César David Puello Santana (born April 1, 1991) is a Dominican

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professiona ...

outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to c ...

who is currently a free agent. He has played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL) ...

(MLB) for the

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...

, and

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The fra ...

. Listed at and , he bats and throws right-handed.

Career

New York Mets

On July 2, 2007, Puello signed with the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major leagu ...

organization as an international free agent. In 2008 with the

GCL Mets The Florida Complex League Mets are a Rookie-level affiliate for the New York Mets, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Mets. The team plays its home games ...

, Puello batted .305/.350/.364. He spent the 2009 season with the rookie ball

Kingsport Mets The Kingsport Mets were a Minor League Baseball team of the Appalachian League from 1921 to 2020. They were located in Kingsport, Tennessee, and were last named for the team's major league affiliate, the New York Mets. The team played its home g ...

, slashing .296/.373/.423 with 5 home runs and 23 RBI. In 2010 with Savannah, he batted .292/.375/.359 and stole 45 bases. Puello was ranked the #77 prospect in the pre-2011

Baseball America ''Baseball America'' is a sports enterprise that covers baseball at every level, including MLB, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in the MiLB, college, high school, and international leagues. It is currently published in the form ...

rankings. He spent the 2011 season with the High-A St. Lucie Mets, posting a batting line of .259/.313/.397 with career-highs in home runs (10) and RBI (50). Puello was added to the Mets' 40 man roster on November 18, 2011. In 2012, Puello remained in St. Lucie, slashing .260/.328/.423 with 4 home runs and 21 RBI. After the 2012 regular season, he played for the

Surprise Saguaros The Surprise Saguaros are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games in Surprise, Arizona, at Surprise Stadium. The ballpark is also the spring training facility of the Kansas City Royals ...

of the

Arizona Fall League The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season sports league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during the autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are fi ...

. He spent the 2013 season in Double-A with the

Binghamton Mets The Binghamton Rumble Ponies are an American Minor League Baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club. The Rumble Ponies play in M ...

, hitting .326/.403/.547 with stolen 24 bases in 331 at bats. Puello was suspended for 50 games on August 5, 2013, for his relationship to the Biogenesis clinic. He spent the 2014 season with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s, slashing .252/.355/.393 with 7 home runs and 37 RBI. On April 3, 2015, Puello was outrighted off of the Mets' 40-man roster. However, on April 6, the outright was retracted when Puello stated he was injured, and he was instead placed on the 10-day disabled list with a stress fracture in his back. Puello was released by the Mets on August 19, 2015, after having missed the entire year except for one rehab game with the GCL Mets.

New York Yankees

On December 21, 2015, Puello signed a minor league contract with the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one o ...

organization that included an invitation to Spring Training. He spent the 2016 season with the Triple-A

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (often abbreviated to SWB RailRiders) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Moosic, Pennsylvania, in the ...

, and batted .283/.414/.404 with 5 home runs and 31 RBI. On November 7, 2016, he elected free agency.

Texas Rangers

On December 1, 2016, Puello signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers organization that included an invitation to Spring Training. He played for the

Round Rock Express The Round Rock Express are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. They are located in Round Rock, Texas, and play their home games at the Dell Diamond. The team is named ...

of the

Class AAA Triple-A (officially Class AAA) has been the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946. Currently, two leagues operate at the Triple-A level, the International League (IL) and the Pacific Coast League (PCL ...

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Bas ...

(PCL). Puello had a June 1 opt-out clause if not on the major league roster. The Rangers granted Puello his release when they did not promote him to the major leagues.

Los Angeles Angels

On June 3, 2017, Puello signed a minor league contract with the

and was assigned to the Triple-A

Salt Lake Bees The Salt Lake Bees are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. They are located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and play their home games at Smith's Ballpark. The ballpark op ...

. With Salt Lake, he batted .397/.440/.620 with 13 steals in 184 at bats. The Angels promoted Puello to the major leagues for the first time on August 9, 2017, and he collected his first major league hit and two stolen bases that day against the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...

. On August 12, Puello was designated for assignment by the Angels.

Tampa Bay Rays

On August 19, 2017, the Puello was claimed off waivers by the

. In 16 major league game for Tampa, he recorded 6 hits in 30 at-bats. On November 6, 2017, Puello was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and elected free agency.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On December 14, 2017, Puello signed a minor league contract with the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. ...

organization. He was assigned to the Triple-A

Reno Aces The Reno Aces are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Reno, Nevada, and play their home games at Greater Nevada Field, which opened in 2009 ...

to begin the year. In 73 games for Reno, he batted .317/.426/.454 with 6 home runs and 33 RBI's in 249 at bats. He was released by the Diamondbacks organization on August 1, 2018.

San Francisco Giants

On August 3, 2018, Puello signed a minor league deal with the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Y ...

organization. He was assigned to the Triple-A

Sacramento River Cats The Sacramento River Cats are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Prior to 2015, the River Cats were the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics for 15 yea ...

, where he batted .289/.365/.311 with 4 RBIs in 45 at bats in 13 games. On November 2, 2018, Puello elected free agency.

Los Angeles Angels (second stint)

On November 26, 2018, Puello signed a minor league contract with the

that included an invitation to Spring Training. He did not make the team and was assigned to the Triple-A

. He had his contract selected to the major leagues on May 28, 2019. He hit his first career home run the next day, off of

Yusmeiro Petit Yusmeiro Alberto Petit (; born November 22, 1984) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, Washi ...

of the

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The t ...

. He was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must within seven days, return the play ...

on June 17, following the return of

Justin Upton Justin Irvin Upton (born August 25, 1987) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed "J-Up", he has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tig ...

from injury. He had hit .390/.500/.683 in 12 games for the Angels.

Miami Marlins

On June 19, 2019, Puello was traded to the

in exchange for cash considerations. In 32 games for Miami, he slashed .179/.281/.238 in 32 games. Puello was outrighted off the Marlins roster on October 23, and elected free agency on October 24.

Boston Red Sox

On February 11, 2020, Puello was signed to a minor league contract by the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eig ...

, and was a invited to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. On September 19, 2020, Puello was selected to Boston's active roster, and he made his Red Sox debut that day against the New York Yankees. Overall with the 2020 Red Sox, Puello batted .375 (3-for-8) without a home run or RBI in five games. On October 28, Puello was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and elected free agency. On December 11, 2020, Puello re-signed with the Red Sox on a new minor league contract. After struggling to a .158/.370/.184 batting line across 15 games for the Triple-A

Worcester Red Sox The Worcester Red Sox (nicknamed the WooSox) are a professional minor league baseball team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Beginning play in 2021, the team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, succeeding the Pawtucket Red Sox. The ...

, Puello was released on June 3, 2021.

New York Mets (second stint)

On June 5, 2021, Puello signed a minor league contract with the

organization. He was released on August 13, 2021.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Puello, Cesar 1991 births Living people Boston Red Sox players Los Angeles Angels players Miami Marlins players Tampa Bay Rays players Binghamton Mets players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States Baseball players suspended for drug offenses Dominican Republic sportspeople in doping cases Gulf Coast Mets players Jupiter Hammerheads players Kingsport Mets players Leones del Caracas players Major League Baseball outfielders Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic New Orleans Baby Cakes players People from La Romana, Dominican Republic Reno Aces players Round Rock Express players Sacramento River Cats players Salt Lake Bees players Savannah Sand Gnats players Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players St. Lucie Mets players Surprise Saguaros players Syracuse Mets players Toros del Este players Worcester Red Sox players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Venezuela