| Manuel Margot | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Margot with theSan Diego Padres in 2019 | |
| Free agent | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born: (1994-09-28)September 28, 1994 (age 31) San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 21, 2016, for the San Diego Padres | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .254 |
| Home runs | 56 |
| Runs batted in | 317 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Manuel Margot Gomez (born September 28, 1994) is a Dominican professionalbaseballcenter fielder who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theSan Diego Padres,Tampa Bay Rays,Minnesota Twins, andDetroit Tigers. He made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Padres.
TheBoston Red Sox signed Margot as an international free agent from the Dominican Prospect League in July 2011, receiving a reported bonus of $800,000.[1] At age 17, he started his professional career with Rookie LevelDominican Summer League Red Sox in their 2012 season.[2] In his professional debut, Margot earned Red Sox Minor League Latin Program Player of the Year honors, after batting a .285/.382/.423slash line with 38stolen bases in just 68 games, gaining a spot on the DSL All-Star team. Regarded as a patient hitter, hewalked more than hestruck out in the DSL (36-to-25 in 260at-bats).[1]
Margot jumped up two levels to theLowell Spinners in 2013, and played as the youngest regular in the Low-ANew York–Penn League.[3] Following his successful debut, Margot did manage to get a hit in 12 out of his first 15 games with Lowell, collecting a .254/.343/.307 line through July 24, when a hamstring injury laid him up. After adisabled list stint, he returned on August 16 showing glimpses of his potential with a .447/.475/.658 line over his first eight games back. He finished the year with a .270 average and 18 stolen bases in only 49 games.[1]
Margot played for the Low-AGreenville Drive of theSouth Atlantic League in 2014. In his first 99 games at Greenville, he posted a .282/.362/.418 line with 10home runs and 45runs batted in, while leading the Drive with 105 hits and 61 runs scored, and the Red Sox organization with 39 stolen bases.[1] As a result, he was promoted to High-ASalem Red Sox of theCarolina League on August 15.[4] In 2014, Margot hit .340/.356/.560 in just 18 games for Salem, combining for a .293/.356/.462 line with 12 homers and 59 RBI in 115 contests in the two stints. Besides, he led the Sox minors system with 42 stolen bases. It was just the latest part in what was a very solid season in the organization despite his youth. As such, he climbed from No. 11 to No. 4 in the MLB.com Top 20 Boston Red Sox Prospects list.[3]
In 2015, Margot improved his slash line up to .282/.321/.420 through 46 games with Salem, and earned a promotion to the Double-APortland Sea Dogs in the midseason. His five triples were tied for third-most in the Carolina League, while his 20 steals in 25 attempts ranked fourth in the circuit at the time of his promotion. Soon after, MLB.com announced that he would be member of the World Team in theFutures Game prior to the Major League All-Star Game.[5] Margot then posted a combined .271/.326/.419 batting line with 25 extra bases and 19 steals over 109 games played for the Sea Dogs.[1] During theSea Dogs annual Field of Dream Fan Appreciation Game atHadlock Field, hehit for the cycle and drove in a season-high five runs as the Sea Dogs topped theNew Britain Rock Cats, 10–5, becoming the first ever Portland player to hit a cycle at Hadlock Field.[6]
On November 13, 2015, theSan Diego Padres acquired Margot,Javier Guerra,Carlos Asuaje, andLogan Allen from the Red Sox forCraig Kimbrel.[7] On November 19, 2015, the Padres added Margot to their 40-man roster to protect him from theRule 5 draft.[8]
Margot began the 2016 season with theTriple-AEl Paso Chihuahuas, where he played in 124 games, including 117 starts in center field. He batted .304 with 6 home runs and a .777OPS.[2]
The Padres promoted Margot to the major leagues for the first time on September 21, 2016.[9] Margot made his major league debut as apinch runner and defensive replacement the same day, against theArizona Diamondbacks.[10] He recorded his first MLB hit on a single to center field offDerek Law of theSan Francisco Giants on September 24.[11] In his debut season, Margot played in 10 games, including seven starts in center field and one in right. He had nine hits in 37 at-bats.[12]
