Joshua Palacios

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Joshua Palacios

|image = Josh Palacios (48206199907) (cropped).jpg

|image_size =

|caption = Palacios with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2019

|team = Chicago White Sox

|number =

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|7|30}}

|birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 9

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = Toronto Blue Jays

|statyear = June 12, 2025

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .223

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 15

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 64

|teams =

Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2021}})
Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2022}})
Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2023}}–{{mlby|2024}})
Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2025}})

}}

Joshua John Palacios (born July 30, 1995) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Chicago White Sox organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Amateur career

Palacios attended the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York, and was selected as the 2013 New York City High School Player of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/06/10/blue-jays-select-cf-joshua-palacois-with-the-132nd-overall-pick/|title=MLB Draft: Blue Jays select CF Joshua Palacios with the 132nd overall pick|last=Smith|first=Jenn|work=toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com|date=June 10, 2016|access-date=November 17, 2016}} He was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 31st round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and instead attended San Jacinto Junior College.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=palaci002jos|title=Joshua Palacios Register Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=November 17, 2016}} In his first season of college baseball, Palacios batted .376 with six doubles and 26 runs batted in (RBIs).{{cite web|url=http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/joshua_palacios_986646.html|title=Joshua Palacios Bio|work=auburntigers.com|access-date=November 17, 2016}} In the offseason, Palacios signed a letter of intent to transfer to Auburn University for the 2016 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.sanjacsports.com/article/four-san-jacinto-college-baseball-players-sign-national-letters-intent|title=Four San Jacinto College baseball players sign National Letters of Intent|last=Vanya|first=Rob|work=sanjacsports.com|date=January 14, 2015|access-date=November 17, 2016}} As a sophomore with San Jacinto, he hit .364 with 12 doubles, nine triples, 36 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases. At the end of the season, Palacios was named the 37th best junior college prospect in the country. In his lone season with Auburn, Palacios batted .385 with five home runs, 23 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases.

Professional career

=Toronto Blue Jays=

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Palacios in the fourth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed for a $438,100 signing bonus.{{cite web|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/baseball/canadians-outfielder-palacios-sure-knows-his-baseball|title=Canadians outfielder Palacios sure knows his baseball|last=Ewen|first=Steve|work=theprovince.com|date=August 8, 2016|access-date=November 17, 2016}} He was assigned to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Blue Jays and appeared in 13 games before being promoted to the Short Season-A Vancouver Canadians. After 28 games in Vancouver, Palacios was promoted to the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts, where he finished his 2016 campaign. In 50 total games across three levels, Palacios batted .330 with 18 RBIs. He was assigned to Lansing for the entire 2017 season, and hit .280 with two home runs, 39 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 91 games.

On November 20, 2020, the Blue Jays added Palacios to their 40-man roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/blue-jays-add-5-players-to-40-man-roster.html|title=Blue Jays Add 5 Players To 40-Man Roster|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=November 20, 2020 }} On April 9, 2021, Palacios was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/transactions|title=Transactions|website=MLB.com}} He made his MLB debut that night as the starting right fielder against the Los Angeles Angels. Palacios was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo on May 3, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://boxscorenews.com/toronto-blue-jays-triplea-buffalo-bisons-set-preliminary-roster-p160552-229.htm|title=Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A Buffalo Bisons set Preliminary Roster

|website=Boxscore World Sportswire|date=May 3, 2021}} He was designated for assignment on April 11, 2022.

=Washington Nationals=

On April 15, 2022, the Washington Nationals claimed Palacios from the Blue Jays off of waivers.{{cite web | url=https://www.tsn.ca/josh-palacios-claimed-by-wasington-nationals-waivers-toronto-blue-jays-1.1786034 | title=Nationals claim OF Palacios off waivers from Jays - TSN.ca | date=April 15, 2022 }} On December 1, 2022, Palacios was sent outright off of the 40-man roster.{{Cite web|url=https://www.masnsports.com/nationals-rss/nats-create-two-more-openings-on-40-man-roster|title=Nats create two more openings on 40-man roster|website=MASNsports.com - Orioles and Nationals on MASNsports.com|date=December 2, 2022 }}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On December 7, 2022, at the Winter Meetings, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Palacios from the Nationals in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rule-5-draft-results-2022|title=2022 Rule 5 Draft results: Pick by pick|website=MLB.com}} He began the 2023 season with the Double-A Altoona Curve, but was quickly promoted to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. In 21 combined games, he hit .368/.433/.598 with 4 home runs, 22 RBI, and 4 stolen bases.

