Socrates Brito

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Socrates Brito

|image = Socrates Brito on March 11, 2016.jpg

|image_size =

|caption = Brito with the Arizona Diamondbacks

|team = El Águila de Veracruz

|number = 30

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|9|6}}

|birth_place = Azua, Dominican Republic

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = September 8

|debutyear = 2015

|debutteam = Arizona Diamondbacks

|debut2league= KBO

|debut2date = April 2

|debut2year = 2022

|debut2team = Kia Tigers

|statyear = 2019 season

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .179

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 5

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 18

|stat2year = 2024 season

|stat2league = KBO

|stat21label = Batting average

|stat21value = .302

|stat22label = Home runs

|stat22value = 63

|stat23label = Runs batted in

|stat23value = 270

|teams =

Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2016}}, {{mlby|2018}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2019}})
Kia Tigers ({{kboy|2022}}–{{kboy|2024}})

|awards =

KBO

Korean Series champion (2024)
2x KBO All–Star ({{kboy|2022}}, {{kboy|2023}})

}}

Socrates Orel Brito (born September 6, 1992) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder for El Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays, and in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers.

Career

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

File:Socrates Brito 5 (8643563525).jpg in 2013]]

Brito was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010 out of the Dominican Republic.{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/350454-diamondbacks-sign-socrates-brito|title=Socrates Brito Signs with Arizona Diamondbacks|work=Bleacher Report|first=Jeff|last=Summers|date=February 22, 2010|accessdate=July 3, 2022}} He was added to their 40-man roster on November 20, 2014, after he batted .293 with 38 stolen bases for the Visalia Rawhide of the High–A California League.{{cite web|author=foxsports |url=http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/d-backs-add-drury-four-others-to-roster-112014 |title=D-backs add Drury, four others to roster |work=Foxsports.com |date=November 20, 2014 |access-date=March 28, 2019}} Brito began the 2015 season with the Mobile BayBears of the Double–A Southern League.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2015/07/09/arizona-diamondbacks-minor-league-report-mlb/29935705/ |title=Diamondbacks farm report: Socrates Brito on a roll |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=July 9, 2015 |access-date=March 28, 2019}} Brito was chosen to represent the Diamondbacks at the 2015 All-Star Futures Game.{{cite web|url=http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/132838414/d-backs-prospects-huang-brito-in-futures-game|title=Huang, Brito represent D-backs in Futures Game|work=Arizona Diamondbacks|access-date=June 27, 2015}} He made his MLB debut on September 8, 2015. Brito was named the Diamondbacks' Minor League Player of the Year for 2015.{{cite web|title = D-backs' minor leaguers Brito and Blair win organizational awards - Arizona Sports|date = September 29, 2015|url = http://arizonasports.com/story/391875/d-backs-minor-leaguers-brito-and-blair-win-organizational-awards/|access-date = October 1, 2015}}

Brito competed with Yasmany Tomas for playing time in 2016,{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/cactus-league/2016/03/12/diamondbacks-socrates-brito-pushing-yasmany-tomas-starting-job/81704670/ |title=Diamondbacks' Socrates Brito pushing Yasmany Tomas for starting job |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=March 12, 2016 |access-date=March 28, 2019}} but broke a big toe in June 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2016/06/24/diamondbacks-socrates-brito-lands-dl-broken-toe/86342214/ |title=Diamondbacks' Socrates Brito lands on DL with broken toe |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=June 24, 2016 |access-date=March 28, 2019}} He injured his hamate bone while playing in winter baseball after the season, and had surgery to repair a dislocated finger on his right hand in the spring in 2017. He again injured a finger during winter baseball after the 2017 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2019/02/18/arizona-diamondbacks-healthy-socrates-brito-aims-win-bench-spot/2911426002/ |title=Arizona Diamondbacks: Healthy Socrates Brito aims to win bench spot |publisher=Azcentral.com |date=February 18, 2019 |access-date=March 28, 2019}} In 2018, in 40 at bats he hit .196/.358/.554 with two stolen bases.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/britoso01.shtml |title=Socrates Brito Stats |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date= |access-date=March 28, 2019}} He had the fastest baserunning sprint speed of all major league right fielders, at 29.9 feet/second.{{cite web|url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sprint_speed_leaderboard?year=2018&position=9&team=&min=10 |title=Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard | baseballsavant.com |publisher=Baseballsavant.mlb.com |date= |access-date=March 28, 2019}} Playing for the Reno Aces of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League, he was selected for the Triple-A All-Star Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.recordcourier.com/news/reno-aces-socrates-brito-named-to-pcl-all-star-team/ |title=Reno Aces' Socrates Brito named to PCL All-Star team |publisher=RecordCourier.com |date=July 5, 2018 |access-date=March 28, 2019}}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

The San Diego Padres claimed Brito off of waivers on March 27, 2019.{{cite web|author=AJ Cassavell |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/socrates-brito-claimed-by-padres |title=Socrates Brito claimed by Padres |work=MLB.com |date=May 24, 2018 |access-date=March 28, 2019}} Brito was designated for assignment on March 30, following the promotion of Nick Margevicius.

