Miguel Andujar

Miguel Andujar Bio

Miguel Enrique Andújar is a Dominican professional baseball player who has spent parts of nine seasons in Major League Baseball as a left fielder and third baseman. Born in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic, Andújar signed with the New York Yankees as an international free agent in July 2011 and made his MLB debut in 2017. His standout 2018 rookie campaign with the Yankees saw him finish second in American League Rookie of the Year voting and set a franchise rookie record with 47 doubles. After injuries derailed his time in New York, Andújar has continued his MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, and San Diego Padres. Across his professional career, he has compiled a .283 batting average with 58 home runs and 240 RBIs in 727 games.

Early Life and Background

Andújar was born on March 2, 1995, in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic. He grew up in a baseball-rich culture that has produced numerous MLB stars. At age 16, Andújar signed with the New York Yankees as an international free agent in July 2011, beginning his professional baseball journey in the Yankees organization. His early development came entirely within the Yankees minor league system, where he honed his skills as a third baseman with impressive defensive instincts and developing power at the plate.

Path to Professional Baseball

Andújar made his professional debut in 2012 with the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-Level Gulf Coast League. He steadily climbed the minor league ladder over the next several seasons, playing for various affiliates within the Yankees organization. In 2013, he suited up for the Gulf Coast Yankees 2, and the following year he advanced to the Charleston RiverDogs of the Single-A South Atlantic League in 2014.

The 2015 season saw Andújar promoted to the Tampa Yankees of the High-A Florida State League. He began 2016 with Tampa before earning a promotion to the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A Eastern League. After the 2016 season, Andújar participated in the Arizona Fall League, a prestigious offseason league featuring top minor league prospects. Following his strong showing, the Yankees added him to their 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft. His rapid progression through the minors set the stage for his eventual MLB call-up.

Miguel Andujar Career

New York Yankees (2017-2022)

Andújar began the 2017 season with Trenton Thunder in Double-A, where he batted .312 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs through 67 games, leading the Eastern League in several offensive categories. Following a season-ending injury to top prospect Gleyber Torres in June, the Yankees promoted Andújar to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. After playing seven games with the RailRiders, he received his first MLB call-up on June 28 when Matt Holliday went on the disabled list. He made his major league debut as the designated hitter that day against the Chicago White Sox, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a walk, breaking the Yankees’ record for most RBIs in a player’s first game. The Yankees returned him to Triple-A the next day to ensure he could play every game at third base. Following the RailRiders’ season, where Andújar batted .317 with nine home runs and 30 RBIs in 58 games, the Yankees promoted him to the major leagues again on September 16.

Andújar made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster in 2018 and quickly established himself as a rising star. He hit his first major league home run on April 17. On April 23, he hit his fifth home run of the season in a game against the Minnesota Twins, marking his seventh consecutive game with an extra-base hit. Andújar joined Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle as the only Yankees players to ever have seven consecutive games with an extra-base hit under the age of 24. On May 4, he delivered his first career walk-off hit, an RBI single that sealed a 7-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians. On June 5, he hit his first major league grand slam. On September 29, Andújar hit his 45th double of the season, breaking the Yankees’ franchise record for most doubles by a rookie, previously held by Joe DiMaggio since 1936. For the season, he batted .297/.328/.527 with 27 home runs and 92 RBIs. He finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year Award voting, narrowly losing to Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels.

Despite his 2018 success, Andújar’s career with the Yankees was derailed by injuries beginning in 2019. On April 1, 2019, he was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain. He was diagnosed with a partial glenoid labrum tear and chose to rehabilitate the injury rather than undergo surgery. He was activated on May 4 but batted just 3-for-34 before returning to the injured list on May 13. On May 15, it was revealed that he would need season-ending surgery on his right shoulder, which he underwent on May 20, ending his campaign before it truly began.

Andújar returned to action in spring training 2020, though the Yankees converted him to a left fielder to reduce the wear and tear on his shoulder. He struggled at the plate early in the shortened season, batting 1-for-14 (.071) before the Yankees optioned him to their alternate training site. He spent much of the next two seasons in a reserve role, battling inconsistency and remaining on the roster bubble. On March 22, 2022, he signed a $1.3 million contract with the Yankees, avoiding salary arbitration. He began the year with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before being recalled to the majors. On September 8, 2022, Andújar hit his first home run in over 14 months, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs. However, on September 22, 2022, the Yankees designated him for assignment, ending his tenure with the organization where his professional career began.

Pittsburgh Pirates (2022-2023)

On September 25, 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Andújar off waivers. He played in nine games for Pittsburgh down the stretch, hitting .250/.275/.389 with nine RBIs. The Pirates signed Andújar to a one-year contract worth $1.525 million on November 18, avoiding salary arbitration. On January 20, 2023, the Pirates designated Andújar for assignment after finalizing the signing of Andrew McCutchen. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians on January 26. In 23 games for Indianapolis, Andújar hit .284/.364/.500 with three home runs, 15 RBIs, and two stolen bases. On April 29, the Pirates selected his contract to the active roster. He appeared in 13 games for Pittsburgh but struggled, batting just .161/.212/.387 in 33 plate appearances. On May 19, the Pirates designated him for assignment again. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on May 22. On September 1, Andújar was selected back to the major league roster. In 30 games for Pittsburgh, he batted .250/.300/.476 with four home runs and 18 RBIs. Following the season on November 2, the Pirates removed him from the 40-man roster and sent him outright to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds (2024-2025)

On November 6, 2023, Andújar was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics. He signed a one-year contract worth $1.7 million with the Athletics on November 17. On March 22, 2024, it was announced that Andújar had suffered a torn meniscus and would be out four to six weeks following surgery. Despite the setback, he played in 75 games for Oakland during the 2024 season, slashing .285/.320/.377 with four home runs, 30 RBIs, and three stolen bases. On August 28, manager Mark Kotsay announced that Andújar would undergo season-ending core muscle surgery, ending his campaign prematurely. On January 9, 2025, the Athletics and Andújar agreed on a contract worth $3 million to avoid arbitration. He made 60 appearances for the team before the trade deadline, slashing .298/.329/.436 with six home runs, 27 RBIs, and one stolen base.

On July 31, 2025, the Athletics traded Andújar to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Kenya Huggins. He made 34 appearances down the stretch for Cincinnati, batting an impressive .359/.400/.544 with four home runs and 17 RBIs, demonstrating his ability to contribute immediately upon joining a new organization.

San Diego Padres (2026-Present)

On February 11, 2026, Andújar signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the San Diego Padres that included a $2.5 million mutual option for the following season. The signing represented a fresh start for Andújar with a franchise known for its competitive ambitions. As of the latest available statistics through May 19, 2026, Andújar has played in multiple games for the Padres, continuing his MLB career with a new team.

Defensive Versatility

Throughout his career, Andújar has demonstrated flexibility playing both third base and left field. His defensive versatility has allowed him to remain valuable to various organizations despite offensive inconsistencies. His ability to play multiple positions provides managers with lineup flexibility and the option to keep his bat in the lineup regardless of the defensive alignment. Originally a third baseman, the position change to left field came after his 2019 shoulder surgery as the Yankees sought to reduce the physical demands on his arm.

Notable Achievements and Records

Andújar’s standout achievement remains his 2018 rookie campaign. His 47 doubles established a new Yankees franchise record for a rookie, breaking the longstanding mark of 46 set by Joe DiMaggio in 1936. His second-place finish in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, behind Shohei Ohtani, cemented his status as one of the top young players in baseball at that time. His debut performance on June 28, 2017, remains memorable for the four RBIs he recorded in his first four at-bats, setting a Yankees record for a player’s debut.

Miguel Andujar Career Statistics

Across his MLB career spanning nine seasons with five different franchises, Andújar has established himself as a consistent offensive contributor when healthy. His career numbers reflect a player with solid contact-hitting ability and enough power to be a threat in the middle of a lineup. He has shown the capability to hit for average while providing occasional extra-base power.

Major League Baseball Statistics

Miguel Andujar Personal Life

Off-Field Incident

In March 2022, Andújar was robbed at gunpoint at his farm in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic. While Andújar himself was not shot during the incident, a relative was shot in the finger. The experience underscored the security challenges that professional athletes sometimes face, particularly when returning to their home countries. Andújar recovered from the incident and continued his baseball career without missing significant time.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season represented a tale of two teams for Andújar. He began the year with the Oakland Athletics after agreeing to a $3 million contract in January. His first 60 appearances with Oakland showed promise, as he batted .298 with six home runs and 27 RBIs, demonstrating the potential that made him an intriguing trade target. The mid-season trade to the Cincinnati Reds on July 31 provided Andújar with a fresh opportunity. His production with Cincinnati was exceptional, as he batted .359 with four home runs and 17 RBIs across 34 games. This strong finish positioned him well for the 2026 season and contributed to his February 2026 signing with the San Diego Padres.