Richie Palacios Bio
Richard Jordan Palacios is an American professional baseball outfielder and second baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. Palacios rose through the Cleveland Guardians organization after being selected in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft and made his major league debut in 2022 before spending time with the St. Louis Cardinals and joining the Rays.
Early Life and Background
Richard Jordan Palacios was born on May 16, 1997, in New York City. He attended the Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn, where he developed as a multi-positional player and drew interest from college programs for his athleticism and baseball instincts.
Palacios continued his development at Towson University, playing college baseball and expanding his skill set as an outfielder and middle infielder. During his college years he also played summer baseball in established wood-bat leagues, gaining experience against high-level competition with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the Northwoods League and the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Path to Baseball
Palacios’ path to professional baseball followed a common ladder through prep school, college baseball and summer leagues that showcase prospects for scouts. His time at Towson and in summer leagues gave him exposure to MLB organizations and helped him refine tools such as base running, on-base approach and defensive versatility.
The Cleveland Indians (now Cleveland Guardians) drafted Palacios in the third round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. That selection set a professional trajectory that moved quickly through short-season and full-season minor leagues, punctuated by standout offensive production in his debut professional season.
Richie Palacios Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
After the 2018 draft, Palacios made his professional debut with a sequence of assignments that included the Arizona League Indians, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and the Lake County Captains. Across those stops in 2018 he compiled an outstanding start, batting .361 with six home runs and 30 runs batted in over 45 games, a performance that marked him as an ascending hitter in the Guardians system.
Palacios missed the 2019 season due to a torn labrum and did not play in 2020 because the minor league season was canceled. He returned in 2021 with the Akron RubberDucks and was promoted to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. Over 103 games split between Akron and Columbus he slashed .297/.404/.471 with seven home runs, 48 runs batted in, 33 doubles and 20 stolen bases, displaying a combination of on-base ability, gap power and speed.
Cleveland Guardians Breakthrough (2022)
The Cleveland Guardians selected Palacios to their 40-man roster on November 19, 2021, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft and signaling plans for his near-term role in the big league club. Palacios began the 2022 season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers and earned a promotion to the Guardians, making his major league debut on April 25, 2022, starting in left field.
In his debut game Palacios recorded his first major league hit, a single off Los Angeles Angels starter Michael Lorenzen. He finished his rookie campaign appearing in 54 games and hitting .232/.293/.286 with 10 runs batted in. The 2022 season provided foundational big league experience and defensive reps that helped his progression as a utility outfielder and occasional infielder.
St. Louis Cardinals Breakthrough (2023)
Palacios began 2023 back with Triple-A Columbus and was designated for assignment by the Guardians on June 11, 2023. On June 16, 2023, the Guardians traded Palacios to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for cash considerations, offering a fresh opportunity on a new roster.
With the Cardinals Palacios delivered a notable offensive burst in limited time, appearing in 32 games and batting .258/.307/.516 while delivering six home runs and 16 runs batted in. That stint demonstrated increased power in his game and provided a sample of his ability to impact a major league lineup when given regular at-bats.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2024–Present)
On January 5, 2024, the St. Louis Cardinals traded Palacios to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for pitcher Andrew Kittredge. Palacios saw career-high playing time in his first season with the Rays, appearing in 92 major league games in 2024 and batting .223 with five home runs and 19 stolen bases while contributing on the bases and in multiple defensive spots.
During the 2024 season Palacios suffered a knee injury in August after sliding headfirst into second base and was placed on the injured list. The Rays and Palacios managed his recovery into the following seasons; he started 2025 on the injured list with a fractured right ring finger but produced a 3-for-4 outing in his lone game before returning to the injured list with a knee sprain. He was activated from the injured list on September 1, 2025.
To begin the 2026 season Palacios was optioned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls, but following an injury to Gavin Lux the Rays added Palacios to their Opening Day roster, providing another opportunity to contribute at the big league level. Through June 30, 2026, Palacios’ career major league totals included 13 home runs, 71 runs batted in and a .238 batting average.
Driving Style and Strengths
Palacios profiles as a versatile, athletic baseball player whose strengths include on-base skills developed in the minors, gap-to-gap power that has occasionally translated into home runs at the major league level, and above-average baserunning that creates value on the basepaths. His ability to play multiple outfield positions and second base enhances roster flexibility, and his lefthanded hitting approach combined with speed gives teams a multi-faceted bench or platoon option.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Palacios’ career include his strong professional debut in 2018, his promotion to the Guardians’ 40-man roster after the 2021 season, his major league debut and first hit on April 25, 2022, and his six-homer showing with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023. His 92-game 2024 season with the Tampa Bay Rays represented a career-high in playing time and featured a mix of power and stolen bases.
Richie Palacios Career Wins
As a position player, Palacios’ contributions are best measured by offensive and baserunning totals. Through June 30, 2026, his major league line included 13 home runs, 71 runs batted in and a .238 batting average, reflecting cumulative production across stints with Cleveland, St. Louis and Tampa Bay.
MLB Highlights
Palacios made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Guardians on April 25, 2022, and notched his first major league hit in that game. In 2023 with the St. Louis Cardinals he recorded six home runs and 16 RBI in 32 games, a stretch that highlighted emergent power. With the Tampa Bay Rays in 2024 he appeared in a career-high 92 games, contributing five home runs and 19 stolen bases as part of a role that combined starting and bench duties.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Palacios’ professional breakout came in his first pro season in 2018 when he batted .361 with six home runs and 30 RBI in 45 games across short-season and full-season stops. In 2021 his combined performance at Akron and Columbus — a .297 average, a .404 on-base percentage and 20 stolen bases — reinforced his standing as a well-rounded prospect prior to his promotion to the majors.
Richie Palacios Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Palacios comes from a baseball family. His brother, Joshua Palacios, also plays professional baseball and is part of the Chicago White Sox organization. Their uncle Rey Palacios played in Major League Baseball from 1988 to 1990. Their father, Richard, reached Triple-A during his playing career and is of Puerto Rican descent while their mother is from Curaçao, making Palacios eligible to represent multiple countries in international competition.
Personal Life
Palacios attended Derek Jeter’s final game at Yankee Stadium as a fan during his youth. He has represented the Dutch team at international competition, appearing in the 2023 World Baseball Classic for the Netherlands in a game against Taiwan.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season for Palacios was defined by injury setbacks and short spurts of production. He began the year on the injured list with a fractured right ring finger, returned briefly to go 3-for-4 in a game, and then suffered a knee sprain that returned him to the injured list. The Rays activated Palacios from the injured list on September 1, 2025, and his progress from that point reflected a focus on recovery and regaining playing time heading into the 2026 season.