On April 2, 2019, Brito was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Rodrigo Orozco.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/04/blue-jays-acquire-socrates-brito.html|title=Blue Jays Acquire Socrates Brito|last=Todd|first=Jeff|date=April 2, 2019|work=MLB Trade Rumors}} Brito was called up by the Blue Jays on April 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-add-hanson-brito-option-alford-reid-foley-triple/|title=Blue Jays add Hanson, Brito; option Alford, Reid-Foley to triple-A|work=Sportsnet|date=April 4, 2019|access-date=April 4, 2019}} He was designated for assignment on May 10 after an abysmal start to the season in which he batted .077.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/05/blue-jays-select-javy-guerra-designate-socrates-brito.html|title=Blue Jays Select Javy Guerra, Designate Socrates Brito|work=MLB Trade Rumors|last=Todd|first=Jeff|date=May 10, 2019|access-date=May 10, 2019}} Brito spent the rest of the season in Triple–A with the Buffalo Bisons, hitting .282/.328/.510 with 16 home runs, and was named the Bisons MVP for 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/buffalo/news/socrates-brito-named-bisons-mvp-as-team-hands-out-2019-player-awards/c-310405818|title=Socrates Brito named Bisons MVP as team hands out 2019 player awards|website=MiLB.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-23}} In 2019 in the major leagues, he again had the fastest sprint speed of all major league right fielders, at 29.8 feet/second.{{cite web|url=https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sprint_speed_leaderboard?year=2019&position=9&team=&min=10 |title=Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard | baseballsavant.com |publisher=Baseballsavant.mlb.com |date= |access-date=2019-10-09}} Brito elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2019|author=Matt Eddy|website=Baseball America|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 7, 2019}}

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

On December 17, 2019, Brito signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/pirates/press-release/press-release-pirates-announce-four-non-roster-invitees?t=pirates-press-releases|title=Pirates announce four non-roster invitees to Spring Training|website=MLB.com|date=December 17, 2019|access-date=December 17, 2019}} On July 5, 2020, it was announced that Brito had tested positive for COVID-19. Brito opted out of the 2020 season on September 1, after his brother died from COVID-19.{{cite web|url=https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/09/01/pittsburgh-pirates-outfielder-socrates-brito-opts-out-brother-coronavirus/|title=Report: Pittsburgh Pirates Outfielder Socrates Brito Opts Out Of Season After His Brother Dies From Coronavirus|website=CBS Pittsburgh|date=September 1, 2020|access-date=September 2, 2020}} He became a free agent on November 2.{{Cite web|title=Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-list-of-2020-2021-milb-free-agents/|access-date=September 21, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 2, 2020 |language=en}}

=New York Yankees=

On January 1, 2021, Brito signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees organization.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/yankees-sign-socrates-brito.html|title = Yankees Sign Socrates Brito| date=January 2021 }}{{Cite web|date=2021-01-01|title=Sócrates Brito acuerda un pacto de liga menor con los New York Yankees|url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/beisbol/beisbolinvernal/nota/_/id/7977571/socrates-brito-acuerda-pacto-liga-menor-con-new-york-yankees|access-date=2021-01-01|website=ESPNdeportes.com|language=es}} Brito spent the 2021 season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders. He played in 107 games, hitting .251 with 9 home runs and 53 RBI. Brito became a free agent.

=Kia Tigers=

On December 26, 2021, Brito signed with the Kia Tigers of the KBO League.{{cite web|url= https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/12/kbos-kia-tigers-sign-socrates-brito-ronnie-williams.html|title=KBO's Kia Tigers Sign Socrates Brito, Ronnie Williams|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=December 26, 2021|access-date=December 26, 2021}} Brito was named a KBO All-Star for the team in 2022, but did not participate due to injury and was replaced by Kim Hyun-soo.{{Cite web|title=Tigers starter Yang Hyeon-jong tops KBO All-Star voting|url=https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20220704004700315|access-date=July 15, 2023|website=m-en.yna.co.kr|date=July 4, 2022 |language=en |last1=Jee-Ho |first1=Yoo }}

On November 9, 2022, Brito re-signed a one-year contract for the 2023 season worth $1.1 million. Brito was named a KBO All–Star in 2023.{{Cite web|title=Reigning MVP Lee Jung-hoo tops KBO All-Star voting|url=https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230626004500315|access-date=July 13, 2023|website=m-en.yna.co.kr|date=June 26, 2023 |language=en |last1=Jee-Ho |first1=Yoo }} In 142 games for the team, he batted .285/.344/.463 with 20 home runs, 96 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.

On December 18, 2023, Brito again re–signed with the Tigers on a one–year, $800,000 contract.{{Cite web|title=KBO's KIA Tigers Re-Sign Socrates Brito|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/12/kbos-kia-tigers-re-sign-socrates-brito.html|access-date=January 30, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 17, 2023 |language=en}} In 140 games for the team in 2024, he slashed .310/.359/.516 with 26 home runs, 97 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. With Kia, Brito won the 2024 Korean Series.{{Cite web|title=Kia Tigers win Korean Series for 1st time in 7 years|url=https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.amp.asp?newsIdx=385163|access-date=November 11, 2024|website=koreatimes.co.kr| date=October 28, 2024 |language=en}} He became a free agent following the season.

=El Águila de Veracruz=

On February 22, 2025, Brito signed with El Águila de Veracruz of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=El Águila: Sócrates Brito jugará con el Glorioso|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/el-aguila-socrates-brito-jugara-con-el-glorioso|access-date=February 24, 2025|website=milb.com|language=en}}

Personal life

Brito is a second cousin to fellow major leaguer Franchy Cordero.{{cite web|url= https://www.mlb.com/news/franchy-cordero-socrates-brito-are-2nd-cousins|title=Franchy Cordero, Socrates Brito are 2nd cousins|website=MLB.com|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=September 1, 2020}}