Despite a knee injury that limited his playing time in spring training, Margot made the 2017 Opening Day roster as the starting center fielder.[13] He hit five extra-base hits in his first six games of the 2017 season, including two home runs in consecutive plate appearances againstSan Francisco Giants starterMatt Cain on April 8, and two doubles off of Giants starterMadison Bumgarner on April 9.[14][15] Margot missed about a month of the season in May and June with a calf injury[16] but finished the 2017 season with a .263/.313/.409 batting line with 13 home runs in 126 games, including 121 starts in center field.[17] He finished sixth in theNL Rookie of the Year voting.[18]
Margot was the Padres regular center fielder in 2018, starting 123 games there, and only missing 10 days on the disabled list with bruised ribs in April.[19] His batting line on the season dropped to .245/.292/.384 with 8 home runs and 11 stolen bases.[17] He was considered to be a plus defender in center field, without making many highlight plays.[20]
Margot began losing time in center field in 2019, making 98 starts there whileWil Myers picked up 58 of the center field starts. Margot effectively became part of a platoon with left-handed hitting corner outfielderJosh Naylor in the latter part of the season.[21] Margot still played in a career-high 151 games on the season, often coming in as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement. Margot batted .234/.304/.387 on the year, with 12 home runs in 398 at-bats. He had 20 stolen bases in 24 attempts.[17] On defense, Margot led the Padres with 11 outs above average, ranking fourth in the National League.[22]
On February 8, 2020, the Padres traded Margot and prospectLogan Driscoll to theTampa Bay Rays in exchange forEmilio Pagán.[23] Before being traded to the Rays, Margot had only played eight innings not in center field. However, the defensive prowess ofKevin Kiermaier caused Margot to play more innings in left and right field.[24] Margot ended the season batting .269 with one home run and 12 stolen bases.[17] The Rays ended the season with the best record in theAmerican League.[25] In theWild Card Series against theToronto Blue Jays, Margot went three for seven with one home run and three RBIs.[17] In theDivision Series against theNew York Yankees, Margot went one for nine with a two-run home run.[17] The Rays would beat the Yankees in five games.[17] In Game 1 of theALCS against theHouston Astros, Margot hit a three-run home run in the first inning. In the second inning, Margot flipped over the wall in right field to record an out on a foul ball. Despite this game being played in his former home field (Petco Park), Margot was unaware that the drop over this wall was approximately six feet.[26] In game 6 of the ALCS, Margot hit two home runs recording three RBIs as the Rays lost by three.[27] In the2020 World Series against theLos Angeles Dodgers, Margot had six hits in 19 at-bats[17] In Game 5, he attempted to steal home in the fourth inning but was called out after a close putout at the plate to end the inning.[28]
Margot played in 125 games for the Rays during the 2021 season. In 421 at–bats, he hit .254/.313/.382 with 10 home runs, 57 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.[17] He had one hit in seven at-bats in theALDS against theBoston Red Sox.[29] On April 5, 2022, Margot and the Rays agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $19 million, with a mutual option for 2025.[30] On June 20, Margot suffered a sprained knee while crashing into the wall[31] and did not rejoin the team until August 20.[32] In 89 games in 2022, Margot hit .274[17] and in 99 games in 2023, he hit .264.[17]
On December 16, 2023, the Rays traded Margot andTyler Glasnow to theLos Angeles Dodgers in exchange forRyan Pepiot andJonny DeLuca.[33] Then, on February 26, 2024, the Dodgers traded him, Rayne Doncon and cash considerations to theMinnesota Twins in exchange forNoah Miller.[34] In 129 appearances for Minnesota, Margot slashed .238/.289/.337 with four home runs, 31 RBI, and five stolen bases. The Twins declined his option at the end of the season, making him a free agent.[35]
On February 21, 2025, Margot signed a minor league contract with theMilwaukee Brewers.[36] He was released prior of the start of the season on March 22.[37]
On March 23, 2025, Margot signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with theDetroit Tigers.[38] In six games for Detroit, he went 6-for-19 (.316) with three RBI. Margot was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 8, with left knee inflammation.[39] Upon his activation from the injured list on May 7, Margot was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-AToledo Mud Hens.[40] On July 8, Margot was released by the Tigers.[41]
Margot's wife, Rachell, gave birth to a son, Diamond, in July 2017.[42] The family added a second child in April 2019.[43]
