Tyler Lawrence France Bio
Tyler Lawrence France is an American professional baseball first baseman who most recently played for the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins in 2025 before returning to the San Diego Padres organization in 2026. France was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 2015 MLB Draft and has compiled a career batting average of .262 with 91 home runs and 393 runs batted in through June 26, 2026. He earned his first Gold Glove Award in 2025 and was named an American League All-Star in 2022.
Early Life and Background
France was born on July 13, 1994, in West Covina, California. He attended South Hills High School in his hometown, where he developed his skills as a baseball player during his high school years. His exceptional performance at the prep level set the foundation for his future collegiate career.
After graduating from high school, France continued his baseball journey at San Diego State University. He played college baseball for the Aztecs from 2013 to 2015, establishing himself as a reliable contact hitter. In the summer of 2013, he played for the Bethesda Big Train in the prestigious summer college baseball league, where he earned the title of team’s Outstanding Hitter. His junior season in 2015 proved to be his best collegiate campaign as he hit .336 with four home runs and 49 runs batted in across 64 games.
France concluded his three-season tenure at San Diego State with an impressive career line of .337/.428/.470, demonstrating his consistency and plate discipline at the collegiate level.
Path to Major League Baseball
France entered the 2015 MLB Draft with a strong collegiate resume. The San Diego Padres selected him in the 34th round with the 1,017th overall selection and signed him to a $100,000 signing bonus. He began his professional career that same year with the Low-A Tri-City Dust Devils, where he showcased his hitting ability by posting a .294 batting average with a .425 on-base percentage in his debut season.
France steadily progressed through the Padres minor league system over the next several seasons. In 2016, he split time between the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps and the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm, combining to hit .271 with 14 home runs and 73 runs batted in. He continued his development in 2017, advancing to Double-A San Antonio Missions while splitting time with Lake Elsinore.
The 2018 season marked a significant breakthrough in his minor league career. Playing primarily for Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, France hit .267 with a career-high 22 home runs and 96 runs batted in. His performance earned him a spot on the Padres 40-man roster on November 20, 2018, protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft.
Tyler Lawrence France Career
San Diego Padres (2019–2020)
France opened the 2019 season with Triple-A El Paso before receiving his first major league call-up on April 24, 2019. He made his MLB debut on April 26, hitting a pinch-hit single in his first at-bat. Although he was briefly sent back to the minors, France was recalled to the majors in August 2019 when he was batting an extraordinary .399 with El Paso. He remained with the big league club for the rest of the season, finishing just shy of the .400 mark at .399.
The 2020 season marked France’s first appearance on an Opening Day roster. With the National League adopting the designated hitter rule for that season due to COVID-19 protocols, France served as the starting designated hitter on Opening Day. He collected one hit in four at-bats in the Padres’ victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. On August 13, 2020, France was optioned to the alternative training site.
Seattle Mariners Breakthrough (2020–2024)
On August 30, 2020, France’s tenure with the Padres ended when he was traded to the Seattle Mariners as part of a multi-player deal. In 23 games with Seattle that season, he hit .302 with two home runs and 13 runs batted in, quickly establishing himself as a key contributor in the Mariners lineup.
The 2021 season saw France emerge as one of the most consistent hitters in the American League. He slashed .291/.368/.445 with 18 home runs, 73 runs batted in, and 85 runs scored across 152 games. He tied for the major league lead in hit-by-pitch with 27, showcasing his ability to work counts and absorb pitches.
France’s 2022 campaign represented the pinnacle of his early career. On April 23, 2022, he recorded his first career five-hit game, going 5-for-6 with a home run against the Kansas City Royals. He was named American League Co-Player of the Week alongside legendary Miguel Cabrera. France was subsequently selected to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Mike Trout. He finished the season with 140 appearances, hitting .274/.338/.436 with 20 home runs and 83 runs batted in.
