Liover Peguero (born December 31, 2000) is a Dominican professional baseball shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.
| Liover Peguero | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Peguero with the Altoona Curve in 2022 | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 31 | |
| Shortstop / Second baseman | |
| Born: December 31, 2000 Higüey, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 18, 2022, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Career statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .237 |
| Home runs | 7 |
| Runs batted in | 28 |
| Teams | |
| |
Career
editArizona Diamondbacks
editPeguero signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent in July 2017.[1] He spent his first professional season in 2018 with the Dominican Summer League Diamondbacks and Arizona League Diamondbacks, batting .259 with one home run and 21 runs batted in (RBIs) over 41 games played. In 2019, he played for the Missoula Osprey and Hillsboro Hops and slashed .326/.382/.485 with five home runs, 38 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases over 60 games.
Pittsburgh Pirates
editOn January 27, 2020, the Diamondbacks traded Peguero and Brennan Malone to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Starling Marte.[2][3] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 since the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] The Pirates invited him to their Spring Training in 2021.[5][6] He spent the season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, slashing .270/.332/.444 with 14 home runs, 45 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases over ninety games.[7] Pittsburgh selected his contract and added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[8]
Peguero was called up to the Pirates' major league roster on June 17, 2022, replacing Tucupita Marcano.[9] He made his major league debut the next day, getting one hit and a walk in four plate appearances in a 7–5 loss to the San Francisco Giants.[10] In 2023, he played in 59 games for Pittsburgh, batting .237/.280/.374 with seven home runs, 26 RBI, and six stolen bases.[11]
Peguero was optioned to the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians to begin the 2024 season.[12]
Personal life
editPeguero began teaching himself the English language as a child in the Dominican Republic by listening to hip hop music, reading the lyrics and then translating them into Spanish. Before his first minor league season began, he realized that he had become fluent in English without having taken a single class when he was able to carry on a conversation with fellow Diamondbacks minor leaguer Pavin Smith.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "D-backs sign five international players, including two highly-ranked". Arizona Sports. July 21, 2017.
- ^ "Meet Brennan Malone and Liover Peguero, the Pirates' return in the Starling Marte trade". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ "Pirates acquire Peguero, Malone for Marte". MiLB.com.
- ^ "Fun-loving shortstop prospect Liover Peguero has quickly made an impression on the Pirates". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ "'No fear' Peguero brings energy to camp". MLB.com.
- ^ "/ccpa/". TribLIVE.com.
- ^ "Never one to be shy, Pirates prospect Liover Peguero has some lofty long-term goals".
- ^ "Pirates a to Z: Liover Peguero's performance matched his personality at High-A Greensboro". December 8, 2021.
- ^ "No time to hit showers, Peguero leaves Altoona for Pittsburgh". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ "Peguero sees 'dream come true' with debut, 1st hit". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ "Perrotto: Liover Peguero Wants to Build Upon Surprising 2023 Stat". pittsburghbaseballnow.com. February 2, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ "Pirates Option Liover Peguero, Jose Hernandez to Triple-A". pittsburghbaseballnow.com. March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ delos Santos, Justice (May 25, 2023). "Language app? No, this prospect learned English through rap". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet