Paul Edward Goldschmidt (born September 10, 1987) is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Yankees. A seven-time All-Star, Goldschmidt won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 2022 and has established himself as one of the premier first basemen of his generation. He has represented the United States in three World Baseball Classics and resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Paul Goldschmidt Bio
Goldschmidt has built a remarkable career spanning over two decades in professional baseball. Known for his exceptional power-hitting ability and defensive excellence at first base, he has accumulated impressive statistics while earning numerous individual accolades. His career path took him from the Texas minor leagues to becoming one of the most respected players in the National League before transitioning to the American League with the New York Yankees organization.
Early Life and Background
Paul Edward Goldschmidt was born on September 10, 1987, in Wilmington, Delaware. His family relocated multiple times due to his father’s flooring business, eventually settling in The Woodlands, Texas, which is part of the Greater Houston area. Goldschmidt attended The Woodlands High School, where he played third base for their baseball team and helped lead The Woodlands to a Texas state championship in 2006.
His family background is notable for its diversity. His mother is Catholic, and his father is Jewish. Goldschmidt and his two younger brothers were raised Catholic but are aware of their Jewish heritage, including great-grandparents who escaped Nazi Germany in 1938. He has stated that he and his brothers understand their Jewish history and respect those beliefs, having been exposed to both sides of the family tradition during their upbringing.
Path to Professional Baseball
Goldschmidt enrolled at Texas State University to play college baseball for the Bobcats. He quickly established himself as an exceptional hitter, being named Southland Conference Hitter of the Year in both 2008 and 2009. He earned Southland Player of the Year honors in 2009 and was recognized as a third-team All-American as a junior, hitting .352 with 18 home runs and 88 runs batted in across 57 games. Goldschmidt set Texas State career records with 36 home runs and 179 RBIs during his collegiate career.
Despite his later success, Goldschmidt was lightly recruited coming out of high school. He was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 49th round of the 2006 MLB Draft but did not sign. The Arizona Diamondbacks subsequently selected him in the eighth round, with the 246th overall selection, of the 2009 MLB Draft. He signed with the Diamondbacks and received a $95,000 signing bonus, beginning his professional baseball journey.
Paul Goldschmidt Career
Minor Leagues and Development (2009–2011)
Goldschmidt began his professional career with the Missoula Osbury in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, where he made an immediate impact by hitting .334 with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs in his first 74 professional games. His 18 home runs set a Missoula franchise record. The following season with the Visalia Rawhide in the Class A-Advanced California League, Goldschmidt hit 35 home runs, the most among all Class A players. He was selected as an all-star and won the California League Most Valuable Player Award while also being named the Arizona Diamondbacks Minor League Player of the Year.
In 2011, Goldschmidt played for the Mobile Bay Bears of the Class AA Southern League, where he continued his impressive development by posting a .306 batting average with 30 home runs and 94 RBIs in 103 games through the end of July. He led all minor leaguers in home runs and RBIs during that stretch. After the season, he earned multiple honors including Baseball America First-team Minor League All-Star and Southern League Most Valuable Player.
Arizona Diamondbacks Breakthrough (2011–2018)
The Diamondbacks promoted Goldschmidt to the major leagues on August 1, 2011. He recorded a base hit in his first MLB at-bat and hit his first MLB home run the following day off San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum. In his rookie season, he appeared in 48 games and batted .250 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs. During the postseason, Goldschmidt made history by hitting a grand slam in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the third rookie in MLB postseason history to accomplish this feat.
The 2013 season marked Goldschmidt’s breakthrough year as a star. He was selected to his first All-Star Game and delivered an exceptional performance, leading MLB with four walk-off hits. He led the National League with 36 home runs and 125 RBIs while batting .302. His remarkable season earned him the Silver Slugger Award, Gold Glove Award, and Hank Aaron Award. He finished second in NL MVP voting, establishing himself as one of the league’s elite players. He led MLB with four walk-off hits in 2013.
Goldschmidt continued his All-Star selections through 2018, making six consecutive appearances. In 2015, he achieved a .321 batting average with 33 home runs and 110 RBIs, leading the major leagues with 29 intentional walks. His 2017 season saw him hit three home runs in a single game for the first time, and he reached his 1,000th career hit while batting .297 with 36 home runs, 117 runs, and 120 RBIs. He ended his Diamondbacks tenure ranking second in franchise history in games played, home runs, RBIs, hits, runs scored, and doubles, trailing only Luis Gonzalez.
St. Louis Cardinals Era (2019–2024)
On December 5, 2018, the Diamondbacks traded Goldschmidt to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Luke Weaver, Carson Kelly, Andy Young, and a draft pick. Less than four months later, Goldschmidt and the Cardinals agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $130 million, the largest in team history at that time. In his second game with the Cardinals, he hit three home runs, becoming the first player in major league history to hit three homers in either his first or second game with a new team.
The 2022 season represented the pinnacle of Goldschmidt’s career when he won the NL MVP Award. He led the National League with a .578 slugging percentage and .981 OPS while ranking second with 115 RBIs, 324 total bases, and a .404 on-base percentage. He became the first player since RBI became an official statistic in 1920 to accumulate at least 28 hits, 12 doubles, five home runs, and 22 RBIs during any 15-game span. His 25-game hitting streak featured a remarkable .424 batting average. Goldschmidt won his fifth Silver Slugger Award, making him the all-time leader among first basemen, and earned his second NL Hank Aaron Award. He received 22 of 30 first-place votes to secure the MVP Award.
Goldschmidt reached several significant career milestones during his Cardinals tenure. In 2021, he hit his 250th career home run and won the Gold Glove Award. In 2022, he scored his 1,000th run and hit his 300th career home run. He played in the 2023 London Series, becoming the first player in MLB history to play regular-season games in five different countries. On July 26, 2024, he recorded his 2,000th career hit with a two-run homer, becoming the 295th player in major league history and the fifth active player to reach that milestone.
New York Yankees (2025–Present)
On December 30, 2024, Goldschmidt signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the New York Yankees. In his first season with the Yankees, he appeared in 146 games and batted .274 with 10 home runs, 45 RBIs, and five stolen bases across 534 plate appearances. In February 2026, the Yankees re-signed Goldschmidt to a one-year, $4 million contract, demonstrating the organization’s continued confidence in his abilities despite his evolving role with the team.
Driving Style and Strengths
Goldschmidt is known for his patient approach at the plate, demonstrating exceptional plate discipline that consistently places him among the league leaders in walks and on-base percentage. His power-hitting ability from the right side of the plate, combined with his disciplined eye, makes him a formidable presence in any lineup. Defensively, Goldschmidt excels at first base with sure hands and quick footwork, earning him four Gold Glove Awards throughout his career. His combination of power, patience, and defensive prowess has made him one of the most complete first basemen in baseball.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Goldschmidt has delivered numerous memorable performances. His 2013 season saw him lead the National League in walk-off hits. In 2022, his Player of the Month performances in May and June helped propel him to MVP honors, with a 25-game hitting streak that ranked among the longest in Cardinals history. His postseason exploits include hitting a grand slam in the 2011 NLDS and a three-run home run in the 2017 NL Wild Card Game. Goldschmidt’s consistent excellence has been recognized through seven All-Star selections, five Silver Slugger Awards, and his historic 2022 MVP campaign.
Paul Goldschmidt Career Wins
Goldschmidt has accumulated impressive statistics across his major league career, establishing himself as one of the most productive first basemen of his era. His combination of power hitting and defensive excellence has resulted in numerous individual accolades and team contributions.
Major League Highlights
Through June 28, 2026, Goldschmidt has recorded 2,249 career hits with a .288 batting average. He has hit 386 career home runs and driven in 1,272 runs while stealing 175 bases. His 2022 MVP season stands out as his most decorated, when he led the National League in slugging percentage, OPS, total bases, and RBIs while finishing among the league leaders in batting average and home runs. Goldschmidt has led the National League in home runs and RBIs once each, both achieved during his remarkable 2013 campaign with the Diamondbacks.
Awards and Accolades
Goldschmidt’s individual awards include the 2022 NL MVP Award, five Silver Slugger Awards (the most among first basemen in MLB history), four Gold Glove Awards, two NL Hank Aaron Awards, and seven All-Star selections spanning from 2013 to 2022. He was named to the All-MLB First Team in 2022 following his MVP season. His consistent excellence at the plate and in the field has made him one of the most decorated players at his position over the past decade.
| Statistic | Career Total |
|---|---|
| Batting Average | .288 |
| Hits | 2,249 |
| Home Runs | 386 |
| Runs Batted In | 1,272 |
| Stolen Bases | 175 |
Paul Goldschmidt Family
Family Background
Goldschmidt grew up in The Woodlands, Texas, with his two younger brothers. His family’s Jewish heritage is significant, with great-grandparents Paul and Ilse Goldschmidt and his grandfather Ernie escaping Nazi Germany in 1938 before the Holocaust. His parents met at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. Despite being raised Catholic, Goldschmidt has maintained connections to his Jewish heritage and family history.
Personal Life
Goldschmidt met his wife Amy during his freshman year at Texas State University, and they married in October 2010. They have two children together. Goldschmidt was raised Catholic but later became an evangelical Protestant as an adult. In September 2013, he graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science degree in management. He previously owned a home in Scottsdale, Arizona, before purchasing a residence in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in 2020.
During his tenure with the Diamondbacks, Goldschmidt established a charity called “Goldy’s Fund 4 Kids” that hosted bowling events to raise money for Phoenix Children’s Hospital. His commitment to community service reflects his values and desire to give back to the communities where he has played.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Goldschmidt’s transition to the New York Yankees organization following his successful tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals. Signing with the Yankees on December 30, 2024, on a one-year, $12.5 million deal, Goldschmidt brought his veteran presence and proven track record to the American League East division powerhouse. His experience and leadership have provided valuable depth and stability to the Yankees’ lineup as they pursued their championship goals.
Goldschmidt appeared in 146 games during the 2025 campaign, demonstrating his durability and consistency despite the transition to a new team and league. He batted .274 with a .328 on-base percentage and .406 slugging percentage, contributing 10 home runs, 45 RBIs, and five stolen bases across 534 plate appearances. While his power numbers were more modest compared to his MVP campaign in 2022, Goldschmidt remained a reliable contributor in the middle of the Yankees’ lineup.
The transition to the American League presented new challenges, including facing designated hitters in opposing lineups and adapting to different ballpark dimensions. Goldschmidt’s professional approach and work ethic helped him navigate these adjustments while maintaining his reputation as a complete player. His defensive excellence at first base continued to provide value, and his veteran leadership in the clubhouse complemented the Yankees’ roster of established stars and emerging talent.