Amed Rosario

Born on November 20, 1995, Germán Amed Valdez Rosario hails from the Dominican Republic and is presently an acclaimed utility player, playing baseball professionally for the Cincinnati Reds, a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. His journey in professional baseball has seen him don the jerseys of multiple MLB teams, including the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians/Guardians, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Rays since his MLB debut in 2017.

Rosario’s foray into professional baseball started in July 2012 when the New York Mets signed him as an international free agent for an enormous sum of $1.75 million. This marked the largest international signing bonus ever extended by the Mets. Come 2013, Rosario took to the field for the first time as a professional, playing for the Kingsport Mets.

2014 saw Rosario’s progression to the Brooklyn Cyclones, a short-season affiliate of the New York Mets. His impressive performances triggered a promotion to Savannah Sand Gnats in September the same year. Continuing his upward trajectory, he landed a promotion to the Binghamton Mets within two years, on June 23, 2016.

While at Binghamton, Rosario’s sparkling record earned him a place in the 2016 MLB All Star Futures Game. This nomination added further luster to his year, which he finished with a batting average of .324, notching up 5 home runs and 71 RBIs. In recognition of his fine showing, the Mets added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season.

Rosario began the 2017 season with the Las Vegas 51s, a team in the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. His impressive performances caught the attention of writer Keith Law, who declared Rosario as the top baseball prospect in April 2017. His sensational year culminated in him being named to the Triple-A All-Star Game and being awarded the 2017 PCL Rookie of the Year.

Rosario made his long-awaited MLB debut on August 1, 2017, pitted against the Colorado Rockies at Denver’s famed Coors Field. He scored his first career Major League hit off Scott Oberg. In the same month, he hit his first career Major League home run off Héctor Neris.

In 2019, Rosario registered statistics worth marveling at once again – a .287 batting average with 15 home runs and 72 RBIs. He also stole 19 bases but shared the major league lead for captured stolen bases with 10. On defense, he achieved the dubious distinction of having the worst record in the National League among qualifying shortstops with -10 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS).

In a remarkable match on August 28, 2020, Rosario hit a walk-off home run against the mighty New York Yankees at the historic Yankee Stadium. This saw him gain the unique distinction of becoming the first visiting player to achieve this feat since 1899, matching Ed McKean’s milestone. For the 2020 season, his records included a batting average of .252, four home runs, and 15 RBIs in 46 games.

The year 2021 saw a significant shift in Rosario’s career when he was traded to the Cleveland Indians by the Mets in January, along with three other players, in exchange for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco. Initially, the Indians transitioned Rosario into the outfield; however, in May, he resumed his familiar role as the team’s regular starting shortstop. On August 31, in a match against the Kansas City Royals, Rosario delivered a memorable performance, scoring two home runs and five RBIs.

Rosario’s 2022 season was marked by his leading the major leagues with nine triples, garnering the lowest walk percentage (3.7%) and leading again in infield hits with 35.

In July 2023, Rosario was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Noah Syndergaard and cash considerations, where he primarily played second base and platooned against left-handed pitchers. Post-season, he became a free agent and subsequently signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in February 2024. However, within just five months, Rosario returned to the Dodgers, where he recorded three hits in five games before being assigned for a new assignment in August 2024. Shortly after, in the same month, he was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds.

Rosario’s exceptional career was acknowledged internationally when he was selected to participate in the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series. With a growing career in professional baseball, Germán Amed Valdez Rosario continues to make his mark in the annals of Major League Baseball.