On May 9, 2023, the Pirates selected Palacios' contract.{{cite web|title=Pirates' Josh Palacios: Contract selected by PIT|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/pirates-josh-palacios-contract-selected-by-pit/amp/|access-date=May 9, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} On June 2, Palacios hit his first Major League home run at PNC Park against the St. Louis Cardinals. On July 30, he hit a walk-off two–run homer off of Andrew Vasquez of the Philadelphia Phillies.{{Cite web|title='We're going to battle': Josh Palacios' birthday walk-off caps wild victory for Pirates|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2023/07/30/pirates-phillies-trade-candidates-hill-santana-reynolds-homer/stories/202307300126|access-date=August 16, 2023|website=post-gazette.com|language=en}} In doing so, he became the first player in Pirates history to hit a walk–off home run on his birthday.{{Cite web|title=Pittsburgh Pirates' Josh Palacios Makes History With Walk Off Home Run on Birthday|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/history/pittsburgh-pirates-outfielder-josh-palacios-makes-history-with-walk-off-home-run-on-birthday|access-date=August 16, 2023|website=si.com|date=July 31, 2023 |language=en}} In 91 games for the Pirates, Palacios batted .239/.279/.413 with 10 home runs and 40 RBI.

Palacios was optioned to Triple–A Indianapolis to begin the 2024 season.{{Cite web|title=Roansy Contreras shifting to bullpen role the highlight among several Pirates moves|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2024/03/21/pittsburgh-mlb-news-roansy-contreras-bullpen-palacios-gonzales-triple-a/stories/202403210127|access-date=March 22, 2024|website=post-gazette.com|language=en}} In 23 appearances for Pittsburgh, he batted .224/.333/.343 with two home runs, nine RBI, and one stolen base.

Palacios was designated for assignment by the Pirates on March 23, 2025.{{Cite web|title=Pirates Designate Joshua Palacios, Option Henry Davis|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/pirates-designate-joshua-palacios-option-henry-davis.html|access-date=March 23, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=March 22, 2025 |language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Indianapolis on March 29.{{Cite web|title=Pirates Outright Joshua Palacios, Peter Strzelecki|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/pirates-outright-joshua-palacios-peter-strzelecki.html|access-date=March 29, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=March 29, 2025 |language=en}} However, Palacios rejected the assignment and elected free agency two days later.{{Cite web|title=Joshua Palacios Elects Free Agency|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/joshua-palacios-elects-free-agency.html|access-date=April 1, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=March 31, 2025 |language=en}}

=Chicago White Sox=

On April 3, 2025, Palacios signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.{{Cite web|title=White Sox To Sign Joshua Palacios To Minor League Deal|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/white-sox-to-sign-joshua-palacios-to-minor-league-deal.html|access-date=April 3, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 3, 2025 |language=en}} In five games for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, he went 3-for-13 (.231) with one RBI. On April 10, the White Sox selected Palacios' contract, adding him to their active roster.{{Cite web|title=White Sox Select Joshua Palacios, Omar Narvaez; Release Juan Carela|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/white-sox-select-joshua-palacios-omar-narvaez-release-juan-carela.html|access-date=April 10, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 10, 2025 |language=en}} In 51 appearances for Chicago, he batted .203/.292/.305 with three home runs and nine RBI. On June 13, Palacios was designated for assignment by the White Sox.{{Cite web|title=White Sox Claim Ryan Noda, Designate Joshua Palacios For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/white-sox-claim-ryan-noda-designate-joshua-palacios-for-assignment.html|access-date=June 13, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Charlotte on June 15.{{Cite web|title=White Sox Outright Joshua Palacios|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/white-sox-outright-joshua-palacios.html|access-date=June 23, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

International career

Palacios represented the Netherlands national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, along with his brother Richie.{{cite web | title=Grote namen in voorselectie Koninkrijksteam voor World Baseball Classic – HonkbalSoftbal.nl | website=HonkbalSoftbal.nl | date=January 10, 2023 | url=https://honkbalsoftbal.nl/2023/01/10/grote-namen-in-voorselectie-koninkrijksteam-voor-world-baseball-classic/ | language=nl | access-date=March 22, 2023}} In nine at-bats over four games, Palacios hit .111/.200/.111 with one RBI and three strikeouts.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/stats/kingdom-of-the-netherlands/ |title=Stats - Kingdom of the Netherlands |website=MLB.com |access-date=March 28, 2024}}

Personal life

His brother, Richie, was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the third round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/baseball-legacies-in-mlb-draft/c-279859128|title=Mr. Marlin's son, J-Roll's cousin top legacy picks|work=MLB.com|date=June 5, 2018|access-date=June 5, 2018}} His uncle, Rey, played in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals from 1988 to 1990.{{Cite web|url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/local/communities/irondequoit/2014/08/28/city-firefighter-royal/14665113/|title = City firefighter was once a Kansas City Royal}} Palacios' father is Puerto Rican,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/opinion/2020/03/06/perennial-blue-jays-prospect-josh-palacios-knows-how-the-game-is-played-all-he-wants-is-a-shot.html|title=Opinion | Perennial Blue Jays prospect Josh Palacios knows how the game is played. All he wants is a shot|date=March 6, 2020|website=thestar.com}} and mother is from Curaçao, and thus he was eligible to play for the Netherlands national baseball team and was selected to play for them in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.{{cite news |last1=Noga |first1=Joe |title=Guardians' Richie Palacios dreamed of representing Curaçao, playing with his brother in WBC for the Netherlands |url=https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2023/02/guardians-richie-palacios-dreamed-of-representing-curacao-playing-with-his-brother-in-wbc-for-the-netherlands.html |access-date=March 7, 2023 |work=Plain Dealer |issue=February 15, 2023}}