Gio Urshela

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Gio Urshela

| image = File:Gio_Urshela_July_23,_2020_(50146724017)_(cropped)_2.0.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Urshela with the New York Yankees in 2020

| team = Athletics

| number = 13

| position = Third baseman

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|10|11}}

| birth_place = Cartagena, Colombia

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = June 9

| debutyear = 2015

| debutteam = Cleveland Indians

| statyear = April 17, 2025

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .271

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 73

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 339

| teams =

Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2015}}, {{mlby|2017}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2018}})
New York Yankees ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2021}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2022}})
Los Angeles Angels ({{mlby|2023}})
Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|2024}})
Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2024}})
Athletics ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Giovanny Urshela Salcedo (born October 11, 1991) is a Colombian professional baseball third baseman for the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers, and Atlanta Braves. Urshela made his MLB debut in 2015 with Cleveland.

Career

=Cleveland Indians=

Urshela signed with the Cleveland Indians as an international free agent in July 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/know-your-prospects-giovanny-urshela-050413|title=Know your prospects: Giovanny Urshela|last1=Lastoria|first1=Tony|work=FOX Sports|access-date=October 13, 2014}} He made his professional debut in 2009, playing for the Dominican Summer League Indians and the Arizona League Indians.{{cite web|url=http://elsolweb.tv/noticia.php?Id=9764 |title=Giovanny Urshela, A sprint Ascending |access-date=October 13, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018102811/http://elsolweb.tv/noticia.php?Id=9764 |archive-date=October 18, 2014 }}

File:Giovanny Urshela on July 5, 2013.jpg in 2013]]

Urshela started the 2014 season with Akron and was promoted to the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League during the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.ohio.com/sports/rubberducks/rubberducks-6-curve-4-giovanny-urshela-is-seeing-benefits-of-work-1.483963 |title=RubberDucks 6, Curve 4: Giovanny Urshela is seeing benefits of work |last=Cay |first=Fred |website=www.ohio.com |access-date=October 13, 2014 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121235/http://www.ohio.com/sports/rubberducks/rubberducks-6-curve-4-giovanny-urshela-is-seeing-benefits-of-work-1.483963 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2014/07/giovany_urshela_impresses_with.html|title=Giovanny Urshela impresses with Columbus Clippers -- Cleveland Indians AAA Insider|work=cleveland.com|date=July 18, 2014 |access-date=October 13, 2014}} After the 2014 season, the Indians added Urshela to their 40-man roster.{{cite news|last1=Reedy|first1=Joe|title=Indians fill out 40-man roster|url=http://www.foxsports.com/ohio/story/cleveland-indians-fill-out-40-man-roster-112014|access-date=June 8, 2015|work=Fox Sports|date=November 20, 2014}} He was named the Indians' fourth best prospect by MLB.com in 2015.{{cite news|last1=Fagerstrom|first1=August|title=Indians option Ramirez, Chisenhall to Triple-A|url=http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/129200538/indians-option-ramirez-chisenhall-to-triple-a|access-date=June 8, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=June 7, 2015|archive-date=June 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611032653/http://m.indians.mlb.com/news/article/129200538/indians-option-ramirez-chisenhall-to-triple-a|url-status=dead}}

Urshela began the 2015 season with Columbus. He was called up to the major leagues on June 8, 2015.{{cite news|title=Indians send struggling Chisenhall, Ramirez to minors|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=13034688|access-date=June 8, 2015|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=June 8, 2015}} He got his first major league hit, a single, and first major league home run in the same game against the Seattle Mariners on June 11, 2015.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=350611105|title=Urshela hits 1st big league homer, Indians top Mariners 6-0|agency=Associated Press|publisher=ESPN|date=June 11, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2015}} He spent the entire 2016 season playing with Columbus and in the offseason he played winter baseball in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League for Águilas del Zulia alongside future Yankees teammate Mike Tauchman.{{cite web

| title = How 'Gio Urshela?' became 'Gio Urshela!'

| url = https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27535235/how-gio-urshela-became-gio-urshela

| website = ESPn.com

| date = September 8, 2019

| access-date = October 2, 2020 }}

File:Giovanni Urshela (35494062833).jpg]]

Urshela batted .224 in 67 major league games for Cleveland in 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2018/05/cleveland_indians_trade_giovan.html |title=Cleveland Indians trade Giovanny Urshela to Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations |last=Noga |first=Joe |date=May 10, 2018 |website=cleveland.com |language=en-US |access-date=August 13, 2019}} He opened the 2018 season on the disabled list.{{cite web |last1=Hoynes |first1=Paul |title=Gio Urshela has hamstring injury and 4 other things we learned about the Cleveland Indians |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2018/03/giovanny_urshela_will_likely_o.html |website=Cleveland.com |access-date=March 21, 2018}} After completing his rehab assignment in the minors, Urshela was designated for assignment on May 4.{{cite web|last=Chisholm |first=Gregor |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/blue-jays-acquire-gio-urshela-from-indians-c276011302 |title=Blue Jays acquire Gio Urshela from Indians |work=MLB.com |date=May 9, 2018 |access-date=April 6, 2019}} He had batted .225 in 453 plate appearances for Cleveland.

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On May 9, 2018, Cleveland traded Urshela to the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations or a player to be named later. Urshela batted .233 with one home run and three runs batted in (RBIs) in 19 games for Toronto, before he was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on June 26.{{cite web|author=Canadian Baseball Network |url=https://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/canadian-baseball-network-articles/blue-jays-call-up-borucki-to-made-mlb-debut-designate-urshela |title=Blue Jays call up Borucki to make MLB debut, designate Urshela — Canadian Baseball Network |publisher=Canadianbaseballnetwork.com |date=June 26, 2018 |access-date=April 6, 2019}} He cleared waivers and was assigned outright to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on July 3.{{cite web |last1=Wagner |first1=Ben |url=https://twitter.com/benwag247/status/1011711073383112704 |title=Jays Twitter |website=Twitter.com |access-date=June 26, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Blue Jays PR |url=https://twitter.com/BlueJaysPR/status/1014229803388604416 |title=Ryan Borucki |website=Twitter.com |access-date=July 3, 2018}} He batted .244 in 91 plate appearances for the Bisons.

=New York Yankees=

On August 4, 2018, the Blue Jays traded Urshela to the New York Yankees in exchange for cash considerations.{{cite web |title=Blue Jays trade Gio Urshela to Yankees for cash considerations |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-trade-gio-urshela-yankees-cash-considerations/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=August 4, 2018}} The Yankees assigned him to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. He worked with Phil Plantier, the RailRiders' hitting coach, to make changes to his batting stance. Urshela batted .307 in 107 plate appearances for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.{{cite web|last=Petriello |first=Mike |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/this-is-why-gio-urshela-is-hitting-so-well |title=Why Gio Urshela is hitting so well |work=MLB.com |date=May 15, 2019 |access-date=August 9, 2019}}

The Yankees selected Urshela's contract on April 6, 2019, after Miguel Andújar, the Yankees' starting third baseman tore his right shoulder labrum.{{cite web|last=Hoch |first=Bryan |url=https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gio-urshela-called-up-to-play-third-base |title=Gio Urshela called up to play third base | New York Yankees |work=Mlb.com |date=April 6, 2019 |access-date=August 9, 2019}} Urshela began the season hitting 25-for-71 (.352), and continued to play for the Yankees when Andújar returned briefly in May,{{cite web |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2019/05/07/gio-urshela-playing-despite-miguel-andujar-return-new-york-yankees/1126438001/ |title=Gio Urshela playing despite Miguel Andujar return to New York Yankees |last=Caldera |first=Pete |publisher=Northjersey.com |access-date=August 9, 2019}} though Andújar soon opted to have season-ending surgery.{{cite web|last=Martin |first=Dan |url=https://nypost.com/2019/05/15/miguel-andujars-season-ends-with-surgery-in-yankees-blow/ |title=Miguel Andujar injury: Yankees star to have season-ending surgery |publisher=Nypost.com |date=May 15, 2019 |access-date=August 9, 2019}}

