Sandy David León Lopez (born March 13, 1989) is a Venezuelan professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding ...

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 catcher ...

in the Texas Rangers organization. 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

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadi ...

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 ...

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...

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 ...

Cleveland Guardians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...

and

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area ...

Professional career

Washington Nationals

León signed with the

on January 17, 2007, and made his professional debut with the

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

later that year. He spent two years in the

Gulf Coast League The Florida Complex League (FCL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Before 2021, it was known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL). Together with the Arizona Complex League (ACL), it forms the l ...

before splitting the 2009 season between the

Vermont Lake Monsters The Vermont Lake Monsters are a collegiate summer baseball team located in Burlington, Vermont. From 1994 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL). They play their home games at Centennial Field, ...

of the

New York–Penn League The New York–Penn League (NYPL) was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the northeastern United States from 1939 to 2020. Classified as a Class A Short Season league, its season started in June, after major-league teams signed th ...

and the

South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its ...

Hagerstown Suns The Hagerstown Suns were a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland. They were a member of the South Atlantic League and, from 2007 through 2020, were the Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They played their home ga ...

. León returned to the Suns for the 2010 season and was promoted to the

Potomac Nationals The Potomac Nationals were a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League. They were located in Woodbridge, Virginia, and played their home games at Northwest Federal Field at Pfitzner Stadium. After the 2019 season, the team relocated to F ...

in 2011. He spent time with the

Auburn Doubledays The Auburn Doubledays are a collegiate summer baseball team of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) that is located in Auburn, New York. From 1958 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYP ...

Harrisburg Senators The Harrisburg Senators are a Minor League Baseball team of the Eastern League, and the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who play their home games at FNB Field on City Island, which opened in 1987 ...

, and

Syracuse Chiefs Syracuse may refer to: Places Italy *Syracuse, Sicily, or spelled as ''Siracusa'' *Province of Syracuse United States * Syracuse, New York ** East Syracuse, New York ** North Syracuse, New York * Syracuse, Indiana *Syracuse, Kansas *Syracuse, M ...

in 2012 before his first major league callup. León was called up to the majors for the first time on May 13, 2012. 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 The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...

third baseman

Chase Headley Chase Jordan Headley (born May 9, 1984) is an American former professional baseball third baseman. A switch-hitter, Headley made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the San Diego Padres in 2007, and also played for the New York Yankees. H ...

at home plate.

Boston Red Sox

León was traded to the

for cash considerations on March 30, 2015. 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 July 21, and on July 30 he was sent down to the

Pawtucket Red Sox The Pawtucket Red Sox, known colloquially as the PawSox, were a professional minor league baseball club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1973 to 2020, the team was a member of the International League and served as the Triple-A affiliate ...

. 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 Ryan Michael Hanigan (born August 16, 1980) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and Colorado Rockies. After graduating from Andov ...

and

Blake Swihart Blake Aubry Swihart (born April 3, 1992) is an American professional baseball catcher and outfielder who is currently a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. Listed at a ...

went on the

disabled list In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL). General guidelines ...

. He finished his MLB season with a .310 batting average in 78 games, with seven home runs and 35 RBIs. 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 Christian Rafael Vázquez (born August 21, 1990) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros. Selected by th ...

, 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 The 2018 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's 2018 season. The 114th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Boston Red Sox and the National Le ...

against the

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brookly ...

, with León batting 3-for-6 in the series. In 2019, León was placed on waivers on March 24, and the Red Sox sent him outright to Triple-A Pawtucket on March 26. He accepted his assignment, rather than electing to forego his 2019 salary and become a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

. León had his contract selected on April 16, when Blake Swihart was

. León was placed on the paternity list on May 17, then activated on May 20, following the birth of a daughter. With the 2019 Red Sox, León appeared in 65 games while batting .192 with five home runs and 19 RBIs.

Cleveland Indians

On December 2, 2019, León was traded to the

in exchange for Adenys Bautista. Overall with the 2020 Cleveland Indians, León batted .136 with two home runs and 4 RBIs in 25 games. He became a free agent following the 2020 season.

Miami Marlins

On January 3, 2021, León signed a minor league contract with the

, which included an invitation to spring training. On April 21, 2021, León was selected to the active roster to help replace the injured

Jorge Alfaro Jorge Mario Alfaro Buelvas (born June 11, 1993) is a Colombian professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. Alfaro signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent in 2010, and was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015. He made his ML ...

. 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.

Cincinnati Reds

On November 22, 2021, León signed a minor league deal with an invitation to major league spring training camp with the

. 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. On April 15, he signed with the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

on a minor league contract.

Cleveland Guardians

Facing a shortage of catchers, the Cleveland Guardians sent cash to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for León on June 28, 2022. 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.

Minnesota Twins

On August 2, 2022, León was traded to the

in exchange for Ian Hamilton. León appeared in 25 games for Minnesota, slashing .179/.270/.232 with no home runs and 4 RBI.

Texas Rangers

On January 11, 2023, León signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers organization.

International career

Despite his Venezuelan heritage, León opted to play for the

Colombia national baseball team The Colombia national baseball team (Spanish: ''Selección de béisbol de Colombia'') is the national baseball team of Colombia. The team represents Colombia in international competitions. History The Colombian national team first participate ...

in the

2023 World Baseball Classic The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), an international professional baseball tournament, is set to be the fifth iteration of the World Baseball Classic. It was originally set for 2021 (as per tradition to hold the event every four years), but wa ...

Personal life

León and his wife have a son born in 2017, and a daughter born in May 2019. León is

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words '' Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ ...

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Leon, Sandy 1989 births Living people Águilas del Zulia players Auburn Doubledays players Boston Red Sox players Cleveland Guardians players Cleveland Indians players Expatriate baseball players in Colombia Gulf Coast Nationals players Hagerstown Suns players Harrisburg Senators players Major League Baseball catchers Major League Baseball players from Venezuela Miami Marlins players Minnesota Twins players Pawtucket Red Sox players Potomac Nationals players Sportspeople from Maracaibo Syracuse Chiefs players Tigres de Aragua players Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States Venezuelan expatriate sportspeople in Colombia Vermont Lake Monsters players Washington Nationals players