Cristian Pache

Cristian Pache's Biography

Cristian Rafael Pache, known by his fans as simply Pache (/ˈpɑːtʃeɪ/ PAH-chay), was born on November 19th, 1998, eventually becoming a vital force in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a professional Dominican outfielder. Currently, he plays for the Miami Marlins. However, his history spans multiple well-known teams, such as the Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, and Baltimore Orioles.

Born as the second of three children, Pache’s journey started in Santo Domingo Centro, Dominican Republic. His roots are humble as his parents worked as a factory employee and a homemaker. His extraordinary skill in baseball emerged at a young age and was further honed after being signed with the Atlanta Braves in July 2015 for $1.4 million. Recognized among international free agents, Baseball America and MLB.com ranked him 21st and 10th respectively.

Initially, Pache was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Braves in June 2016, where he demonstrated his potential by batting .283 in 27 games. He quickly climbed ranks and was promoted to the Danville Braves, ending that season with a .333 batting average. In 2017, Pache continued to impress with the Rome Braves where he scored a .281 batting average and stole bases 32 times in 119 games. Such feats earned him the midseason South Atlantic League All-Star title.

Ranked in MLB Pipeline’s All-Defensive team for 2018, Pache was then invited to the spring training season’s beginning. Here he would show formidable performances as part of the Florida Fire Frogs. He later won a Florida State League All-Star selection that led him to the Mississippi Braves in August. Notably, Pache has received repeated recognition for his defensive skills, and by 2018, he started showing his capability as a power hitter.

In 2019, Pache was again on MLB Pipeline’s All-Defensive team. The same year, he played in the All-Star Futures Game and showcased a .278 batting average in the Southern League. His performance during the International League debut with the Gwinnett Stripers solidified his status as a potential future star. He was consequently added to the Atlanta Braves’ 40-man roster to prevent him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft.

The 2020 season was a tumultuous period due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Pache held his own. After training at the Braves’ alternate site, he was promoted to the MLB roster. In addition to his MLB debut against the Philadelphia Phillies, he also made notable performances in NL Wild Card Series, scoring a significant game-winning run for the Braves.

By 2021, Pache wore uniform number 25 in tribute to former Braves center fielder Andruw Jones. This year was highlighted by his first regular season home run achieved while facing Tommy Milone. Despite a hamstring injury, Pache swiftly recovered and accomplished his rehabilitation assignment in Gwinnett. He eventually returned to playing through the 2021 World Series with the Braves and contributing to their first title win since 1995.

Come 2022, the Braves negotiated a trade involving Pache. He was transferred to the Oakland Athletics in a deal for Matt Olson. Despite a brief stint with the Athletics and demotion to the Las Vegas Aviators, he remained a formidable player in the baseball field. However, in 2023, the Athletics traded Pache to the Philadelphia Phillies.

In Philadelphia, despite an unfortunate torn meniscus and subsequent elbow surgery, Pache demonstrated his resilience and maintained a strong performance. Although he was later transferred to the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, Pache’s journey continued when he was soon claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins.

Throughout his career, Pache’s trajectory is marked by both highs and lows. His contribution to each team he became part of showcases his unwavering dedication to honing his craft. The narrative of his journey serves as a testament to Pache’s resilience and passion as an MLB outfielder. Despite his many moves between teams and battles with injuries, he has never ceased to be a considerable force in Major League Baseball.