Andres Gimenez

Andres Gimenez's Biography

Born on September 4, 1998, Andrés Alfonso Nick Giménez Osorio is truly a phenomenal force in the Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a professional baseball player, currently a second baseman for the Cleveland Guardians. Although now a celebrated name in the Guardians’ lineup, Giménez’s journey to the top began fleetingly with the New York Mets back in 2020.

Born in Venezuela, Giménez carves his distinct space in Baseball as an international free agent picked by the New York Mets in July 2015. His professional baseball career took flight in 2016 when he played with the Dominican Summer League Mets. In his debut season, Giménez, with his outstanding performance, logged a combined batting average of .350 including three home runs and 38 runs batted in (RBIs). His on-base plus slugging was a staggering .992 which demonstrated his talents effectively.

After a successful 2016 season, Giménez spent the 2017 tenure with the Columbia Fireflies. He managed an impressive .265/.346/.349 slash line with four home runs and 31 RBIs in 92 games. His incredible performance didn’t go unnoticed, and following the 2017 season, Baseball America named Giménez as the Mets’ best prospect.

The 2018 season saw Giménez splitting his time between the St. Lucie Mets and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Across 122 games, he showcased a solid performance with a batting average of .281, six home runs, 26 stolen bases, and 46 RBIs. The same year, he earned an honor to play in the prestigious 2018 All-Star Futures Game. He returned to Binghamton for the 2019 season and showcased his consistent performance.

The Mets added Giménez to their 40-man roster following the 2019 season. After making it to the Mets’ Opening Day Roster in 2020, Giménez made his Major League debut on July 24, 2020, at Citi Field. He had his first start on July 29 during which he effectively recorded his first career hit, a single, off Boston Red Sox’s pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. In the same game, Giménez also successfully recorded his first career RBI.

His consistent performance made him a front runner in the National League Rookie of the Year voting where he received a single vote, tying for seventh place. This was just the beginning of his soaring career.

In 2021, the Mets traded Giménez alongside Amed Rosario, Josh Wolf, and Isaiah Greene to the Cleveland Indians for Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco. He started as an Opening Day starter, however, initially faced struggles and was demoted to Triple-A in May 2021.

In 2022, the Guardians saw Giménez’s career breakthrough when he batted a grand .297, including 17 home runs and 69 RBIs. He was also a part of the All-Star Game at the 2nd base, providing a sturdy replacement for the injured José Altuve. His stint in the 2022 season ensured his reputation as a clutch hitter with his 281 WRC+ in high leverage situations. He also bagged a Gold Glove Award for his exemplary performance at second base and was chosen for the second team on the 2022 All-MLB Team.

Before the start of the 2023 season, Giménez had the honor of representing the Venezuelan national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. This was followed by a noteworthy moment on March 30th, where he signed a seven-year major league contract, worth a whopping $106.5 million, with the Guardians, inclusive of a club option for 2030.

Despite an unfortunate incident on April 12, 2023, when a relay throw by Giménez struck the umpire Larry Vanover’s head, leading to his hospitalization, he maintained his spirits high. Giménez performed fairly throughout the season, batting .251/.314/.399, but he had the lowest average exit speed of all AL batters (84.8 mph) and led the AL in balls that were softly hit (21.7%).

From his debut game to his exceptional performances and accomplishments, Andrés Alfonso Nick Giménez Osorio’s career stands testament to the indomitable spirit and dedication he harbors for Baseball, truly making him an admirable figure in the realm of Major League Baseball.