Urshela opened the 2020 season as the Yankees' starting third baseman. He played in 43 of the team's 60 games, missing time with a groin injury in late August.{{cite web|last=Kelly |first=Matt |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/gio-urshela-to-injured-list-luke-voit-activated |title=Urshela (groin) lands on IL; Voit activated |work=MLB.com |date=August 30, 2019 |access-date=August 30, 2019}} He batted .298/.368/.490 with 6 home runs and 30 RBIs, and led all qualifying third basemen with a .992 fielding percentage. On September 30, in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series, Urshela became the first Yankees third baseman to hit a postseason grand slam doing so against his former team, the Cleveland Indians. This also helped the Yankees sweep the Indians in the best-of-three Wild Card Series.{{cite web

| title = Yankees' Gio Urshela smashes 432-foot grand slam off Indians' James Karinchak

| url = https://www.nj.com/yankees/2020/09/watch-yankees-gio-urshela-smashes-432-foot-grand-slam-off-indians-james-karinchak-in-wild-card-series-game-2.html

| website = NJ.com

| date = October 1, 2020

| access-date = October 2, 2020 }}

The Yankees went on to lose in the Division Series to the Tampa Bay Rays in five games.

=Minnesota Twins=

On March 13, 2022, the Yankees traded Urshela and Gary Sánchez to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt.{{cite web|last=Aguilera|first=Nick|title=Yankees get Donaldson, send Sánchez, Urshela to Twins|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/josh-donaldson-traded-to-yankees-gary-sanchez-to-twins|website=MLB.com|publisher=MLB|date=March 13, 2022|accessdate=March 13, 2022}} In 2022 he batted .285/.338/.429.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/urshegi01.shtml|title=Gio Urshela Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} He was picked off at second base twice, leading the majors.{{cite web|url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/custom?year=2022&type=batter&filter=&sort=10&sortDir=desc&min=q&selections=b_catcher_interf,b_foul,b_foul_tip,b_gnd_into_dp,b_out_popup,b_interference,b_pinch_hit,r_pickoff_1b,r_pickoff_2b,r_pickoff_3b,xba,xslg,xwoba,xobp,xiso,exit_velocity_avg,launch_angle_avg,barrel_batted_rate,&chart=false&x=xba&y=xba&r=no&chartType=beeswarm|title=Statcast Custom Leaderboards|website=baseballsavant.com}}

In October 2022, it was announced that Urshela would spend the 2022 offseason playing with his hometown Tigres de Cartagena of the Colombian Professional Baseball League.{{cite web|title=Tigres de Cartagena vuelven a la liga de béisbol con apoyo de Giovanny Urshela|url=https://caracol.com.co/2022/10/16/tigres-de-cartagena-vuelven-a-la-liga-de-beisbol-con-apoyo-de-giovanny-urshela/|website=Caracol|lang=es|date=October 16, 2022|accessdate=March 13, 2022}}

=Los Angeles Angels=

On November 18, 2022, Urshela was traded from the Twins to the Los Angeles Angels for minor league pitcher Alejandro Hidalgo.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35054287/sources-angels-acquiring-3b-gio-urshela-twins|title=Angels bolster depth, acquire Urshela from Twins|date=November 18, 2022|website=ESPN.com}} The Angels began the 2023 season with Urshela as their regular shortstop.{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2023/03/30/gio-urshela-happy-with-angels-decision-to-give-him-a-continued-look-at-shortstop/|title=Gio Urshela happy with Angels' decision to give him a continued look at shortstop|first=Jeff|last=Fletcher |work=Orange County Register|date=March 30, 2023|accessdate=April 3, 2023}} On June 16, 2023, Urshela was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left pelvis fracture.{{cite web |last1=Fletcher |first1=Jeff |title=Angels lose Gio Urshela with fractured pelvis |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2023/06/16/angels-lose-gio-urshela-with-fractured-pelvis/ |website=Orange County Register |date=June 16, 2023}} On June 21, 2023, the Angels announced Urshela would not need surgery but would miss the remainder of the 2023 season.{{Cite web |last=Sanchez |first=Noel |date=June 21, 2023 |title=Angels News: LA Starting Infielder Gio Urshela To Miss Entirety of 2023 Season |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/angels/news/angels-news-la-starting-infielder-gio-urshela-to-miss-entirety-of-2023-season-ns2002 |access-date=October 13, 2023 |publisher=Sports Illustrated}}

