1. Overview
Jeimer Candelario is an American professional baseball player who primarily plays as a third baseman and first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born in New York City, he moved to the Dominican Republic as a child, where he developed his early baseball skills. Candelario's professional career began in the Chicago Cubs minor league system, leading to his Major League debut in 2016. He has since played for the Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals before returning to the Cubs for a brief period in 2023, and later signing with the Reds. He has also represented the Dominican Republic national baseball team in international competitions.
2. Early Life
Jeimer Candelario was born on November 24, 1993, in New York City, United States. When he was five years old, his family relocated to the Dominican Republic. This move was prompted by his father's intention to establish and operate a baseball training center in the Dominican Republic, providing Candelario with early and consistent exposure to the sport.
3. Professional Baseball Career
Jeimer Candelario's professional baseball journey began in 2010 and has seen him progress through various minor league levels before establishing himself in Major League Baseball with multiple teams, earning accolades for his offensive prowess.
3.1. Minor League Career
Candelario signed with the Chicago Cubs in September 2010, marking the beginning of his professional baseball career. He made his professional debut the following year with the Dominican Summer League Cubs. In 2012, Candelario played for the Boise Hawks in the Low-A Northwest League, and he spent the 2013 season with the Kane County Cougars of the Single-A Midwest League. He continued with Kane County in 2014 before moving up to the Daytona Cubs. The 2015 season saw him start with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the High-A Carolina League, and he was subsequently promoted to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A Southern League (1964-2020) during the same season. Following the 2015 season, the Cubs added him to their 40-man roster. In 2016, playing for the Iowa Cubs in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, Candelario demonstrated strong performance by batting .333 in his initial 25 games.
3.2. Major League Career
Jeimer Candelario made his Major League Baseball debut in 2016 and has since had tenures with the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds, showcasing his abilities as an infielder.
3.2.1. Chicago Cubs (2016-2017)
The Chicago Cubs promoted Jeimer Candelario to their major league roster on July 3, 2016, to fill the spot of Chris Coghlan, who was placed on the injured list. He made his Major League debut on the same day against the New York Mets. Candelario was optioned back to the Iowa Cubs on July 9, 2016. During the 2016 season, he appeared in five games for the Cubs, concluding with a .091 batting average. Although Candelario was not included on the Cubs' postseason roster, he remained on the 40-man roster, earning his first World Series title when the Cubs won.
3.2.2. Detroit Tigers (2017-2022)
On July 31, 2017, the Chicago Cubs traded Jeimer Candelario, along with Isaac Paredes and a player to be named later or cash considerations, to the Detroit Tigers. In exchange, the Cubs received Alex Avila and Justin Wilson. The Tigers initially assigned Candelario to the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League. He was then promoted to the major leagues by the Tigers on August 7, 2017. With the Tigers in 2017, Candelario recorded 31 hits in 94 at-bats, resulting in a .330 batting average, with 2 home runs and 13 RBIs.
Candelario began the 2018 season as the Tigers' regular third baseman. On May 14, he was placed on the 10-day injured list due to left wrist tendinitis. Upon his return, in only his second game back on May 26, Candelario achieved the first multiple-homer game of his career, hitting two home runs in his first two at-bats against Chicago White Sox pitcher Hector Santiago. For the 2018 season, he batted .224, hitting 19 home runs and driving in 54 RBIs.
On March 31, 2019, Candelario recorded five hits in a single game for the first time in his career during an 11-inning contest against the Toronto Blue Jays. However, after struggling with a .192 batting average and 46 strikeouts in his first 146 at-bats in 2019, he was optioned back to Toledo. He was recalled to the major leagues towards the end of the season, finishing 2019 with a .203 batting average, eight home runs, and 32 RBIs.
Candelario started the 2020 season at third base for the Tigers but transitioned to first base following an injury to C. J. Cron. For his performance from September 7 to 13, 2020, he was named AL Player of the Week, his first such accolade. During that week, Candelario batted .423 (11-for-26) with four doubles, three home runs, nine RBIs, four walks, and a .923 slugging percentage. On September 10, during a doubleheader where each game was shortened to seven innings per 2020 MLB rules, Candelario hit a home run in each game, becoming the first Tiger to achieve this since Leonys Martín in 2018. For the entire 2020 season, he played in 52 games, hitting .297 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs, and led the Tigers with 21 extra-base hits.
On January 15, 2021, Candelario and the Tigers agreed to a one-year contract valued at 2.85 M USD, thereby avoiding salary arbitration. In the 2021 season, Candelario maintained a .271 batting average, recorded 16 home runs, and drove in 67 RBIs. He led Major League Baseball with an impressive 42 doubles. For the second consecutive season, he led the Tigers in extra-base hits with 61, and also finished with a team-best 3.2 Wins Above Replacement (WAR). Candelario was honored as the Tiger of the Year for the second straight season by the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, making him the first player since Miguel Cabrera (who won in 2012 and 2013) to receive this award in consecutive seasons.
On March 22, 2022, Candelario signed another one-year contract with the Tigers worth 5.80 M USD, again avoiding salary arbitration. On June 7, 2022, he was placed on the Tigers' 10-day injured list retroactive to June 6, 2022, due to a left shoulder subluxation. For the 2022 season, he hit .217 with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs. On November 18, he was non-tendered by the Tigers, making him a free agent.
3.2.3. Washington Nationals (2023)
On November 29, 2022, Jeimer Candelario signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals for 5.00 M USD, with an additional 1.00 M USD in achievable incentives.
3.2.4. Chicago Cubs (2023)
On July 31, 2023, the Washington Nationals traded Jeimer Candelario back to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for DJ Herz and Kevin Made. After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Candelario became a free agent.
3.2.5. Cincinnati Reds (2024-present)
On December 11, 2023, Jeimer Candelario signed a three-year contract valued at 45.00 M USD with the Cincinnati Reds. The contract also included a club option for a potential fourth year. Since joining the Reds for the 2024 season, he has continued his career as a prominent infielder for the team.
3.3. Career Statistics
The following table outlines Jeimer Candelario's career statistics. Full statistical data was not available in the provided source documents.
| Year | Team | Games | Plate Appearances | At Bats | Runs | Hits | Doubles | Triples | Home Runs | Total Bases | RBIs | Stolen Bases | Caught Stealing | Sacrifice Flies | Walks | Intentional Walks | Hit by Pitch | Strikeouts | Ground into Double Play | Batting Average | On-base Percentage | Slugging Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4. International Career
Jeimer Candelario has represented the Dominican Republic national baseball team in international baseball competitions. He was a member of the Dominican Republic roster that participated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.