Estevan Florial

{{Short description|Dominican-Haitian baseball player (born 1997)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Estevan Florial

|image = Estevan Florial in 2019.png

|team = Hanwha Eagles

|number = 34

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|11|25}}

|birth_place = Barahona, Dominican Republic

|bats = Left

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 28

|debutyear = 2020

|debutteam = New York Yankees

|debut2league= KBO

|debut2date = March 22

|debut2year = 2025

|debut2team = Hanwha Eagles

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2024 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .192

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 4

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 22

|stat2league = KBO

|stat2year = March 28, 2025

|stat21label = Batting average

|stat21value = .095

|stat22label = Home runs

|stat22value = 0

|stat23label = Runs batted in

|stat23value = 4

|teams =

New York Yankees ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2023}})
Cleveland Guardians ({{mlby|2024}})
Hanwha Eagles ({{kboy|2025}}–present)

}}

Estevan Haniel Florial (born November 25, 1997) is a Dominican-Haitian professional baseball outfielder for the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians.

Background

Estevan Florial was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He holds dual-citizenship with Haiti due to his mother being born there. In the first couple of years with the Yankees organization, they mistakenly listed him as being born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which would have made him a forerunner to become the first Haitian-born Major League player.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2018/02/yankees_estevan_florial_gets_dose_of_trump_hate_cl.html |title=Yankees' Estevan Florial passes on ripping Donald Trump, clarifies he's 'not from Haiti' |editor=Miller, Randy |date=February 21, 2018 |publisher=NJ.com |access-date=March 4, 2018}} Florial signed with the New York Yankees under the name Haniel d'Oleo in 2014. However the contract was voided after he was unable to provide a birth certificate and he re-signed with the Yankees under the name Estevan Florial in 2015.{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2016/02/23/how-a-new-identity-made-one-yankees-prospect-a-rising-star/|title=How a new identity made one Yankees prospect a rising star|first=Joel|last=Sherman|date=February 23, 2016|website=nypost.com|access-date=June 2, 2017}}

Career

=New York Yankees=

==Minor leagues==

Florial made his professional debut that season with the Dominican Summer League Yankees 1 where he batted .313 with seven home runs and 53 RBIs in 57 games. He played in 2016 with the Pulaski Yankees, Charleston RiverDogs and Tampa Yankees,{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2017/03/how_yankees_gave_young_top_prospect_taste_of_whats.html|title=How Yankees gave young top prospect taste of what's to come|website=nj.com|date=March 2017 |access-date=June 2, 2017}} batting a combined .227 with eight home runs and thirty RBIs in 67 total games among the three teams.

Florial started the 2017 season with Charleston.{{cite web|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/sports/opening-day-charleston-riverdogs-start-season-with-sights-set-on/article_d4308b9a-19ff-11e7-9dde-c337c58e36b8.html|title=Opening Day: Charleston RiverDogs start season with sights set on reaching playoffs in consecutive seasons|first=Derrek |last=Asberry|work=The Post and Courier|date=April 6, 2017 |access-date=June 2, 2017}} He was selected to appear in the All-Star Futures Game in July.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/riverdogs/news/riverdogs-estevan-florial-to-feature-in-mlb-all-star-futures-game/c-239493600 |title=RiverDogs' Estevan Florial to Feature in MLB All-Star Futures Game |publisher=MiLB.com |date=June 29, 2017 |access-date=September 13, 2017}} After batting .297 with 11 home runs, 43 RBIs and 17 stolen bases for Charleston, he was promoted to Tampa in August, where he finished the season{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/new-york-yankees-promote-estevan-florial-to-florida-state-league/c-245796414/t-185364810 |title=Yankees promote 19-year-old Florial to Tampa |publisher=MiLB.com |date=August 1, 2017 |access-date=September 13, 2017}} slashing .303/.368/.461 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 19 games.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=664314#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL|title=Estevan Florial Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=February 21, 2018}} The Yankees promoted him to the Trenton Thunder for their postseason but did not appear in a game.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/yankees-prospect-estevan-florial-promoted-to-double-a-trenton-for-finals/c-253791236 |title=Florial bumped up to Trenton for EL Finals |publisher=MiLB.com |access-date=September 13, 2017}}

