Jeimer Candelario Bio
Jeimer Candelario is an American professional baseball third baseman and first baseman who played for the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds across parts of ten major league seasons. Born on November 24, 1993, in New York City, he moved to the Dominican Republic at age five. Candelario made his Major League Baseball debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2016 and went on to establish himself as a consistent offensive contributor at the major league level. He has represented the Dominican Republic in international baseball competitions throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Candelario was born in New York City and moved to the Dominican Republic when he was five years old. His family relocated so that his father could open a baseball training center, providing Jeimer with early exposure to the sport in one of baseball’s most storied developmental environments. Growing up in the Dominican Republic allowed Candelario to immerse himself in the game from a young age, honing skills that would eventually attract professional scouts.
Path to Professional Baseball
Candelario signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent on November 20, 2010. He made his professional debut the following year with the Dominican Summer League Cubs, beginning his climb through the minor leagues. He advanced through the Cubs system over the next several seasons, playing for the Boise Hawks in 2012, the Kane County Cougars in 2013 and 2014, and the Daytona Cubs in 2014. In 2015, he started with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the High-A Carolina League before earning a promotion to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A Southern League. The Cubs added him to their 40-man roster after that season, signaling their belief in his potential.
Jeimer Candelario Career
Chicago Cubs (2016–2017)
Candelario began the 2016 season with the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, where he batted .333 in his first 25 games. The Chicago Cubs promoted him to the major league team on July 3, 2016, to replace Chris Coghlan, who was placed on the disabled list. He made his major league debut that same day against the New York Mets. Candelario appeared in five games for the Cubs in 2016, finishing with a .091 batting average. Though he was not included on the Cubs postseason roster, Candelario was on the 40-man roster when Chicago won the 2016 World Series and earned his first championship ring.
Detroit Tigers (2017–2022)
On July 31, 2017, the Cubs traded Candelario along with Isaac Paredes to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Alex Avila and Justin Wilson. The Tigers assigned him to the Toledo Mud Hens of Triple-A before promoting him to the major leagues on August 7. With the 2017 Tigers, Candelario went 31-for-94, hitting .330 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in his limited action.
He became the Tigers regular third baseman in 2018 and enjoyed a breakout moment on May 26 when he hit his first career multiple-homer game against the Chicago White Sox. For the season, he batted .224 with 19 home runs and 54 RBIs. In 2019, Candelario recorded his first five-hit game on March 31 against the Toronto Blue Jays. After struggling to a .192 average early in the season, he was optioned to Toledo but earned a call-up later in the year, finishing with eight home runs and 32 RBIs.
The 2020 season saw Candelario transition to first base following an injury to C.J. Cron. He earned his first American League Player of the Week honor for September 7–13, hitting .423 that week with four doubles, three home runs, and nine RBIs. During a doubleheader on September 10, he homered in each game, becoming the first Tiger to accomplish that feat since Leonys Martín in 2018. Candelario finished 2020 hitting .297 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs in 52 games while leading the Tigers with 21 extra-base hits.
In 2021, Candelario signed a one-year contract worth $2.85 million with Detroit. He responded with his best season, hitting .271 with 16 home runs, 67 RBIs, and an MLB-leading 42 doubles. He also led the Tigers with 61 extra-base hits and posted a 3.2 Wins Above Replacement. The Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America named him Tiger of the Year for the second consecutive season, making him the first player since Miguel Cabrera in 2012 and 2013 to win the award back-to-back. He signed another one-year deal worth $5.8 million in March 2022, but a left shoulder subluxation in June limited him to a .217 average with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs. The Tigers non-tendered him that November, making him a free agent.
Washington Nationals (2023)
On November 29, 2022, Candelario signed a one-year contract worth $5 million with $1 million in achievable incentives with the Washington Nationals. In 99 appearances for Washington during the 2023 season, he slashed .258/.342/.481 with 16 home runs, 53 RBIs, and six stolen bases.
Chicago Cubs Return (2023)
On July 31, 2023, the Nationals traded Candelario back to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for DJ Herz and Kevin Made. In 41 appearances with his original organization, he batted .234/.318/.445 with six home runs, 17 RBIs, and two stolen bases. He became a free agent following the season.
Cincinnati Reds (2024–2025)
On December 11, 2023, Candelario signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds that also included a club option for a fourth year. He made 112 appearances during the 2024 season, hitting .225/.279/.429 with 20 home runs, 56 RBIs, and four stolen bases. In 2025, Candelario appeared in 22 games for Cincinnati, batting .113/.198/.213 with two home runs and 10 RBIs. The Reds designated him for assignment on June 23, 2025, and released him after he cleared waivers on June 29.
Driving Style and Strengths
Candelario has proven himself as a versatile infielder capable of playing both third base and first base at the major league level. His offensive game has featured consistent extra-base hitting, particularly his ability to hit doubles. His best season came in 2021 when he led the American League with 42 doubles while driving in 67 runs. Candelario has shown the ability to work counts and get on base, demonstrated by his solid on-base percentages throughout his career. His power-to-average combination has made him a valuable middle-of-the-order bat when performing at his best.
Notable Events and Milestones
Candelario achieved his first World Series championship as a member of the Chicago Cubs in 2016, though he did not appear in the postseason. He earned American League Player of the Week honors in September 2020 and was named Tigers Tiger of the Year in both 2020 and 2021, becoming the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons since Miguel Cabrera. His career-high 42 doubles in 2021 led all of Major League Baseball.
Jeimer Candelario Career Wins
Across ten major league seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds, Candelario has compiled 110 career home runs and 384 RBIs while batting .236 through April 8, 2026.
Detroit Tigers Highlights
Candelario reached his statistical peak during his five-plus seasons with the Detroit Tigers. His 2020 and 2021 campaigns represented the strongest portions of his career, with the latter being particularly notable as he led the American League in doubles and posted a 3.2 WAR. He was named Tiger of the Year in back-to-back seasons, joining an elite group of Detroit players. His first multi-homer game on May 26, 2018, against the Chicago White Sox marked an early career milestone as he demonstrated his power potential at the major league level.
Other Highlights
Candelario began his major league career with the Chicago Cubs and earned a World Series championship ring with the organization in 2016. His 2023 season with the Washington Nationals showed his ability to contribute consistently, as he posted a solid .258 batting average with 16 home runs and 53 RBIs in 99 games before the trade back to Chicago. He hit 20 home runs with 56 RBIs for the Cincinnati Reds in 2024.
Jeimer Candelario Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Candelario was born in New York City and moved to the Dominican Republic at age five. His father established a baseball training center in the Dominican Republic, providing Jeimer with early exposure to professional baseball instruction and development opportunities from childhood.
Personal Life
Candelario has represented the Dominican Republic internationally, competing for his birth country on the national baseball team. He has maintained connections to his Dominican roots throughout his professional career in Major League Baseball.
2025 Season Performance
Candelario began the 2025 season with the Cincinnati Reds following the signing of his three-year, $45 million contract in December 2023. However, he struggled significantly through his first 22 appearances, batting just .113 with two home runs and 10 RBIs. The Reds designated him for assignment on June 23, 2025, citing performance concerns after he failed to match the offensive production the team had anticipated when securing his services. He cleared waivers and was released by Cincinnati on June 29, 2025, ending his tenure with the organization less than halfway through the second year of his contract.