Luis Guillorme Explained

Luis Guillorme
Team:Arizona Diamondbacks
Number:13
Position:Infielder
Birth Date:27 September 1994
Birth Place:Caracas, Venezuela
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:May 11
Debutyear:2018
Debutteam:New York Mets
Statyear:July 22, 2024
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.257
Stat3label:Home runs
Stat3value:5
Stat4label:Runs batted in
Stat4value:54
Teams:

Luis Miguel Guillorme Gonzalez (born September 27, 1994), nicknamed Luismi, is a Venezuelan-American professional baseball infielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, and Los Angeles Angels.

Early life

Guillorme was born in Caracas, Venezuela.[1] His grandparents immigrated from Spain and he holds Spanish and Venezuelan citizenship. As a child, he modeled his game after native Caracas infielder Omar Vizquel. In 2007, his family relocated to Davie, Florida. Guillorme attended Coral Springs Charter School in Coral Springs, Florida where, as a senior, he hit .565 with 34 runs batted in (RBIs).[2] He committed to play college baseball at State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota.[3] In 2016, Guillorme reported that he expected to apply for naturalization as a US citizen within a year or two.[4]

Professional career

New York Mets

Minor leagues

The New York Mets selected Guillorme in the 10th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[5] He spent his first professional season with the Gulf Coast Mets where he slashed .258/.337/.283 with 11 RBIs in 41 games. He played 2014 with the Kingsport Mets and Savannah Sand Gnats, batting a combined .283 with 17 RBIs in sixty total games between both teams. He returned to Savannah in 2015 and was named the South Atlantic League MVP[6] [7] after he batted .381 with 55 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and a .746 on-base plus slugging (OPS) in 122 games. In 2016, Guillorme started at shortstop for the Spanish national baseball team in the qualifying for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.[8] He spent 2016 with the St. Lucie Mets where he posted a .263 batting average with one home run and 46 RBIs, and 2017 with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies[9] [10] where he batted .283 with one home run, 43 RBIs and a .706 OPS.[11]

During a spring training game in 2017, Miami Marlins infielder Adeiny Hechavarria accidentally let go of his bat while swinging at a pitch and sent it flying into the Mets dugout. Guillorme, who was standing at the dugout railing, casually reached up and caught the bat while his teammates scrambled to get out of the way. Highlights of the play went viral.[12] [13]

Major leagues

The Mets added Guillorme to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.[14] Guillorme was called up to the Mets on May 9, 2018 when Tomas Nido was optioned to the Las Vegas 51s.[15] On May 13 at Citizens Bank Park, Guillorme made his first Major League plate appearance; he singled off of Aaron Nola of the Philadelphia Phillies as a pinch hitter.[16] On August 10, 2019, Guillorme hit his first major league home run in the 8th inning off of reliever Fernando Rodney.[17] [18] He finished the season hitting .246/.324/.361 with three RBIs. In 2020 for the Mets, Guillorme slashed .333/.426/.439 with nine RBIs in 29 games.[19]

On March 14, 2021, Guillorme faced St. Louis Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks in the longest at-bat in MLB history. The 22 pitch at-bat resulted in a walk. However, because this occurred during spring training, it was not official.[20] In 2021, Guillorme batted .265/.374/.311 over a career-high 69 games.

Guillorme had a hot start to the 2022 season and, on June 11, when Guillorme had a batting average of .321 and OPS of .816, Mets manager Buck Showalter told reporters that he deserved a vote for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[21] However, from that point until the end of the season, he hit .246 with a .620 OPS and finished the season at .273 and .691 respectively.[22]

On May 17, 2023, the Mets optioned Guillorme to the Syracuse Mets and recalled infielder Mark Vientos. It was his first time being optioned to the minors since July 2019.[23] Guillorme was recalled to the majors on June 9, 2023.[24] He was placed on the injured list with a calf strain on July 22 and reactivated on September 18.[25] [26] On November 17, The Mets non-tendered Guillorme, making him a free agent.

Atlanta Braves

On January 5, 2024, Guillorme signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Atlanta Braves.[27] He was named to the Opening Day roster as a utility infielder,[28] and went 3–for–20 (.150) with three RBI across nine games.

Los Angeles Angels

On May 9, 2024, the Braves traded Guillorme to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.[29] In 50 games for the Angels, he slashed .231/.302/.298 with three RBI and one stolen base. Guillorme was designated for assignment on August 16,[30] and released on August 18.[31]

Arizona Diamondbacks

On August 20, 2024, Guillorme signed a major league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[32]

International career

Guillorme played for the Spanish national baseball team at the 2016 European Baseball Championship in the Netherlands. He was named the tournament's most outstanding defensive player en route to a silver medal.[33] He also represented Spain in the qualifying round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic and in the 2018 Super 6 Tournament.[34] [35]

