| Vidal Bruján | |
|---|---|
 Bruján with theCharlotte Stone Crabs in 2018 | |
| Atlanta Braves – No. 17 | |
| Second baseman /Right fielder | |
| Born: (1998-02-09)February 9, 1998 (age 27) San Pedro de Macorís,Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 7, 2021, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .199 |
| Home runs | 5 |
| Runs batted in | 48 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Vidal Bruján Esteva (born February 9, 1998) is a Dominican professionalbaseballsecond baseman andright fielder for theAtlanta Braves ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theTampa Bay Rays,Miami Marlins,Chicago Cubs, andBaltimore Orioles. Bruján signed with the Rays as an international free agent in 2014, and made his MLB debut with them in 2021.
Bruján signed with theTampa Bay Rays as an international free agent in October 2014.[1][2] He made his professional debut in 2015 with theDominican Summer League Rays, batting .301 with two home runs, 20 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases in 60 games. He split 2016 with theGulf Coast Rays andHudson Valley Renegades, hitting a combined .271 with one home run and eight RBIs in 51 games, and played 2017 with Hudson Valley where he batted .285 with three home runs, 20 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in 67 games.
Bruján played 2018 with both theBowling Green Hot Rods (with whom he was named aMidwest League All-Star) and theCharlotte Stone Crabs[3][4] where he slashed a combined .320/.403/.459 with nine home runs, 53 RBIs, and 55 stolen bases in 122 games between the two clubs.[5] He split the 2019 season between Charlotte and theMontgomery Biscuits, hitting a combined .277/.346/.389/.735 with 4 home runs and 40 RBIs.[6][7] He played for theSalt River Rafters of theArizona Fall League following the 2019 season.[8]
Bruján was added to the Rays 40–man roster following the 2019 season.[9] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic.[10] In June 2021, Bruján was selected to play in theAll-Star Futures Game.[11]
On July 7, 2021, Bruján was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[12] He made his MLB debut that day as the starting second baseman in the first game of a doubleheader against theCleveland Indians. In the game, he recorded his first career hit, an RBI single off of Indians starterJ. C. Mejía.
Bruján spent most of 2022 with the Triple-ADurham Bulls, batting .292. He did, however, play in 52 games with the Rays, and also hit his first MLB home run offDevin Smeltzer on June 10 vs. theMinnesota Twins.
Bruján was optioned to Triple-A Durham to begin the 2023 season.[13] He played in 37 games for Tampa Bay, hitting just .171/.241/.197 with no home runs, 6 RBI, and 3 stolen bases.[14]
On November 17, 2023, Bruján andCalvin Faucher were traded to theMiami Marlins in exchange for Erick Lara, Andrew Lindsey and a player to be named later.[15] In an August 24, 2024, blowout loss against theChicago Cubs, Bruján entered the game in the ninth inning and recorded his first career pitching strikeout againstIsaac Paredes.[16] In 102 appearances for Miami, he slashed .222/.303/.319 with two home runs, 16 RBI, and five stolen bases. Bruján wasdesignated for assignment following the signing ofEric Wagaman on December 20.[17]
On December 29, 2024, the Marlins traded Bruján to theChicago Cubs in exchange forMatt Mervis.[18] He made 36 appearances for the Cubs, batting .222/.234/.289 with three RBI and two stolen bases. Bruján was designated for assignment by Chicago on July 30, 2025.[19]
On August 3, 2025, Bruján was claimed off waivers by theBaltimore Orioles.[20] Bruján's only appearance for the team came against thePhiladelphia Phillies on August 6, where he recorded a single off ofJoe Ross in his only at-bat.
On August 8, 2025, Bruján was claimed off waivers by theAtlanta Braves.[21]
Bruján's father, Vidal Sr., died from heart failure in 2018.[22]