| Sandy León | |
| Team: | Atlanta Braves |
| Position: | Catcher |
| Birth Date: | 13 March 1989 |
| Birth Place: | Maracaibo, Venezuela |
| Bats: | Switch |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | May 14 |
| Debutyear: | 2012 |
| Debutteam: | Washington Nationals |
| Statyear: | 2023 season |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .208 |
| Stat3label: | Home runs |
| Stat3value: | 31 |
| Stat4label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat4value: | 149 |
| Teams: | |
| Awards: |
|
Sandy David León López (born March 13, 1989) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher in the Atlanta Braves organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals, Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers. He has played for the Colombia national baseball team.
León signed with the Washington Nationals on January 17, 2007,[1] and made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Nationals later that year. He spent two years in the Gulf Coast League before splitting the 2009 season between the Vermont Lake Monsters of the New York–Penn League and the South Atlantic League's Hagerstown Suns. León returned to the Suns for the 2010 season and was promoted to the Potomac Nationals in 2011. He spent time with the Auburn Doubledays, Harrisburg Senators, and Syracuse Chiefs in 2012 before his first major league callup.
León was called up to the majors for the first time on May 13, 2012.[2] He made his Major League debut on May 14, 2012. In the fourth inning of his debut, León sprained his right ankle in a collision with San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley at home plate.[3]
León was traded to the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations on March 30, 2015.[4] He was designated for assignment on July 21, and on July 30 he was sent down to the Pawtucket Red Sox. He was re-added to the major league roster on September 1. León appeared in 41 games with Boston during the season, batting .184 with no home runs and three RBIs.
León started the 2016 season in the minors, but was promoted to Boston on June 5, when Ryan Hanigan and Blake Swihart went on the disabled list.[5] He finished his MLB season with a .310 batting average in 78 games, with seven home runs and 35 RBIs.[6]
León appeared in 85 games with the Red Sox in 2017, batting .225 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs.
In 2018, León split time at catcher with Christian Vázquez, appearing in 89 games while batting .177 with five home runs and 22 RBIs. The Red Sox finished the year with a 108–54 record and went on to win the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers,[7] with León batting 3-for-6 in the series.
In 2019, León was placed on waivers on March 24,[8] [9] and the Red Sox sent him outright to Triple-A Pawtucket on March 26.[10] He accepted his assignment, rather than electing to forego his 2019 salary and become a free agent.[11] León had his contract selected on April 16, when Blake Swihart was designated for assignment.[12] [13] León was placed on the paternity list on May 17, then activated on May 20,[14] following the birth of a daughter.[15] With the 2019 Red Sox, León appeared in 65 games while batting .192 with five home runs and 19 RBIs.
On December 2, 2019, León was traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Adenys Bautista.[16] Overall with the 2020 Cleveland Indians, León batted .136 with two home runs and 4 RBIs in 25 games.[17] He became a free agent following the 2020 season.
On January 3, 2021, León signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins, which included an invitation to spring training.[18] On April 21, 2021, León was selected to the active roster to help replace the injured Jorge Alfaro.[19] In 84 games with the Marlins, León posted a .183 batting average with 4 home runs and 14 runs batted in. Following the 2021 season, León became a free agent.
On November 22, 2021, León signed a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training camp with the Cleveland Guardians.[20] On March 31, 2022, he opted out of his contract and became a free agent after being informed he would not make the Guardians' opening day roster.[21] On April 15, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds on a minor league contract.[22]
Facing a shortage of catchers, the Cleveland Guardians sent cash to the Reds in exchange for León on June 28, 2022.[23] León played in a doubleheader that day for Cleveland against the Minnesota Twins. On July 8, 2022, León was designated for assignment. After clearing waivers, León was outrighted to the minor leagues on July 10, 2022.
On August 2, 2022, León was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Ian Hamilton.[24] He was selected to the major league roster the following day after Caleb Hamilton was optioned to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.[25] León appeared in 25 games for Minnesota, slashing .179/.270/.232 with no home runs and 4 RBI. On September 27, it was announced that León would undergo right knee meniscus surgery and miss the remainder of the season.[26]
On January 11, 2023, León signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers organization.[27] He requested and was granted released on March 27.[28] The next day, León re-signed with the Rangers on a new minor league contract.[29]
On April 10, León was selected to the active roster following an injury to Mitch Garver.[30] León played in 22 games for Texas, but hit just .146 with 4 RBI before he was designated for assignment on June 14.[31] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Round Rock Express on June 17.[32] Despite accepting his outright assignment, León requested and was granted his release from the organization on June 21.[33]
On July 1, 2023, León signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Guardians organization.[34] In 16 games for the Triple–A Columbus Clippers, he batted .220/.361/.400 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI. León elected free agency following the season on November 6.[35]
On January 17, 2024, León signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals.[36] On March 23, León requested and was granted his release by the Royals.[37]
On April 2, 2024, León signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.[38]
Despite his Venezuelan heritage, León opted to play for the Colombia national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[39] He qualified through residency in Colombia, as well as having a Colombian wife.[40]
León and his wife have a son born in 2017,[41] and a daughter born in May 2019.[42] León is a Christian.[43]