Dany Gilbert Kiti “Touki” Toussaint Bio
Dany Gilbert Kiti “Touki” Toussaint is an American professional baseball pitcher who has played in Major League Baseball for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians, and Chicago White Sox. Born on June 20, 1996, in Pembroke Pines, Florida, Toussaint was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft, 16th overall, and made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Atlanta Braves. He represented the United States at the WBSC Premier12 tournament in Tokyo in 2024, earning a medal. As of 2025, Toussaint has compiled a 15–16 win-loss record with a 5.42 earned run average and 295 strikeouts across his MLB career.
Early Life and Background
Toussaint was born in Pembroke Pines, Florida, to Dany Toussaint and Kahaso Kiti. He is of Haitian and Kenyan descent and has an elder sister named Garielle. His nickname, Touki, is a portmanteau of his parents’ surnames. The family relocated to Haiti when he was three months old, and Toussaint and his mother returned to Florida when he was six years old.
Toussaint stopped playing baseball at age 10 after a season filled with strikeouts as a batter. He focused on soccer and hockey for two years before returning to baseball following a bet with a friend. He attended Coral Springs Charter School for his freshman year before transferring to Coral Springs Christian Academy in Coral Springs, Florida.
Path to Professional Baseball
During his junior year in 2013, Toussaint emerged as a standout high school player. He earned MaxPreps All-American honors after posting a 6–2 record with a 0.78 earned run average and 83 strikeouts on the mound. At the plate, he hit .458 with six home runs and 32 runs batted in. His exceptional performance earned him Broward County’s Class 5A-4A-3A-2A Player of the Year award. Toussaint committed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University before being drafted professionally.
Dany Gilbert Kiti “Touki” Toussaint Career
Amateur and Draft (2013–2014)
Toussaint was considered one of the top prospects for the 2014 MLB draft. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the first round with the 16th overall pick. He signed on June 20, 2014, agreeing to a $2.7 million signing bonus, and made his professional debut with the Arizona League Diamondbacks on July 2, 2014. He was promoted to the Missoula Osprey on August 3, 2014. Toussaint finished his first professional season with a 2–4 record and an 8.48 ERA over 12 total appearances.
Atlanta Braves System (2015–2018)
On June 20, 2015, the Diamondbacks traded Toussaint to the Atlanta Braves along with Bronson Arroyo for Phil Gosselin. He began the 2015 season at extended spring training before joining the Kane County Cougars in May. The rocky season was attributed to the Diamondbacks’ request that Toussaint cut down on the use of his curveball, as the team felt becoming excessively reliant on the pitch early in his career would lead to injury. Not throwing his curveball gave Toussaint time to improve his changeup, which became a viable third pitch over the course of the season. He finished 2015 with a 4.83 ERA in 17 total starts.
Toussaint spent 2016 with the Rome Braves, where he struggled early in the season before improving after making adjustments to his pitching delivery. In 2017, he began with the Florida Fire Frogs and was promoted to the Mississippi Braves in late July. In 145 total innings pitched between Florida and Mississippi, he posted a 6–13 record with a 4.53 ERA and 167 strikeouts. He appeared in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Javelinas during the offseason.
Atlanta Braves Breakthrough (2018–2021)
Toussaint started the 2018 season in Mississippi, recording a 2.93 ERA with 107 strikeouts until a midseason promotion to the Gwinnett Stripers. He was named to the All-Star Futures Game and appeared in relief to pitch the eighth inning. On August 13, 2018, the Braves purchased his contract and added him to the roster. He made his MLB debut that same day against the Miami Marlins, yielding one run on two hits in six innings pitched.
Toussaint spent the abbreviated 2020 season with the Braves, where it was announced on July 4 that he had tested positive for COVID-19. In 2020, he posted an 0–2 record with an 8.88 ERA over 24.1 innings. On March 27, 2021, he was placed on the 60-day injured list with a strain in his throwing shoulder and was activated on July 16. In 2021 for the Braves, he was 3–3 with a 4.50 ERA. The Braves finished with an 88–73 record, clinching the NL East and eventually winning the 2021 World Series, giving the Braves their first title since 1995. Toussaint was designated for assignment by the Braves on July 2, 2022.
Los Angeles Angels (2022)
On July 3, 2022, the Los Angeles Angels acquired Toussaint from the Braves in exchange for cash considerations. He appeared in eight major league games for the Angels, including two starts, with a 1–1 record, a 4.62 ERA, and 26 strikeouts. On November 15, Toussaint was designated for assignment by the Angels after they protected multiple prospects from the Rule 5 draft. On November 18, Toussaint was non-tendered and became a free agent.
Cleveland Guardians (2023)
On January 4, 2023, Toussaint signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Guardians with an invitation to their major league spring training camp. He made 20 appearances for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, logging a 4.06 ERA with 48 strikeouts and 3 saves in 37.2 innings pitched. On June 16, he was selected to the major league roster and started that day against the Arizona Diamondbacks, working 3.2 innings and allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 5 walks. He was designated for assignment by the Guardians the following day.
