Leody Taveras

Leody Taveras's Biography

Leody Taveras Salazar – a celebrated name in the realm of professional baseball, hails from the Dominican Republic and was born on September 8, 1998. Currently an outfielder for the Texas Rangers, he has established himself as a pivotal figure in Major League Baseball (MLB). His journey with the renowned Texas Rangers commenced in the year 2015, following his signing as an international free agent. This marked a momentous milestone in his career, which was eventually cemented on his MLB debut in 2020.

In 2023, he achieved the prestigious honor of winning the World Series with the Texas Rangers. His journey to this revered accolade began back in July of 2015, when he was signed by the Rangers for a gratifying bonus of $2.6 million. This breakthrough was followed by his professional debut in 2016 with the Dominican Summer League Rangers. This milestone ushered in opportune promotions to formidable teams such as the Arizona League Rangers and Spokane Indians in the very same season.

A notable performance during the initial stages of his career was in the combined 73 games he played with the three teams, batting an admirable .271, scoring a home run, 33 RBIs and stealing 18 bases. Prior to the advent of the 2017 season, the well-respected Baseball America recognized Taveras as the top prospect in the Ranger’s system.

The 2017 season saw Taveras’ stellar performance with the Hickory Crawdads, where he showcased a batting average of .249 and contributed eight home runs, 50 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. The following year, Taveras further cemented his position in the sport with the Down East Wood Ducks of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. His 2018 season highlights included a commendable batting score, earning him a spot in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game.

Taveras gained significant recognition in the arena of professional baseball with rankings in the preseason 2019 Top 101 list by Baseball Prospectus, ESPN’s Keith Law’s preseason 2019 Top 100 list, and Fangraphs Preseason 2019 Top 130 list. Following his assignment back to Down East at the start of the 2019 season, Taveras was promoted to the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League in June.

A crowning achievement for Taveras in 2019 was his addition to the Rangers 40–man roster. Making it to the Rangers Opening Day roster in 2020, he made his major league debut against the Colorado Rockies and earned his first professional home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 2021 and 2022 seasons saw Taveras split his time and exhibit commendable performances between Texas and the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A West. Taveras shines not only as an individual player but also for his heritage, being the cousin of Willy Taveras – a former outfielder who played a significant seven seasons in Major League Baseball.

A large part of Taveras’ story is now written, but every new season brings more opportunities for this dynamic player to continue leaving a significant mark in the annals of baseball history.