Leody Taveras Salazar (born September 8, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder in the Seattle Mariners organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers. The Rangers signed him as an international free agent in 2015, and he made his MLB debut in 2020. He won the 2023 World Series with the Rangers.
Career
Texas Rangers
Minor leagues
Taveras signed with the Texas Rangers as an international
free agent on July 2, 2015 for a
Signing bonus of $2.6 million.
He made his professional debut in 2016 with the Dominican Summer League Rangers and was later promoted to the Arizona League Rangers and
Spokane Indians that season.
In 73 total games between the three teams, he batted .271 with one home run, 33 RBIs and 18 stole bases.
Prior to the 2017 season, Baseball America ranked Taveras as the Rangers' best prospect.
Taveras was ranked as one of the top 100 prospects in baseball before the 2019 season by Baseball Prospectus (#47),
Major leagues
2020
Taveras made the Rangers'
Opening Day roster in 2020.
He made his major league debut on Opening Day, July 24, against the
Colorado Rockies. Taveras hit his first career home run on August 29 while playing against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He finished the 2020 season hitting .227/.308/.395 with 4 home runs, 6 RBI, and 8 stolen bases in 33 games.
2021
Taveras split the 2021 season between Texas and the Round Rock Express of the
Triple-A West. With Texas, he hit .161/.207/.270 with 3 home runs, 9 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 49 games. With Round Rock, he hit .245/.343/.475 with 17 home runs, 55 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 87 games.
2022
Taveras once again split the season between Texas and Round Rock in 2022, though his major league playing time increased. With Texas, he hit .261/.309/.366/.675 with 5 home runs, 34 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 99 games. In the minors, he hit .294/.335/.485/.820 with 7 home runs, 29 RBI, and 7 stolen bases in 49 games.
2023
In 2023, Taveras was shut down partway through spring training due to a "low-grade" oblique strain.
As a result, he was placed on the injured list to begin the regular season.
Taveras was activated for his season debut on April 12, 2023.
He made 143 appearances for the Rangers over the course of the season, slashing .266/.312/.421 with career-highs in home runs (14), RBI (67), and stolen bases (14).
2024
Taveras began the 2024 campaign as Texas' Opening Day center fielder. He appeared in 151 games for the Rangers during the season, batting .229/.289/.352 with 12 home runs, 44 RBI, and a career-high 23 stolen bases.
2025
Taveras began the 2025 season in a center field platoon with
Kevin Pillar; in 30 games for the Rangers, he slashed .241/.259/.342 with one home run, eight RBI, and six stolen bases.
On May 4, 2025, Taveras was placed on outright waivers by the Rangers.
Seattle Mariners
On May 6, 2025, the
Seattle Mariners claimed Taveras off waivers.
In his first game with the Mariners on May 7, he made his first MLB start in right field, drove in the tying run, and scored the game-winning run.
In 28 appearances for Seattle, Taveras batted .174/.198/.272 with two home runs, nine RBI, and three stolen bases. Taveras was designated for assignment by the Mariners on June 9.
He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A
Tacoma Rainiers on June 13.
Personal life
Taveras and his wife, Genny, have three children.
Taveras is cousins with outfielder Willy Taveras, who played seven seasons in MLB
External links
