| Wilmer Difo | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Difo with the Indianapolis Indians in 2021 | |
| Free agent | |
| Second baseman /Shortstop | |
| Born: (1992-04-02)April 2, 1992 (age 32) Santiago de los Caballeros,Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 19, 2015, for the Washington Nationals | |
| MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
| Batting average | .250 |
| Home runs | 19 |
| Runs batted in | 103 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Wilmer Francisco Difo (born April 2, 1992) is a Dominican professionalbaseballinfielder who is a free agent. Difo made hisMajor League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2015 with theWashington Nationals and has also played for thePittsburgh Pirates. He has made the majority of his major league appearances as asecond baseman,shortstop, orthird baseman, with more limited stints as anoutfielder.
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Difo signed with theWashington Nationals as an international free agent on June 3, 2010. He made his professional debut that season for theDominican Summer League Nationals. From 2010 to 2013, he played for theGulf Coast Nationals,Auburn Doubledays,Hagerstown Suns andPotomac Nationals. Difo played the 2014 season with Hagerstown.[1] He was named the 2014South Atlantic League Most Valuable Player (MVP) with a .315batting average, a .360on-base percentage and a .470slugging average, with 14home runs and 90runs batted in.[2][3] He received theBob Boone Award from the Nationals, which "recognizes professionalism and passion".[4][5] Difo started 2015 with the Potomac Nationals and was promoted to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators after 19 games.[6]
On May 19, 2015, Difo was called up to the major leagues for the first time and collected his first hit in his first at-bat the same day, a pinch-hit single up the middle offNew York Yankees relieverDavid Carpenter.[7] Difo hit his first career home run on September 29, 2016, offArizona Diamondbacks starter and former Nationals pitching prospectRobbie Ray.[8] On October 14, 2016, he struck out for the game's last out as a pinch hitter[9] as theLos Angeles Dodgers defeated the Nationals 4–3 to win the National League Division Series.
Difo received his first career start in the outfield on June 24, 2017, playing center field against theCincinnati Reds due to an injury to regular center fielderMichael A. Taylor.[10] AfterTrea Turner suffered a broken wrist in a game days later, Difo took over as the Nationals' regular starting shortstop, occasionally sharing duties withStephen Drew andAdrián Sánchez.[11][12][13] On July 27, 2017, Difo hit one of four consecutive home runs by Nationals hitters offMilwaukee Brewers starterMichael Blazek, the first time the feat had been accomplished in Major League Baseball since the2011 season.[14]
Splitting time between the Majors and Minors in 2019, Difo appeared in 43 games with the Nationals and had a .252 average with two home runs and eight RBIs. The Nationals finished the year with a 93–69 record, able to clinch a wild card spot. Difo did not play in the postseason, but was on the Nationals' 40-man roster when the team won the2019 World Series over theHouston Astros, their first championship in franchise history.[15]
On September 5, 2020, Difo was designated for assignment by the Nationals. He cleared waivers and was assigned to the team's alternate training site inFredericksburg,Virginia.[16] Difo elected free agency on October 13, 2020.
On January 15, 2021, Difo signed a minor league contract with thePittsburgh Pirates organization.[17] On April 4, 2021, Difo was selected to the 40-man roster to fill in forKe'Bryan Hayes, who was suffering from left wrist inflammation.[18] On May 22, 2021, against theAtlanta Braves, Difo pitched one inning in a blowout, giving up eight runs on six hits, including a grand slam. It was his first career pitching appearance.[19] On June 8, Difo was designated for assignment after posting a .244/.287/.366 batting line in 44 games for the Pirates. He was outrighted to the Triple-AIndianapolis Indians on June 12.[20] Difo was re-selected to the active roster on July 2.[21] Difo hit .269/.329/.384 with 4 home runs and 24 RBI in 116 games for the Pirates. On November 6, 2021, Difo was outrighted from the 40-man roster and elected free agency the next day.[22]
On March 19, 2022, Difo signed a minor league contract with theArizona Diamondbacks.[23] On September 1, Difo's contract was selected and was promoted to the major league roster.[24]
On September 12, Difo was designated for assignment. On September 19, he cleared waivers, but elected free agency.
On December 23, 2022, Difo signed a minor league deal with theNew York Yankees.[25] He played in 96 games for the Triple–AScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, hitting .208/.322/.303 with five home runs, 24 RBI, and 23 stolen bases. Difo elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.[26]
On April 13, 2024, Difo signed a minor league contract with theChicago White Sox.[27] He became a free agent after the 2024 season.[28]
During the2017 season, Difo attracted some media attention for his choice of walk-up music, as he frequently had romantic ballads like "Unchained Melody" and "My Girl" added to his rotation. Although some of Difo's teammates toldThe Washington Post they assumed someone was playing a joke on the young infielder, Difo explained to the paper, "I love those songs."[29]
Difo chose to go by the nicknameEl Lindo,Spanish for "the beautiful one", for MLB Players' Weekend in 2017. The nickname was reportedly given to him by Nationals teammateAdam Lind.[30]
