| Orlando Calixte | |
| Team: | Chunichi Dragons |
| Number: | 99 |
| Position: | Left fielder / Shortstop / Third baseman |
| Birth Date: | 3 February 1992 |
| Birth Place: | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | April 19 |
| Debutyear: | 2015 |
| Debutteam: | Kansas City Royals |
| Debut2league: | NPB |
| Debut2date: | April 1 |
| Debut2year: | 2023 |
| Debut2team: | Chunichi Dragons |
| Statyear: | 2017 season |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .135 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 0 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 6 |
| Stat2year: | May 29, 2024 |
| Stat2league: | NPB |
| Stat21label: | Batting average |
| Stat21value: | .257 |
| Stat22label: | Home runs |
| Stat22value: | 8 |
| Stat23label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat23value: | 25 |
| Teams: | |
Orlando Calixte (born February 3, 1992) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder and shortstop for the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants.
Calixte was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to parents born in Haiti. His father Dieudonne, emigrated to the Dominican Republic in 1977; obtained legal status and had several other children who also pursued baseball.[1]
Calixte was signed by the Kansas City Royals as an international free agent in August 2010.[2] He made his professional debut that season with the Dominican Summer League Royals. He played 2011 with the Kane County Cougars and 2012 with Kane County and Wilmington Blue Rocks. In 2013 and 2014 he played for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals.[3] [4]
Calixte began the 2015 season with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League. They promoted him to the major leagues on April 19.[5]
On December 2, 2015, the Royals decided to non-tender Calixte, making him a free agent. The following day, they re–signed him to a minor league contract. Calixte split the 2016 campaign between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha, hitting a combined .274/.324/.420 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI, and 19 stolen bases across 126 games. Calixte elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016.[6]
On November 14, 2016, Calixte signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants added him to their 40-man roster four days later.[7] He was called up to make his Giants debut against the Washington Nationals on May 30, 2017.[8] In his first at bat of the 2017 season, he recorded his first career hit, a single to shallow center. In his second at bat, he hit a two-RBI double down the left field line.[9] Calixte was optioned back down to the minors on June 9.[10] In 29 games for the Giants, he batted .143/.185/.163 with six RBI. On November 27, Calixte was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A.[11]
Calixte spent the 2018 campaign with the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats, playing in 125 games and hitting .270/.323/.405 with 11 home runs, 48 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. He became a free agent after the season on November 2, 2018.[12]
On November 19, 2018, Calixte signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners.[13] He spent the 2019 campaign with the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers, hitting .278/.327/.361 with two home runs and 10 RBI. Calixte elected free agency following the season on November 4, 2019.[14]
On April 19, 2021, Calixte signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[15] On May 24, before the start of the ALPB season, Calixte’s contract was purchased by the New York Mets organization and he was assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets.[16] Calixte played in 64 games for Syracuse, hitting .235 with two home runs and 24 RBI. On September 17, the Mets released Calixte.[17]
On January 27, 2022, Calixte signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.[18]
On November 22, 2022, it was reported Calixte had signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Nippon Professional Baseball.[19]