Estevan Haniel Florial (born November 25, 1997) is a Dominican-Haitian professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians.
Estevan Florial | |
---|---|
Free agent | |
Outfielder | |
Born: Barahona, Dominican Republic | November 25, 1997|
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 28, 2020, for the New York Yankees | |
MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
Batting average | .192 |
Home runs | 4 |
Runs batted in | 22 |
Stats at Baseball Reference | |
Teams | |
Background
editEstevan Florial was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He holds dual-citizenship with Haiti due to his mother being born there. In the first couple of years with the Yankees organization, they mistakenly listed him as being born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which would have made him a forerunner to become the first Haitian-born Major League player.[1] Florial signed with the New York Yankees under the name Haniel d'Oleo in 2014. However the contract was voided after he was unable to provide a birth certificate and he re-signed with the Yankees under the name Estevan Florial in 2015.[2]
Career
editNew York Yankees
editMinor leagues
editFlorial made his professional debut that season with the Dominican Summer League Yankees 1 where he batted .313 with seven home runs and 53 RBIs in 57 games. He played in 2016 with the Pulaski Yankees, Charleston RiverDogs and Tampa Yankees,[3] batting a combined .227 with eight home runs and thirty RBIs in 67 total games among the three teams.
Florial started the 2017 season with Charleston.[4] He was selected to appear in the All-Star Futures Game in July.[5] After batting .297 with 11 home runs, 43 RBIs and 17 stolen bases for Charleston, he was promoted to Tampa in August, where he finished the season[6] slashing .303/.368/.461 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 19 games.[7] The Yankees promoted him to the Trenton Thunder for their postseason but did not appear in a game.[8]
Florial entered 2018 as one of the top prospects in the minor leagues.[9] Playing for Tampa, he broke the hamate bone in his right wrist in May and required surgery, costing him three months of the season.[10] In 2019, the Yankees invited Florial to spring training as a non-roster player.[11] He suffered a non-displaced fracture in his right wrist during spring training.[12] He returned to Tampa in June,[13] where he played for the 2019 season.[14]
Major leagues
editFlorial was called up to the majors on August 28, 2020.[15] He played in the first game of a doubleheader that same day against the New York Mets, where he got his first MLB hit. At the end of the day he was sent back to the minors.[16]
On July 20, 2021, the Yankees promoted Florial to the major leagues to replace the injured Trey Amburgey.[17] He recorded his first major league RBI on a groundout to first base, and later hit his first major league home run; a solo shot off of pitcher Enyel De Los Santos of the Philadelphia Phillies.[18]
Out of options in 2023, Florial made the Yankees Opening Day roster.[19] He appeared as a pinch runner on Opening Day, but was designated for assignment on April 1.[20] Florial had 63 plate appearances for the Yankees across four seasons, batting .185 with 21 strikeouts.[21] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on April 7.[22] In 101 games in Triple–A, he batted .284/.380/.565 with 28 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. On September 11, Florial had his contract selected back to the major league roster.[23] In 19 major league games for New York, he hit .230/.324/.312 with no home runs, eight RBIs, and three stolen bases.
Cleveland Guardians
editOn December 26, 2023, the Yankees traded Florial to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for Cody Morris.[24] In 36 games for Cleveland in 2024, he batted .173/.264/.367 with career–highs in home runs (3) and RBI (11). Florial was designated for assignment by the Guardians on May 31, 2024.[25][26] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers on June 7.[27] Florial elected minor league free agency on October 21.[28]
References
edit- ^ Miller, Randy, ed. (February 21, 2018). "Yankees' Estevan Florial passes on ripping Donald Trump, clarifies he's 'not from Haiti'". NJ.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ^ Sherman, Joel (February 23, 2016). "How a new identity made one Yankees prospect a rising star". nypost.com. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ^ "How Yankees gave young top prospect taste of what's to come". nj.com. March 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ^ Asberry, Derrek (April 6, 2017). "Opening Day: Charleston RiverDogs start season with sights set on reaching playoffs in consecutive seasons". The Post and Courier. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ^ "RiverDogs' Estevan Florial to Feature in MLB All-Star Futures Game". MiLB.com. June 29, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ^ "Yankees promote 19-year-old Florial to Tampa". MiLB.com. August 1, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ^ "Estevan Florial Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ "Florial bumped up to Trenton for EL Finals". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ^ "Yankees prospect Estevan Florial has a huge upside". Newsday. February 24, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Mazzeo, Mike (May 19, 2018). "Yankees top outfield prospect Estevan Florial needs wrist surgery, could miss three months". nydailynews.com. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Dykstra, Sam (February 1, 2019). "New York Yankees invite Estevan Florial to Spring Training camp". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ "New York Yankees prospect Estevan Florial fractures right wrist". Northjersey.com. March 16, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Rosenstein, Mike (June 4, 2019). "Yankees' Estevan Florial impresses in season debut for Single-A Tampa". NJ.com. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Kuty, Brendan (August 17, 2019). "How Yankees see top prospect Estevan Florial's struggles". NJ.com. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ King, George A. (August 28, 2020). "Injuries pave way for Estevan Florial's long-awaited Yankees debut". Nypost.com. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Siener, Jake. "FIRST TIMERS CLUB". ESPN. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "Yankees finally turn to Estevan Florial again with Trey Amburgey sidelined". nj.com. July 20, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
- ^ "Estevan Florial hits first MLB home run for New York Yankees". Northjersey.com. July 20, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
- ^ Joyce, Greg (March 30, 2023). "Yankees have 'potential deal' for pitcher after Opening Day". Nypost.com. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ "Yankees make Estevan Florial decision, tweak active roster". nj.com. January 26, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ Goodman, Max (April 1, 2023). "Why Yankees' Estevan Florial never panned out in pinstripes". NJ.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Yankees' Estevan Florial: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "Yankees' Estevan Florial: Returns to big leagues". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ "Yankees acquire pitcher Cody Morris from the Guardians for Estevan Florial". newsday.com. December 26, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
- ^ "Steven Kwan returns to lineup for Guardians". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 31, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ Noga, Joe (May 31, 2024). "Guardians activate Steven Kwan from injured list, designate Esetvan Florial for assignment". Cleveland.com. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ "Guardians' Estevan Florial: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. June 7, 2024.
- ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-10-21
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet