Dawel Leoner Lugo Baez (born December 31, 1994) 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 ...

infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...

for the

Mariachis de Guadalajara The Mariachis de Guadalajara ( English: Guadalajara Mariachis) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Zapopan, Jalisco. Their home ballpark is Estadio Panamericano, and has a capacity of 16,500 people. The Mariachis were e ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

. 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

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

Career

Toronto Blue Jays

Lugo signed with the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

as a 16-year-old international free agent in 2011 for $1.3 million, the largest bonus paid to a Latin American infielder that year. Ben Badler of

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 ...

described Lugo in a scouting report as having "a solid swing, good bat speed and makes consistent contact with natural loft, showing the potential for plus power down the road." He played his first season as a member of the

Gulf Coast League Blue Jays The Florida Complex League Blue Jays are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays. The team plays i ...

in 2012, where he batted .224 in 47 games played. Lugo began the 2013 season playing with the

Bluefield Blue Jays The Bluefield Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. The team played their home games at Bowen Field at Peters Park, a histo ...

, where he posted a .297 batting average with 6 home runs and 36 RBIs in 51 games. He was then promoted to the

Vancouver Canadians The Vancouver Canadians are a Minor League Baseball team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. They are members of the Northwest League and are affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Canadians play their home games at Nat Bailey Stadium ...

, and played 16 games in which he batted .246 with one home run and 8 RBIs. Lugo was promoted to the

Lansing Lugnuts The Lansing Lugnuts are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are located in Lansing, Michigan, and play their home games at Jackson Field. The Midwest League came to Lans ...

for the 2014 season. He played in a career-high 117 games, where he batted .259 with 4 home runs and 53 RBI. He began 2015 with the

Dunedin Blue Jays The Dunedin Blue Jays are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and are the Single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball club. They are located in Dunedin, Florida, and play their home games at TD Ballpark ...

and was promoted to Lansing in July.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On August 8, 2015, Lugo was traded to 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. ...

for Cliff Pennington. Arizona assigned him to the

Kane County Cougars The Kane County Cougars are an independent professional baseball team located in Geneva, Illinois and are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball (MLB). They play their h ...

. In 120 total games between Dunedin, Lansing and Kane County, he batted .270 with four home runs and 47 RBIs. In 2016, he played for both the

Visalia Rawhide The Visalia Rawhide are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Visalia, California, and have played their home games at Valley Strong Ballpark since thei ...

and the

Mobile BayBears The Mobile BayBears were a Minor League Baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama, United States. The team, which played in the Southern League, served as the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres (1997–2006), Arizona Diamondbacks (2007– ...

, compiling a combined .311 batting average with 17 home runs and 62 RBIs in 127 total games between both clubs. The Diamondbacks added him to their 40-man roster after the 2016 season. Lugo began 2017 with the

Jackson Generals The Jackson Generals were a professional baseball team located in Jackson, Tennessee. From 1998 to 2020, they were a part of Minor League Baseball's Southern League (SL) as the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (1998–2006), Seattle Mari ...

Detroit Tigers

On July 18, 2017, the Diamondbacks traded Lugo,

Sergio Alcántara Sergio Junior Alcántara Hernández (born July 10, 1996) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder in the Chicago Cubs organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Die ...

, and Jose King to the

for

J. D. Martinez Julio Daniel Martinez (born August 21, 1987) is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, a ...

. The Tigers assigned him to the Erie SeaWolves, where he finished the season. In 131 games between Jackson and Erie, he slashed .277/.321/.424 with 13 home runs and 65 RBIs. On May 14, 2018, the Tigers called up Lugo after placing 3B

Jeimer Candelario Jeimer Candelario ( ; born November 24, 1993) is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers. Early life Can ...

on the 10-day disabled list. The Tigers sent Lugo back down to Toledo the next day before he could make his major league debut. He was called up again on August 30, and made his debut that evening against 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 ...

. Lugo got his first major league hit in his third at-bat, a double off Chad Green. He hit his first major league home run on September 28 off

Josh Hader Joshua Ronald Hader (born April 7, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers. Hader is a four-time All-Star and three-ti ...

of the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. The Brewers are named for the city's association wi ...

. Lugo was assigned to the Triple A Toledo Mud Hens to start the 2019 season. He was recalled on May 16, and hit a three-run homer that afternoon. With the Tigers in 2019, Lugo hit .245 with 6 home runs and 26 RBI in 273 at-bats. In 2020, Lugo made only 11 plate appearances for the Tigers, hitting a meager .200/.273/.200. On August 17, 2020, Lugo was designated for assignment and was outrighted on August 22. He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

Mariachis de Guadalajara

On February 15, 2021, Lugo signed with the

of the

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lugo, Dawel 1994 births Living people Bluefield Blue Jays players Detroit Tigers players Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Canada Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Mexico Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States Dunedin Blue Jays players Erie SeaWolves players Gulf Coast Blue Jays players Jackson Generals (Southern League) players Kane County Cougars players Lansing Lugnuts players Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic Major League Baseball second basemen Major League Baseball third basemen Mariachis de Guadalajara players Mobile BayBears players People from Baní Salt River Rafters players Tigres del Licey players Toledo Mud Hens players Vancouver Canadians players Visalia Rawhide players