=Detroit Tigers=

On February 22, 2024, Urshela signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Detroit Tigers.{{cite news |title=Infielder Gio Urshela, Tigers reach 1-year, $1.5M deal |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39576997/sources-infielder-gio-urshela-tigers-reach-1-year-15m-deal |access-date=February 23, 2024 |publisher=ESPN.com |date=February 22, 2024}} In 92 games for the Tigers, he batted .243/.286/.333 with five home runs and 37 RBIs. On August 16, Urshela was designated for assignment.{{cite news |last1=Woodbery |first1=Evan |title=Tigers designate veteran infielder to create roster spot for arriving prospects |url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2024/08/tigers-designate-veteran-infielder-to-create-roster-spot-for-arriving-prospects.html |access-date=August 21, 2024 |publisher=MLive.com |date=August 16, 2024}} He was released two days later.{{Cite web|title=Detroit Tigers Veteran Infielder Poised to Hit Free Agency This Week|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/tigers/news/detroit-tigers-veteran-infielder-poised-to-hit-free-agency-this-week|access-date=August 19, 2024|website=si.com|language=en}}

=Atlanta Braves=

On August 20, 2024, Urshela signed a one-year, major league contract with the Atlanta Braves.{{Cite news |date=August 20, 2024 |title=Gio Urshela signs with injury-plagued Braves to fill 3B void |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40928455/reports-gio-urshela-sign-injury-plagued-braves |access-date=August 21, 2024 |publisher=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} In 36 games for Atlanta, he batted .265/.287/.424 with 4 home runs and 15 RBI.{{Cite web |title=Gio Urshela Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/gio-urshela-570482 |access-date=December 20, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}

= Athletics =

On December 19, 2024, Urshela signed a one-year, major league contract with the Athletics.https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-athletics-agree-to-terms-with-inf-gio-urshela-on-one-year-contract

International career

Before the 2013 season, he played for the Colombian national baseball team in the qualifiers for the World Baseball Classic, but the team lost to Panama and failed to qualify for the tournament.{{cite web|url=http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/wbc/2013/teams/index.jsp?team_id=792&team=col|title=World Baseball Classic Colombian roster|work=World Baseball Classic|access-date=October 13, 2014|archive-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008102657/http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/wbc/2013/teams/index.jsp?team=col&team_id=792|url-status=dead}} He played for the Colombian national baseball team again after they qualified for the 2017 World Baseball Classic.{{cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2017/02/caa.html|title=Cleveland Indians will send 11 players to the World Baseball Classic|first=Paul|last=Hoynes|date=February 9, 2017|website=cleveland.com|access-date=April 6, 2019}} In 14 plate appearances, he slashed .143/.143/.143 with two hits.{{cite web|url=http://hosted.stats.com/wbc/teamreports.asp?report=stats&tm=19|title=Colombia - World Baseball Classic|website=STATS Hosted Solution|access-date=September 7, 2022|archive-date=September 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907191242/http://hosted.stats.com/wbc/teamreports.asp?report=stats&tm=19|url-status=dead}}

Urshela was named to the Colombian roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic qualifiers, held in March 2025 in Tucson, Arizona.{{cite web |title=Here's what to know for World Baseball Classic Qualifiers in Tucson |url=https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/news/tucson-world-baseball-classic-qualifiers-guide |access-date=February 15, 2025 |website=MLB.com |date=February 13, 2025}}

Personal life

Urshela is married to his wife, Danna. In 2022, she gave birth to their daughter.{{cite web | last=Rosenstein | first=Mike | title=Ex-Yankees infielder celebrates newborn baby with walk-off home run | website=NJ.com| date=August 2, 2022 | url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/08/ex-yankees-infielder-celebrates-newborn-baby-with-walk-off-home-run.html | access-date=October 8, 2024}} Danna is a journalist in Colombia.{{cite web | last=Klapisch | first=Bob | title=As Colombia erupts, Yankees’ Gio Urshela worries about his parents’ safety | website=NJ.com| date=May 25, 2021 | url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/05/even-as-he-leads-the-yankees-gio-urshela-worries-about-growing-unrest-in-colombia-klapisch.html | access-date=October 8, 2024}}