Notes and References

  1. News: Healey. Tim. Carjacking scare shaped Mets prospect Guillorme. May 14, 2018. Newsday. March 21, 2018. en.
  2. News: Cabrera Chirinos. Christy. All-County baseball Class 5A-4A-3A-2A. May 14, 2018. Sun-Sentinel. June 3, 2013.
  3. News: SCF Baseball well represented in MLB Draft. May 14, 2018. State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. June 10, 2013. en.
  4. News: Rubin. Adam. 13 April 2016. Farm Report: St. Lucie gets second helping from SAL MVP Luis Guillorme. ESPN.
  5. News: Catch of the Year. No Ball Involved.. James. Wagner. The New York Times . March 3, 2017. June 2, 2017. NYTimes.com.
  6. Web site: Sand Gnats' Guillorme is South Atlantic League Most Valuable Player. savannahnow.com. June 2, 2017.
  7. Web site: Farm Report: Luis Guillorme 'a gifted defender at shortstop'. espn.com. September 2, 2015 . June 2, 2017.
  8. News: Rubin. Adam. Farm Report: St. Lucie gets second helping from SAL MVP Luis Guillorme. May 14, 2018. ESPN.com. ESPN. April 13, 2016.
  9. Web site: Heavy on shortstops, St. Lucie Mets open 2016 season Thursday at home. tcpalm.com. June 2, 2017.
  10. Web site: Mets' Guillorme grinds out five hits . Tripodi . Chris . April 12, 2017 . MiLB.com . March 10, 2022 .
  11. Web site: Luis Guillorme Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. February 20, 2018.
  12. News: DiComo . Anthony . Cosman . Ben . Mets prospect Luis Guillorme caught a bat that flew into the dugout like it was no big deal . 3 May 2021 . Cut4 . . March 3, 2017 . en.
  13. News: Sanchez . Mark W. . Mets' viral spring training sensation wants to be a lot more . 3 May 2021 . . 27 May 2017.
  14. News: Mastracco. Abbey. Mets add prospects to 40-man roster Who did they protect from the Rule 5 Draft?. May 14, 2018. NJ.com. November 20, 2017.
  15. News: Carducci. Brendan. Luis Guillorme called up, Tomas Nido sent down. May 14, 2018. Amazin' Avenue. SB Nation. May 9, 2018.
  16. News: Cranston. Mike. Mets' Jacob deGrom Lasts 1 Inning In Loss To Phillies. May 14, 2018. Hartford Courant. May 13, 2018.
  17. News: Toscano . Justin . Luis Guillorme becomes unlikely hero as Mets rally for eighth straight win . August 17, 2024 . Bergen Record . August 10, 2019.
  18. News: Mets Roll Nationals for Eighth Straight Win . August 17, 2024 . The New York Times . Associated Press . August 19, 2019. Republished as: News: Mets magic sinks Nats for 2nd straight night, 4-3 . August 17, 2024 . Associated Press . WTOP . August 10, 2019.
  19. Web site: 2020 Mets Report Card: Luis Guillorme . Metsmerizedonline.com. Steve. Schaeffler. November 30, 2020.
  20. Web site: First batter in 2 years? 22 pitches, 12 minutes . .
  21. News: Thosar . Deesha . Mets' Luis Guillorme deserves All-Star vote, says Buck Showalter . 18 May 2023 . . 11 June 2022.
  22. Web site: Luis Guillorme 2022 Batting Game Logs . . . 18 May 2023 . en.
  23. News: Sanchez . Mark W. . Mets make sacrifice by optioning Luis Guillorme for Mark Vientos . 18 May 2023 . . 17 May 2023.
  24. News: Mets call up Luis Guillorme and Zach Muckenhirn, DFA Stephen Nogosek. Amazin' Avenue. Drimalitis. Vasilis. 9 June 2023.
  25. News: Banged-up Mets lose Guillorme (calf) to IL. MLB.com. Dicomo. Anthony. 22 July 2023.
  26. News: Mets' Luis Guillorme: Makes return from IL. 18 September 2023. CBS RotoWire.
  27. News: Braves sign utility INF Luis Guillorme to 1-year, $1.1M deal . January 6, 2024 . Associated Press . ESPN.com . January 5, 2024.
  28. News: ESPN.com . Associated Press . Braves' Bryce Elder to minors; Reynaldo López makes rotation . March 18, 2024 . March 18, 2024.
  29. Web site: 2024-05-09 . Angels get Guillorme, move Rendon to 60-day IL . 2024-05-22 . ESPN.com . en.
  30. News: Angels designate Luis Guillorme, Willie Calhoun for assignment . August 16, 2024 . ESPN.com . August 16, 2024.
  31. https://www.mlb.com/transactions/2024/08/18
  32. Web site: Diamondbacks Designate Gavin Hollowell For Assignment. August 20, 2024. mlbtraderumors.com. en.
  33. Book: Chetwynd . Josh . Baseball in Europe: A Country by Country History, 2d ed. . 4 October 2019 . McFarland . 978-1-4766-7912-9 . 274 . 25 February 2022 . en.
  34. News: Rubin . Adam . Dilson Herrera appears in World Baseball Classic qualifier with Colombia . 25 February 2022 . . . 17 March 2016 . en.
  35. Web site: Spain vs Germany (Sep 20, 2018). 20 September 2018. WBSC Europe.