gave up only 9 runs in 47.0 innings in 5 starts during his second ML stint of the year (1.72 ERA)...Caught all 4 of Rich Hill's starts down the stretch (1.55 ERA). Entered the game on 4/12 at NYY as a defensive replacement at 3B in the 8th inning, his only appearance at a position other than catcher in the majors or minors. Following the season, posted a .338 OBP in 33 games for Aragua in the Venezuelan Winter League...Also went 20-for-65 (.308) with a .416 OBP in 20 postseason games...Played in 6 games for Venezuela in the Caribbean Series, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and 2 CCS against Mexico in the finals on 2/7.
2014
Appeared in 20 games (17 starts) over 4 stints with the Nationals (4/2-5/15, 6/11-25, 8/5-7, 9/1-end of season)...Spent most of the season with Triple-A Syracuse. Threw out 5 of 8 (63%) potential base stealers with WSH and caught 12 of 21 (57%) with Syracuse. Was set to begin the season with Double-A Harrisburg, but was summoned to WSH on 4/2 after Wilson Ramos injured his left hand on Opening Day...Hit .182 (8-for-44) in 13 games before being optioned to Syracuse on 5/16. Hit his 1st ML home run on 4/14 at MIA, a 2-run shot off RHP Kevin Slowey. Played in 46 games for Aguilas del Zulia of the Venezuelan Winter League.
2013
Struggled at the plate (hit .177 in 95 games) with Harrisburg in first complete Double-A season...was recalled by the Nationals, Sept. 1..while in minors, posted nearly as many walks (47) as strikeouts (57)...walked once every 7.7 plate appearances...including 3-game rehab stint with (low) Single-A Auburn, threw out 27 of 70 (39%) would-be basestealers in '13....played in 2 Sept. contests for Washington, going 0-for-1 (K).
2012
Switch-hitting catcher debuted in big leagues in '12 in 6th professional season...made MLB debut, May 14 vs. SDP, but suffered high right ankle sprain in 4th-inning home-plate collision with SDP's Chase Headley...endured 6-week stint on the DL, but in first game upon return, notched first big league hit, a 7th-inning single off (eventual Cy Young Award winner) R.A. Dickey, July 19 vs. NYM...on July 27 at MIL, gunned down Jonathan Lucroy to register first caught stealing of career...when starting, Washington went 7-2...combined to hit .322 with 19 doubles, three homers and 26 RBI in 64 minor-league games at 3 levels...experienced first big league Spring Training in '12.
2011
In finest offensive season to date, posted 28 extra-base hits for Potomac, including career-best 21 doubles and 6 homers, in first Single-A Carolina League exposure...also registered career highs in batting (.251), RBI (43) and games (109)...the 6 home runs were 50 percent more than total (4) amassed through first 4 pro campaigns...despite receiving 31 more plate appearances than the season prior, strikeouts shrunk by 10.
2010
With Hagerstown of the Single-A South Atlantic League, hit .249, but tallied career-best 50 walks in 98 games en route to .345 on-base percentage that established a career high.
2009
Playing for both Hagerstown of the Single-A South Atlantic League and Vermont of the Short-season Single-A New York-Penn League, combined to bat .238 with 13 doubles and two home runs, which were first of professional career...following the season, was cited as the Best Defensive Catcher in the Nationals chain by Baseball America...blasted first pro home run, a 7th-inning solo shot, on Aug. 23 at Tri City.
2008
In repeat season in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, hit .189 but tallied 11 RBI in just 26 games with the GCL Nationals.
2007
Showed strong pitch recognition and plate discipline (17 walks in 31 games/94 at-bats) in first pro season, which was spent with the GCL Nationals...in professional debut, June 19 vs. GCL Dodgers, walked twice and scored 2 runs.
