Yaramil Hiraldo

Yaramil Hiraldo Bio

Yaramil Junior Hiraldo is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. Born on December 31, 1995, Hiraldo signed his first professional contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks in June 2018. After spending several years developing through the minor leagues and navigating independent baseball, he reached the majors in 2025 at age 29. Hiraldo made his MLB debut with the Orioles on May 27, 2025, against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Early Life and Background

Yaramil Junior Hiraldo was born on December 31, 1995, in the Dominican Republic. Little information is available about his early life and family background, as he rose through the baseball ranks primarily via the Dominican Summer League. His journey to professional baseball began in his home country, where he developed his skills as a pitcher before signing with a Major League organization.

Hiraldo grew up in the Dominican Republic, a nation renowned for producing elite baseball talent. The Dominican Republic is a powerhouse in MLB, consistently developing players who go on to successful professional careers. Hiraldo’s path followed this tradition, as he pursued baseball from a young age and eventually attracted the attention of scouts from MLB organizations.

Path to Professional Baseball

On June 5, 2018, Hiraldo signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent. This signing marked the beginning of his professional baseball career. He made his professional debut shortly after signing, appearing in the Dominican Summer League Diamondbacks. This rookie-level league serves as the entry point for many international players, providing them with their first exposure to organized baseball in the United States system.

After his debut season, Hiraldo continued to develop within the Diamondbacks organization. In 2019, he split the campaign between the Low-A Hillsboro Hops and Single-A Kane County Cougars. Across 23 total appearances, he demonstrated promising potential by compiling a 2-1 record with a 1.01 earned run average and 32 strikeouts across 35 and two-thirds innings pitched. His performance in the lower levels of the minors showed he could miss bats and limit scoring, though his sample size remained small.

Yaramil Hiraldo Career

Arizona Diamondbacks Organization (2018-2022)

Hiraldo spent the 2019 season establishing himself as a viable pitching prospect within the Diamondbacks system. His 1.01 ERA stood out as particularly impressive, indicating strong performances on the mound. However, the 2020 season presented an unexpected obstacle when the minor league campaign was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This interruption forced Hiraldo to wait for another opportunity to advance his career and showcase his abilities.

He returned to game action in 2021 with Hillsboro, now operating as a High-A affiliate. Hiraldo transitioned primarily to a bullpen role, making 19 appearances out of the pen. He recorded a 4.13 ERA with 25 strikeouts and converted nine saves, demonstrating his ability to handle high-leverage situations late in games. Despite this solid performance, the Diamondbacks released Hiraldo on March 26, 2022, ending his tenure with the organization.

Independent League Years (2022-2024)

Following his release from the Diamondbacks, Hiraldo continued pursuing his baseball dreams in independent leagues. On April 20, 2022, he signed with the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The Atlantic League serves as a stepping stone for players seeking to return to affiliated baseball. With Lexington, Hiraldo made 50 relief appearances, compiling a 0-1 record with a 5.83 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 54 innings. He was released by the Legends on September 18, 2022.

Hiraldo signed with the Charleston Dirty Birds on July 24, 2023, another Atlantic League team. In 11 appearances for Charleston, he showed significant improvement, posting a 1-0 record with a 1.64 ERA and five saves across 11 innings. His strong performance attracted attention, and on September 1, 2023, he was traded to the Staten Island FerryHawks. With Staten Island, Hiraldo appeared in seven games, recording a 1.29 ERA with two saves over seven innings.

On May 26, 2024, Hiraldo signed with Caliente de Durango of the Mexican League. This move represented a shift to a different international league. He performed well in Mexico, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.05 ERA and 27 strikeouts across 22 innings in 24 appearances. His success in the Mexican League helped reestablish his value as a professional pitcher.

Baltimore Orioles Breakthrough (2025-Present)

On October 31, 2024, Hiraldo signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles organization. This opportunity gave him another chance to work his way back into affiliated baseball. He began the 2025 season with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides while also appearing for the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds and Double-A Chesapeake Baysox as part of a developmental assignment.

His strong performances in the minors paid off when, on May 24, 2025, Hiraldo was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut on May 27 against the St. Louis Cardinals. In a memorable first appearance, Hiraldo received a pitch clock violation before throwing his first pitch, but he recovered to strike out Iván Herrera for his first career strikeout. He appeared in 18 games for the Orioles during his rookie season, recording a 4.58 ERA with 21 strikeouts across 19 and two-thirds innings.

Hiraldo made Baltimore’s Opening Day roster entering the 2026 campaign. However, he struggled in his first three appearances, posting a 21.60 ERA with two strikeouts over one and two-thirds innings. On April 3, 2026, he was placed on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 13. This injury marked an early setback in his sophomore season.

Driving Style and Strengths

Throughout his career, Hiraldo has primarily worked as a relief pitcher, specializing in late-inning appearances. His ability to record saves in multiple organizations demonstrates his comfort in high-pressure situations. He has shown the capacity to pitch multiple innings when needed, as evidenced by his 50 appearances with Lexington. His strikeout ability remains his calling card, with his best seasons showing double-digit strikeout totals in limited innings.

Notable Events and Milestones

Hiraldo’s journey to MLB represents a remarkable comeback story. After being released by an MLB organization, he spent time in independent leagues and foreign leagues before earning another opportunity. His MLB debut on May 27, 2025, against the St. Louis Cardinals marked the culmination of years of perseverance. The moment was especially notable for his first career strikeout of Iván Herrera, which came immediately after an unusual pitch clock violation. His jersey number with the Orioles is 76.

Yaramil Hiraldo Career Statistics

Across his professional career spanning multiple leagues and organizations, Hiraldo has compiled a record that reflects his resilience and ability to adapt. His minor league and independent league statistics show a pitcher capable of missing bats and recording saves in various roles.

Major League Baseball Highlights

During his rookie season with the Baltimore Orioles in 2025, Hiraldo appeared in 18 games out of the bullpen. He finished with a 0-0 win-loss record and a 4.58 earned run average. He recorded 21 strikeouts across 19 and two-thirds innings. His strikeout rate demonstrated his ability to miss bats at the highest level, though his ERA indicated some struggles with consistency during his introduction to MLB pitching.

Minor League and Independent League Highlights

In affiliated minor leagues, Hiraldo’s standout campaign came in 2019 with the Hillsboro Hops and Kane County Cougars, where he posted a 1.01 ERA in 23 appearances. In the Atlantic League, his best work came with Charleston in 2023, where he recorded a 1.64 ERA and five saves in 11 games. His time with Caliente de Durango in 2024 showed his best win-loss record at 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season represented the breakthrough year that Hiraldo had been working toward since signing his first professional contract in 2018. After years of grinding through the minors, independent leagues, and the Mexican League, he finally received the call to the majors. His journey took him through five different organizations before establishing himself as an MLB pitcher.

Beginning the season in the minors with Norfolk, Aberdeen, and Chesapeake Baysox, Hiraldo pitched well enough to earn a promotion. When selected to the 40-man roster on May 24, it marked the culmination of his perseverance through adversity. His debut on May 27 provided a memorable moment despite the pitch clock violation, and his strikeout of Herrera became a noteworthy anecdote in his early career.

Throughout his 18 appearances with the Orioles, Hiraldo showed glimpses of his potential while adjusting to life in the majors. His 21 strikeouts in under 20 innings demonstrated his swing-and-miss ability, though his 4.58 ERA indicated he would need to refine his command. The 2025 season served as an evaluation period for both Hiraldo and the organization as they determined his role moving forward.