Chicago White Sox (2023–2024)
On June 20, 2023, Toussaint was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox. In 19 games (15 starts) for the White Sox in 2023, he logged a 4–6 record and 4.97 ERA with 83 strikeouts across 83.1 innings pitched. He was designated for assignment by Chicago on March 24, 2024, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights two days later. In 17 games (8 starts) for Charlotte, he logged a 5.15 ERA with 49 strikeouts across 50.2 innings. On July 29, the White Sox selected Toussaint’s contract, adding him to their active roster. In 11 outings for Chicago, he struggled to a 7.43 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 23 innings. He was designated for assignment again on September 3, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Charlotte on September 5. Toussaint elected free agency on September 30, 2024.
Los Angeles Angels Second Stint (2025)
On March 11, 2025, Toussaint signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League. However, prior to the start of the season on March 21, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels and was assigned to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees to begin the year. On May 3, the Angels selected Toussaint’s contract, adding him to their active roster. He made one appearance for Los Angeles before being designated for assignment on May 6. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Salt Lake the next day. In 24 appearances for the Bees, he logged a 3–3 record and 7.34 ERA with 72 strikeouts and two saves across 68.2 innings pitched. Toussaint was released by the Angels organization on August 2, 2025. In November 2025, he pitched for the Hermosillo Naranjeros of the Mexican Pacific League.
Driving Style and Strengths
Toussaint features a three-pitch mix including a fastball, curveball, and changeup. After being discouraged from over-relying on his curveball early in his career, he developed his changeup into a viable third pitch. His professional journey has showcased his ability to adapt his approach and work through adversity, including injuries and multiple team transitions throughout his MLB career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Toussaint’s career highlights include his MLB debut on August 13, 2018, with the Atlanta Braves, being named to the All-Star Futures Game in 2018, and winning the 2021 World Series with the Braves. He represented the United States at the WBSC Premier12 tournament in Tokyo in 2024, earning a medal for his country. His career has been characterized by perseverance through injuries, COVID-19, and multiple waivers and transactions while continuing to compete at the highest professional levels.
Dany Gilbert Kiti “Touki” Toussaint Career Wins
Throughout his professional baseball career, Toussaint has accumulated 15 major league wins against 16 losses across his time with the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians, and Chicago White Sox. He has recorded 295 strikeouts at the MLB level with a career earned run average of 5.42.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Toussaint made his MLB debut on August 13, 2018, with the Atlanta Braves against the Miami Marlins, pitching six innings and allowing one run on two hits. His most productive MLB seasons came with the Chicago White Sox in 2023, where he posted a 4–6 record with a 4.97 ERA in 15 starts, and with the Braves in 2021, where he went 3–3 with a 4.50 ERA. He won a World Series championship with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. Internationally, he earned a medal representing the United States at the WBSC Premier12 tournament in Tokyo in 2024.
Minor League and International Performance
Throughout his minor league career, Toussaint has shown promise with various teams, including a standout 2018 season with the Mississippi Braves and Gwinnett Stripers where he recorded a 2.93 ERA with 107 strikeouts before his MLB call-up. His international experience with the Hermosillo Naranjeros in the Mexican Pacific League and his recent stint with Algodoneros de Unión Laguna demonstrate his continued pursuit of opportunities at the professional level.
Dany Gilbert Kiti “Touki” Toussaint Family
Family Background
Toussaint was born in Pembroke Pines, Florida, to Dany Toussaint and Kahaso Kiti. He has Haitian and Kenyan heritage through his parents and has an elder sister named Garielle. His father is Dany Toussaint, and his mother is Kahaso Kiti. His nickname, Touki, is derived from a combination of his parents’ surnames.
Personal Life
Toussaint and his family moved to Haiti when he was three months old, and he returned to Florida with his mother at age six. His early athletic interests extended beyond baseball, as he played soccer and hockey during the two years he stepped away from baseball as a child. His journey through professional baseball has taken him to multiple organizations, demonstrating his resilience and dedication to the sport despite the challenges of injuries, illness, and roster transactions throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked another chapter in Toussaint’s journeyman career. He began the year with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League before signing a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels on March 21. He was assigned to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees and earned a promotion to the major league roster on May 3 after a strong showing in the minors. He made one appearance for the Angels before being designated for assignment on May 6 and was sent outright to Salt Lake. In 24 appearances for the Bees, he posted a 3–3 record with a 7.34 ERA and 72 strikeouts across 68.2 innings. He was released by the Angels organization on August 2. Later in the year, he joined the Hermosillo Naranjeros of the Mexican Pacific League in November, continuing his professional career and maintaining his readiness for future opportunities at the highest levels of baseball.