Donovan Solano

Donovan Solano's Biography

Donovan Solano Preciado is a Colombian professional baseball infielder currently playing for Major League Baseball’s (MLB) San Diego Padres. Born on December 17, 1987, in Barranquilla, Colombia, Solano has had a colourful career, passing through the leagues of various esteemed baseball clubs including Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Minnesota Twins.

Solano’s MLB journey first started with the St. Louis Cardinals who signed him as an international free agent in 2005. He spent the following seven years with the organization as a reserve infielder, unfortunately not advancing to the major leagues in these early years. His talent was recognized in 2008 when he was named a mid-season All Star while playing for the Palm Beach Cardinals in the High–A Florida State League.

In 2012, Solano received an invitation to join the Miami Marlins for spring training as a non-roster invitee. He made his first major league appearance on May 20, 2012, making him the 12th Colombian-born player to reach the MLB at the age of 24. Impressive performances during his 1st major league start against the San Francisco Giants bolstered his position within the team. As the 2012 seasons progressed, Solano played critical roles for the Marlins in the infield, displaying considerable skill at the plate with a .295 batting average and contributing significantly to the team’s offensive capabilities. His exceptional debut year earned him a place on the Baseball America Major League All Rookie Team.

Increased experience and continued high performance led to Solano being named the Wilson Team Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. Despite being placed on the disabled list for a brief period, he played in 102 games that season with excellent results in scoring position.

Solano’s time with the Marlins ended after the 2015 season, and he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees in early 2016. His performances in the Triple-A led to promotion to the major leagues following an injury to team player Starlin Castro. In 2017, Solano played for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where his substantial contribution at bats and with runners in scoring position made an indelible mark.

The successive seasons saw Solano playing for various teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. His 2019 season with the Giants was especially noteworthy, where his impressive line drive rate led all players in the league who had 200 or more at-bats at 33.9%. The same year, he agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.375 million.

Solano’s career took another turn in 2020, when he achieved a career-high six RBIs in a game against the Colorado Rockies. His exceptional performances led the Giants to a 23-5 blowout win, and he ended the 2020 season with a career-high .326 batting average, winning the National League’s second baseman Silver Slugger Award.

After the 2021 season with a salary of $3.25 million, Solano became a free agent before signing a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds for $4.5 million in 2022. However, an injury confined him to the injured list for most of the season. In June 2022, he made his first appearance for the Cincinnati Reds and spent the remaining season proving his worth on the pitch.

In 2023, Solano signed a one-year major league contract with the Minnesota Twins. Despite hurdles, his career-high 38 RBI led the Minnesota Twins to win the American League Central.

Solano signed with the San Diego Padres in April 2024. Following impressive performances in minor league games for their Triple–A affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas, Solano was moved up to the major league roster in May 2024.

Moreover, Solano had the honor of representing Colombia alongside his brother Jhonatan – another recognized MLB player – in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and is proud of his strong Christian beliefs which have been central to his life and career.