Elijah Daniel Villalobos (born June 26, 1997) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

for the

Dorados de Chihuahua The Dorados de Chihuahua (English: Chihuahua Goldens) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Chihuahua City, Chihuahua. Their home ballpark is the Estadio Chihuahua. Established in 1940, the Dorados have played in the ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

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 (baseball), National League (NL) National League East, East Division. The ...

Career

Villalobos attended

Sonora High School Sonora High School may refer to; * Sonora High School (La Habra, California), La Habra, California * Sonora High School (Texas), Sonora, Texas * Sonora Union High School, Sonora, California {{schooldis ...

La Habra, California La Habra – archaic spelling of – is a city in the northwestern corner of Orange County, California, United States. In the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,239. History Origin of name The name refe ...

. He began his

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

as a

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catc ...

Golden West College Golden West College (GWC) is a public community college in Huntington Beach, California. Organization GWC is a public community college located in Huntington Beach, California. Together with Orange Coast College, and Coastline Community Colleg ...

. After a coach saw him play as a

collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...

, Villalobos transferred to

California State University, Long Beach California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), also known in athletics as Long Beach State University (LBSU), is a public teaching-focused institution in Long Beach, California, United States. The 322-acre campus is the second largest in the ...

to play for the

Long Beach State Dirtbags The Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball team is the college baseball program that represents California State University, Long Beach. Although all Long Beach State sports teams are officially known as the Beach, the baseball team is typically refe ...

Miami Marlins

The

selected Villalobos in the 14th round of the

2018 Major League Baseball draft The 2018 Major League Baseball draft began on June 4, 2018. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order was determined based on the reverse order of the 2017 MLB season final standings. In addition, compensation pi ...

. Villalobos split his first professional season between three minor league affiliates. In 16 games between the rookie-level

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

, Low-A

Batavia Muckdogs The Batavia Muckdogs are a collegiate summer baseball team in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL). They are located in Batavia, a city in Genesee County, New York, United States. Their home field is Dwyer Stadium in the city o ...

, and High-A

Jupiter Hammerheads The Jupiter Hammerheads are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are located in the town of Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida, and play their home games at Roger Dean ...

, he recorded a cumulative 1-1 record and 6.10 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 20.2 innings pitched. He returned to Batavia in 2019, pitching to an 0-3 record and 6.08 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 47.1 innings of work. On November 15, 2022, the Marlins added Villalobos to their

40-man roster A Major League Baseball roster is a list of players who are allowed, by league agreement, to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Each MLB team maintains two rosters: an active roster of players eligible to participate in an MLB game, an ...

to protect him from the

Rule 5 draft The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball (MLB) player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor lea ...

. Villalobos was optioned to the Triple-A

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are located in Jacksonville, Florida, and are named for shrimp caught in th ...

to begin the 2023 season. He struggled to an 11.57 ERA in three appearances before he was designated for assignment by the Marlins on April 9, 2023.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On April 11, 2023, Villalobos was claimed off waivers by the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

. In 16 appearances for the Triple–A

Indianapolis Indians The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and play their home games at Victory ...

, he registered a 4.15 ERA with 16 strikeouts in innings pitched. 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 pla ...

by the Pirates on June 19, following the promotion of Henry Davis.

Miami Marlins (second stint)

On June 26, 2023, Villalobos was claimed off waivers by the

, marking his second stint with the organization. He was subsequently optioned to the Double–A

Pensacola Blue Wahoos The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League (1964–present), Southern League and the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are based in Pensacola, Florida, and play their home ga ...

. On July 2, Villalobos was again designated for assignment following the promotion of Dane Myers. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Double–A on July 4. Villalobos began the 2024 season with Triple–A Jacksonville, recording a 4.73 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 9 games. On May 5, 2024, Villalobos was selected to the 40–man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. In 3 games for Miami, he compiled a 2.08 ERA with 3 strikeouts across innings pitched. On May 27, Villalobos was designated for assignment by the Marlins. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Jacksonville on May 31, but elected free agency the following day.

Detroit Tigers

On June 17, 2024, Villalobos signed a minor league contract with 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 club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

. He made 6 total appearances split between the rookie–level

Florida Complex League Tigers The Florida Complex League Tigers are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Tigers. The team plays its home game ...

, Single–A

Lakeland Flying Tigers The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Lakeland, Florida, and play their home games at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. ...

, and Triple–A

Toledo Mud Hens The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A baseball team nicknamed the ...

. Villalobos was released by the Tigers organization on September 13.

Dorados de Chihuahua

On April 15, 2025, Villalobos signed with the

of the

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Villalobos, Eli 1997 births Living people American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Anchorage Glacier Pilots players Baseball players from Orange County, California Batavia Muckdogs players Beloit Snappers players Dorados de Chihuahua players Florida Complex League Tigers players Golden West Rustlers baseball players Gulf Coast Marlins players Indianapolis Indians players Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp players Jupiter Hammerheads players Lakeland Flying Tigers players Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball players Major League Baseball pitchers Miami Marlins players Pensacola Blue Wahoos players Toledo Mud Hens players