Florial entered 2018 as one of the top prospects in the minor leagues.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-spring-training-1.16940189 |title=Yankees prospect Estevan Florial has a huge upside |publisher=Newsday |date=February 24, 2018 |access-date=August 28, 2020}} Playing for Tampa, he broke the hamate bone in his right wrist in May and required surgery, costing him three months of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-prospect-florial-wrist-surgery-3-months-article-1.3997499|title=Yankees top outfield prospect Estevan Florial needs wrist surgery, could miss three months|first=Mike|last=Mazzeo|website=nydailynews.com|date=May 19, 2018 |access-date=August 28, 2020}} In 2019, the Yankees invited Florial to spring training as a non-roster player.{{cite web|last=Dykstra |first=Sam |url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/new-york-yankees-invite-estevan-florial-to-spring-training-camp/c-303432554 |title=New York Yankees invite Estevan Florial to Spring Training camp |publisher=MiLB.com |date=February 1, 2019 |access-date=August 28, 2020}} He suffered a non-displaced fracture in his right wrist during spring training.{{cite web|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2019/03/16/new-york-yankees-top-prospect-estevan-florial-going-right-wrist-x-rays/3188369002/ |title=New York Yankees prospect Estevan Florial fractures right wrist |publisher=Northjersey.com |date=March 16, 2019 |access-date=August 28, 2020}} He returned to Tampa in June,{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2019/06/yankees-estevan-florial-impresses-in-season-debut-for-single-a-tampa.html|title=Yankees' Estevan Florial impresses in season debut for Single-A Tampa|first=Mike |last=Rosenstein|work=NJ.com|date=June 4, 2019|access-date=August 28, 2020}} where he played for the 2019 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2019/08/how-yankees-see-top-prospect-estevan-florials-struggles.html|title=How Yankees see top prospect Estevan Florial's struggles|first=Brendan |last=Kuty |work=NJ.com|date=August 17, 2019|access-date=August 28, 2020}}

==Major leagues==

Florial was called up to the majors on August 28, 2020.{{cite web|last=King |first=George A. |url=https://nypost.com/2020/08/28/injuries-pave-way-for-estevan-florials-long-awaited-yankees-debut/ |title=Injuries pave way for Estevan Florial's long-awaited Yankees debut |publisher=Nypost.com |date=August 28, 2020 |access-date=August 28, 2020}} He played in the first game of a doubleheader that same day against the New York Mets, where he got his first MLB hit. At the end of the day he was sent back to the minors.{{cite web |last1=Siener |first1=Jake |title=FIRST TIMERS CLUB |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401240119 |website=ESPN |access-date=August 29, 2020}}

On July 20, 2021, the Yankees promoted Florial to the major leagues to replace the injured Trey Amburgey.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/07/yankees-finally-turn-to-estevan-florial-again-with-trey-amburgey-sidelined.html |title=Yankees finally turn to Estevan Florial again with Trey Amburgey sidelined |publisher=nj.com |date=July 20, 2021 |accessdate=August 17, 2022}} He recorded his first major league RBI on a groundout to first base, and later hit his first major league home run; a solo shot off of pitcher Enyel De Los Santos of the Philadelphia Phillies.{{cite web|url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2021/07/20/estevan-florial-first-mlb-home-run-new-york-yankees/8037260002/ |title=Estevan Florial hits first MLB home run for New York Yankees |publisher=Northjersey.com |date=July 20, 2021 |accessdate=August 17, 2022}} In 11 games for the Yankees, Florial went 6–for–20 (.300) with one home run, two RBI, and one stolen base.{{Cite web|title=Estevan Florial 2021 batting Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/36636/year/2021/category/batting|access-date=December 11, 2024|website=espn.com|language=en}} Florial made 17 appearances for New York in 2022, going 3–for–31 (.097) with one RBI and two stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Estevan Florial 2022 batting Stats Per Game - MLB|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/36636/year/2022/category/batting|access-date=December 11, 2024|website=espn.com|language=en}}

