Luis Liberato

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Luis Liberato

|image = Luis Liberato 2022.jpg

|caption = Liberato with the El Paso Chihuahuas in 2022

|team = Hanwha Eagles

|number = 0

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|12|18}}

|birth_place = La Canela, Dominican Republic

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = September 10

|debutyear = 2022

|debutteam = San Diego Padres

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2022 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .000

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 0

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 0

|teams =

San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2022}})

}}

Luis David Liberato (born December 18, 1995) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres.

Career

=Seattle Mariners=

On December 6, 2012, Liberato signed with the Seattle Mariners organization as an international free agent.{{cite web | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/mariners-sign-17-old-domincan-201005824--mlb.html | title=Mariners sign 17-year-old Domincan outfielder | date=15 January 2013 }} He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Mariners, hitting .255 across 57 games. Liberato spent the 2014 season with the rookie–level Arizona League Mariners, hitting .211/.325/.314 with 2 home runs, 14 RBI, and 14 stolen bases across 49 appearances.{{Cite web|title=Mariners Top 20 Prospects: #8 CF Luis Liberato|url=https://sodomojo.com/2016/02/25/mariners-top-20-prospects-8-cf-luis-liberalto/|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=sodomojo.com|date=February 25, 2016 |language=en}}

Liberato split the 2015 season between the Low–A Everett AquaSox, Single–A Clinton LumberKings, and Double–A Jackson Generals. He played in 64 games between the three affiliates, batting a cumulative .231/.308/.403 with 5 home runs, 31 RBI, and 11 stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Luis Liberato Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/2775-luis-liberato/|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=June 4, 2021 |language=en}} He returned to Clinton in 2016, playing in 100 games and hitting .258/.341/.368 with 2 home runs and 29 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Luis Liberato - Stats - Batting|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/luis-liberato/17307/stats?position=DH/OF|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} In 2017, Liberato split the year between Clinton and Modesto. In 125 total games, he accumulated a .246/.312/.438 slash line with career–highs in home runs (14) and RBI (50).{{Cite web|title=Luis Liberato minor league baseball statistics on StatsCrew.com|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/stats/p-e4c26dcf|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=statscrew.com|language=en}}

Liberato once more returned to Modesto in 2018, making 87 appearances and batting .250/.317/.424 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Luis Liberato - Baseball Stats|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/183352/|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}} In 2019, Liberato was assigned to the High–A Modesto Nuts to begin the year. On June 21, 2019, Liberato was promoted to the Double–A Arkansas Travelers after hitting .283 with 7 home runs in 44 games for Modesto.{{Cite web|title=Mariners' Luis Liberato: Promoted to Double-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mariners-luis-liberato-promoted-to-double-a/|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=June 21, 2019 |language=en}} He played in 52 games for Arkansas, also playing in one game for the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers, and hit .237/.292/.330 with 2 home runs and 18 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Luis Liberato Stats, Fantasy & News|url=https://www.milb.com/player/luis-liberato-642451|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=milb.com|language=en}}

Liberato did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} He returned to action in 2021, playing in 87 games for Tacoma and hitting .279/.338/.436 with 8 home runs and 37 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Luis Liberato News|url=https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player/luis-liberato-14139|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=rotowire.com|language=en}} Liberato elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2021.{{cite web|title=2021-22 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-22-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 9, 2021 |language=en}}

=San Diego Padres=

On March 13, 2022, Liberato signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres organization.{{Cite web|title=Padres Select Luis Liberato, Designate Cam Gallagher|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/09/padres-select-luis-liberato-designate-cam-gallagher.html|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=September 9, 2022 |language=en}} In 99 games for the Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas, he batted .261/.354/.541 with 20 home runs and 59 RBI. On September 9, Liberato was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|title=Padres' Luis Liberato: Selected by San Diego|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/padres-luis-liberato-selected-by-san-diego/|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=September 9, 2022 |language=en}} In 7 games for the Padres, he went 0–for–5 in limited action. On September 27, Liberato was designated for assignment by San Diego.{{Cite web|title=Padres' Luis Liberato: DFA'd by San Diego|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/padres-luis-liberato-dfad-by-san-diego/|access-date=September 23, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=September 28, 2022 |language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas on September 30.{{Cite web|title=Padres' Luis Liberato: Bags spring training invite|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/padres-luis-liberato-bags-spring-training-invite/|access-date=June 22, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=8 February 2023 |language=en}}

Liberato spent the 2023 campaign with El Paso, hitting .261/.365/.461 with nine home runs, 35 RBI, and eight stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=May 23, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2023 |language=en}}

=Atlanta Braves=

On November 19, 2023, Liberato signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.{{Cite web |title=Transactions |url=https://www.mlb.com/braves/roster/transactions/2023/11 |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} In 76 games split between the rookie–level Florida Complex League Braves and Triple–A Gwinnett Stripers, he slashed a combined .263/.327/.382 with four home runs and 39 RBI. Liberato was released by the Braves organization on September 23, 2024.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-09-23 | title=Transactions }}

=Diablos Rojos del México=

On January 25, 2025, Liberato signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League.{{Cite tweet|user=DiablosRojosMX|number=1883202020573905338|title=El tres veces guante de oro de la @LIDOMRD lucirá en el diamante de fuego, refuerzo de lujo que asegurará nuestro outfield escarlata 🔥 De dominicana para el mundo… Luis Liberato 🇩🇴 ¡BIENVENIDO AL 17 VECES CAMPEÓN! 👑 #H1S7ORICOS🏆|date=25 January 2025|language=es|access-date=26 January 2025}} In 29 appearances for the team, Liberato slashed .373/.448/.690 with eight home runs, 29 RBI, and three stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Hanwha signs Luis Liberato as foreign replacement for injured Florial|url=https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-sports/2025/06/17/XA7IIUH42VCWTAR4H7LY7XFSCQ/|access-date=June 17, 2025|website=biz.chosun.com|language=en}}

=Hanwha Eagles=

On June 17, 2025, Liberato signed with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League on a six-week, $50,000 contract as an injury replacement for Estevan Florial.{{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}}