Kevin Maitán | |
---|---|
Minnesota Twins | |
Shortstop | |
Born: Puerto Cabello, Venezuela | February 12, 2000|
Bats: Switch Throws: Right |
Kevin Francisco Maitán Hernández (born February 12, 2000) is a Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop in the Minnesota Twins organization.
Maitán was considered the top international prospect for the 2016 class. [1] [2] Though a natural shortstop, Maitán has most often been projected as a third baseman in professional baseball. [3] [4] He has been called the best international free agent since Miguel Sanó in 2009 and has been compared to Miguel Cabrera and Chipper Jones. [5] He signed with the Atlanta Braves on July 2, [6] [7] receiving a $4.25 million signing bonus. [8] Maitán arrived in the United States in September to begin his professional career at the instructional league. [9] He made his debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves on July 3, 2017, [10] and after batting .314 with a .751 OPS in nine games, he was promoted to the Rookie Advanced Danville Braves, where he finished 2017, posting a .220 average with two home runs and 15 RBIs. [11]
On October 2, 2017, Braves general manager John Coppolella and international scouting director Gordon Blakely resigned after an MLB investigation into their activities discovered several rules violations regarding international signings. [12] On November 21, MLB ordered that Maitan and several other players were released from their contracts and declared to be free agents. [13]
Maitán signed with the Los Angeles Angels, receiving a $2.2 million signing bonus. [14] He played for the Orem Owlz of the Advanced Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2018. [15] In 2019, he was promoted to the Single-A Burlington Bees. He played 123 games and finished with a slash line of .214/.278/.323. [16] Maitán did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [17]
In 2021, Maitán split the year between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Angels and the High-A Tri-City Dust Devils. In 37 games, he batted a cumulative .212/.261/.258 with one home run and 13 RBI. [18] Maitán spent the 2022 season with the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas, playing in 114 games and hitting .261/.338/.399 with 11 home runs and 45 RBI (both one under his career-highs). [19] In 2023, he played in 53 games for Rocket City, struggling to a .192/.300/.256 batting line with 1 home run and 15 RBI. On June 19, 2023, Maitán was released by the Angels organization. [20]
On July 21, 2023, Maitán signed with the Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association of Professional Baseball. [21] In 9 games, he went 4–for–33 (.121) with 3 RBI and 3 walks. On August 2, Maitán was released by the team. [22]
On April 24, 2024, Maitán signed with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. [23] In 14 games for the Dirty Birds, Maitán hit .333/.410/.611 with three home runs and 14 RBI.
On May 13, 2024, Maitán's contract was purchased by the Minnesota Twins organization. [24]
Kevin Maitán | |
---|---|
Minnesota Twins | |
Shortstop | |
Born: Puerto Cabello, Venezuela | February 12, 2000|
Bats: Switch Throws: Right |
Kevin Francisco Maitán Hernández (born February 12, 2000) is a Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop in the Minnesota Twins organization.
Maitán was considered the top international prospect for the 2016 class. [1] [2] Though a natural shortstop, Maitán has most often been projected as a third baseman in professional baseball. [3] [4] He has been called the best international free agent since Miguel Sanó in 2009 and has been compared to Miguel Cabrera and Chipper Jones. [5] He signed with the Atlanta Braves on July 2, [6] [7] receiving a $4.25 million signing bonus. [8] Maitán arrived in the United States in September to begin his professional career at the instructional league. [9] He made his debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves on July 3, 2017, [10] and after batting .314 with a .751 OPS in nine games, he was promoted to the Rookie Advanced Danville Braves, where he finished 2017, posting a .220 average with two home runs and 15 RBIs. [11]
On October 2, 2017, Braves general manager John Coppolella and international scouting director Gordon Blakely resigned after an MLB investigation into their activities discovered several rules violations regarding international signings. [12] On November 21, MLB ordered that Maitan and several other players were released from their contracts and declared to be free agents. [13]
Maitán signed with the Los Angeles Angels, receiving a $2.2 million signing bonus. [14] He played for the Orem Owlz of the Advanced Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2018. [15] In 2019, he was promoted to the Single-A Burlington Bees. He played 123 games and finished with a slash line of .214/.278/.323. [16] Maitán did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [17]
In 2021, Maitán split the year between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Angels and the High-A Tri-City Dust Devils. In 37 games, he batted a cumulative .212/.261/.258 with one home run and 13 RBI. [18] Maitán spent the 2022 season with the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas, playing in 114 games and hitting .261/.338/.399 with 11 home runs and 45 RBI (both one under his career-highs). [19] In 2023, he played in 53 games for Rocket City, struggling to a .192/.300/.256 batting line with 1 home run and 15 RBI. On June 19, 2023, Maitán was released by the Angels organization. [20]
On July 21, 2023, Maitán signed with the Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association of Professional Baseball. [21] In 9 games, he went 4–for–33 (.121) with 3 RBI and 3 walks. On August 2, Maitán was released by the team. [22]
On April 24, 2024, Maitán signed with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. [23] In 14 games for the Dirty Birds, Maitán hit .333/.410/.611 with three home runs and 14 RBI.
On May 13, 2024, Maitán's contract was purchased by the Minnesota Twins organization. [24]