Out of options in 2023, Florial made the Yankees Opening Day roster.{{cite web|last=Joyce |first=Greg |url=https://nypost.com/2023/03/30/yankees-have-potential-deal-for-pitcher-after-opening-day/ |title=Yankees have 'potential deal' for pitcher after Opening Day |publisher=Nypost.com |date= March 30, 2023|accessdate=April 1, 2023}} He appeared as a pinch runner on Opening Day, but was designated for assignment on April 1.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2023/04/yankees-make-estevan-florial-decision-tweak-active-roster.html |title=Yankees make Estevan Florial decision, tweak active roster |publisher=nj.com |date=January 26, 2023 |accessdate=April 1, 2023}} Florial had 63 plate appearances for the Yankees across four seasons, batting .185 with 21 strikeouts.{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2023/04/why-yankees-estevan-florial-never-panned-out-in-pinstripes.html|title=Why Yankees' Estevan Florial never panned out in pinstripes|first=Max|last=Goodman|work=NJ.com|date=April 1, 2023|accessdate=April 7, 2023}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on April 7.{{Cite web|title=Yankees' Estevan Florial: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/yankees-estevan-florial-outrighted-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=April 7, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 101 games in Triple–A, he batted .284/.380/.565 with 28 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. On September 11, Florial had his contract selected back to the major league roster.{{Cite web|title=Yankees' Estevan Florial: Returns to big leagues|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/yankees-estevan-florial-returns-to-big-leagues/amp/|access-date=September 11, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 19 major league games for New York, he hit .230/.324/.312 with no home runs, eight RBIs, and three stolen bases.

=Cleveland Guardians=

On December 26, 2023, the Yankees traded Florial to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for Cody Morris.{{Cite web|title=Yankees acquire pitcher Cody Morris from the Guardians for Estevan Florial|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-cody-morris-guardians-estevan-florial-iz6ukzzr|access-date=December 26, 2023|website=newsday.com|date=December 26, 2023 |language=en}} In 36 games for Cleveland in 2024, he batted .173/.264/.367 with career–highs in home runs (3) and RBI (11). Florial was designated for assignment by the Guardians on May 31, 2024.{{cite news |title=Steven Kwan returns to lineup for Guardians |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40252128/steven-kwan-returns-lineup-guardians |access-date=June 25, 2024 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=May 31, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Noga |first1=Joe |title=Guardians activate Steven Kwan from injured list, designate Esetvan Florial for assignment |url=https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2024/05/guardians-activate-steven-kwan-from-injured-list-designate-estvan-florial-for-assignment.html |access-date=June 25, 2024 |publisher=Cleveland.com |date=May 31, 2024}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers on June 7.{{Cite web|title=Guardians' Estevan Florial: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/guardians-estevan-florial-outrighted-to-triple-a/amp/|date=June 7, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Florial elected minor league free agency on October 21.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-10-21 | title=Transactions }}

=Hanwha Eagles=

On December 10, 2024, Florial signed with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League.{{Cite web|title=Hanwha Eagles Sign Estevan Florial|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/hanwha-eagles-sign-estevan-florial.html|access-date=December 10, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 10, 2024 |language=en}} On June 17, 2025, it was announced that Florial had suffered a broken right pinkie, and would be temporarily replaced by Luis Liberato.{{Cite web|title=KBO-leading Eagles sign outfielder Liberato as temporary injury replacement|url=https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250617004000315|access-date=June 17, 2025|website=m-en.yna.co.kr|language=en}}