The 2023 season saw France sign a one-year, $4.1 million contract with Seattle. He appeared in 121 games, hitting .250/.337/.366 with 12 home runs and 58 runs batted in while leading the majors with 34 hit-by-pitches. In 2024, France earned $6.775 million through the arbitration process. On June 8, 2024, he surpassed Edgar Martínez to become the Mariners’ all-time franchise leader in hit-by-pitch. However, after struggling offensively throughout the season, he was placed on outright waivers in July and designated for assignment.
Cincinnati Reds (2024)
On July 29, 2024, the Mariners traded France to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for prospect Andruw Salcedo. In 52 games with Cincinnati, he slashed .251/.292/.391 with five home runs and 20 runs batted in. Following the season, he was removed from the Reds’ 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Louisville Bats. France rejected the assignment and elected free agency in November 2024.
Minnesota Twins (2025)
On February 15, 2025, France signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Minnesota Twins. He quickly made an impact with his new team, delivering a walk-off single against the New York Mets on April 16. He recorded his second walk-off hit of the season on May 23, this time a home run against the Kansas City Royals. France made 101 total appearances for the Twins, batting .251/.320/.357 with six home runs, 44 runs batted in, and one stolen base.
Toronto Blue Jays and Return to San Diego (2025–Present)
On July 31, 2025, the Twins traded France to the Toronto Blue Jays as part of a deal for prospects Alan Roden and Kendry Rojas. He made 37 appearances for the Blue Jays, batting .277/.320/.372 with one home run and eight runs batted in. Combined with his Minnesota stats, France posted a .257 batting average with seven home runs and 52 runs batted in across 138 total games in 2025. Following the season, France was awarded his first career Gold Glove Award for American League first basemen on November 2, 2025, recognizing his excellence in defensive play.
On February 16, 2026, France returned to his original organization, signing a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. After impressing during spring training, the Padres selected his contract on March 25, 2026, adding him to their Opening Day roster and marking his return to the team that originally signed him in 2015.
Tyler Lawrence France Career Wins
Throughout his career, France has established himself as a reliable everyday player at the first base position, accumulating 91 home runs and 393 runs batted in across his major league tenure. His most productive seasons came with the Seattle Mariners, where he earned his only All-Star selection in 2022 and became the franchise leader in hit-by-pitch.
Seattle Mariners Highlights
France’s time with the Mariners from 2020 to 2024 represented his most sustained major league success. He appeared in over 500 games with Seattle, accumulating 56 home runs and 237 runs batted in while batting .267. His 2022 All-Star selection and his record-setting performance as the Mariners’ hit-by-pitch leader stand as his most notable achievements with the organization.
Awards and Accolades
France earned his first Gold Glove Award in 2025, recognizing his defensive excellence at first base for the American League. He was named an All-Star in 2022, representing the Mariners at the midsummer classic. His career totals through June 26, 2026, include a .262 batting average, 91 home runs, and 393 runs batted in across portions of eight major league seasons.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Career Batting Average | .262 |
| Career Home Runs | 91 |
| Career Runs Batted In | 393 |
Tyler Lawrence France Family
Family Background
France grew up in West Covina, California, where he attended South Hills High School. He comes from an athletic background that supported his development as a baseball player from a young age.
Personal Life
France married his wife, Maggie, in January 2022. The couple welcomed their first child, a baby boy, on April 6, 2024. France maintains a presence on social media, where he shares glimpses of his family life alongside his baseball career. He currently resides in the San Diego area while playing for the Padres.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a year of transition for France as he played for two American League teams. He began the year with the Minnesota Twins after signing a one-year contract in February. France showed flashes of his clutch-hitting ability with two memorable walk-off hits, first a single against the New York Mets in April and then a home run against the Kansas City Royals in May. His defensive versatility and plate discipline kept him in the lineup consistently throughout the first half of the season.
In late July, France was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he continued to provide solid at-bats despite the change of scenery. His ability to work counts and get on base remained a valuable asset for both clubs. The season concluded with France earning his first Gold Glove Award, validating his reputation as one of the better defensive first basemen in the American League.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, France returns to the organization where his professional career began. His journey through five major league franchises demonstrates his adaptability and resilience as a player. The San Diego Padres will look to France to provide veteran leadership and offensive production as they pursue their postseason goals.