César Prieto Bio
César Prieto (born May 10, 1999) is a Cuban professional baseball infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025 and is regarded as a contact-oriented middle infielder whose path to the majors began in Cuban baseball before continuing through the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals farm systems.
After defecting from Cuba in 2021, Prieto signed as an international free agent and steadily climbed through the minor leagues, reaching Triple-A Memphis before earning his first major league call-up. He currently wears No. 31 for the Cardinals organization.
Early Life and Background
César Prieto was born in Cuba on May 10, 1999, and grew up in a country where baseball is the dominant sport. From an early age, he developed his game within the Cuban baseball system, which is known for producing contact hitters and fundamentally sound defenders.
He joined the Elefantes de Cienfuegos in 2017, beginning his professional career in the Cuban National Series. His development as a middle infielder during this period laid the foundation for the success he would later experience on the international stage.
Path to Baseball
Prieto’s stock rose quickly within Cuban baseball. During the 2018-19 season, his performance as an infielder and batter was considered among the best in Cuba, and he was named the league’s Rookie of the Year.
He also represented Cuba as a member of the national baseball team. In 2021, while in Florida for the qualifying tournament for the 2020 Summer Olympics, Prieto defected to the United States, a decision that cleared the way for him to pursue a professional career in Major League Baseball.
César Prieto Career
Early Career (2017-2021)
César Prieto began his professional career with the Elefantes de Cienfuegos in 2017, playing in Cuba’s top domestic league. He quickly established himself as a promising young infielder, balancing solid defense at second base and shortstop with a steady bat.
His strongest Cuban season came in 2018-19, when he was honored as the Rookie of the Year after one of the most productive debut campaigns in the league. His success with Cienfuegos and on the Cuban national team set the stage for his eventual move to the United States following his 2021 defection.
Minor League Career (2022-2024)
On January 16, 2022, Prieto signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an international free agent for a signing bonus of $650,000. He split his first professional season in the United States between the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds and the Double-A Bowie Baysox, batting .273 with 11 home runs and 57 RBI across 115 games.
In 2023, Prieto opened the year at Double-A Bowie, where he hit .364 with 4 home runs and 29 RBI in 58 games, earning a promotion to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. With Norfolk, he continued to hit, slashing .317/.365/.471 with 2 home runs and 20 RBI in 27 contests.
On August 1, 2023, Prieto was traded, along with Drew Rom and Zack Showalter, to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for pitcher Jack Flaherty. He finished the year with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, batting .270 with 4 home runs and 20 RBI in 38 games. In 2024, Prieto played a full Triple-A season with Memphis, slashing .279/.318/.445 with 14 home runs and 56 RBI in 129 appearances.
Memphis and Major League Debut (2025-Present)
César Prieto opened the 2025 season back at Triple-A Memphis, where he batted .295 with 9 home runs, 62 RBI, and 11 stolen bases across 107 appearances. His consistent production at the plate and steady defense in the middle infield kept him on the Cardinals’ radar as a potential call-up option.
On August 29, 2025, Prieto was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. That same day, he made his MLB debut against the Cincinnati Reds in a game the Cardinals won 7-5 in 10 innings. Prieto made three appearances during his rookie campaign, going 1-for-6 at the plate.
Driving Style and Strengths
Prieto is viewed as a contact-first middle infielder who puts the ball in play and works counts. His track record in the minor leagues shows a patient approach at the plate, while his defensive background at second base and shortstop gives the Cardinals flexibility up the middle. His ability to adjust quickly between levels, from High-A to Triple-A, has been a defining trait of his development.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of César Prieto’s career came on August 29, 2025, when he made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals, reaching the highest level of professional baseball just over four years after defecting from Cuba. His 2018-19 Cuban Rookie of the Year award and his role in the August 2023 trade that sent Jack Flaherty to Baltimore further highlight the milestones that have shaped his journey.
César Prieto Career Wins
César Prieto’s career has been built on consistent performance rather than headline awards at the major league level. His most notable individual honor remains the Cuban Rookie of the Year Award from the 2018-19 season, earned while playing for the Elefantes de Cienfuegos.
Cuban Series Highlights
During his time in the Cuban National Series with the Elefantes de Cienfuegos, Prieto was recognized as one of the top young infielders in the country. His 2018-19 rookie campaign, which produced the league’s Rookie of the Year honor, established him as one of the most promising young players in Cuba before his defection.
Other Wins and Performances
Prieto represented Cuba on the national baseball team and was part of the country’s roster for the 2020 Summer Olympics qualifying tournament in Florida, the trip that ultimately led to his defection in 2021.
César Prieto Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about César Prieto’s family background is limited. He is known to be Cuban by nationality and to have grown up within the country’s deeply rooted baseball culture, which influenced his early development as a player.
Personal Life
Details about César Prieto’s personal life, including his marital status and family, are not publicly confirmed. His professional social media presence can be found on Instagram at @cesarprieto09.
2025 Season Performance
César Prieto spent the majority of the 2025 season with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, batting .295 with 9 home runs, 62 RBI, and 11 stolen bases over 107 games. His production at the plate and continued defensive reliability in the middle infield made him one of the Cardinals’ most consistent minor league performers during the year.
On August 29, 2025, that consistency translated into a major league opportunity. Prieto was added to the 40-man roster and made his MLB debut that night against the Cincinnati Reds, recording one hit in three at-bats during his first big league stint. The Cardinals won his debut game 7-5 in 10 innings, giving him an early introduction to major league victory.
Heading into 2026, Prieto was optioned back to Triple-A Memphis to begin the season, signaling that the Cardinals view him as part of their middle-infield depth. His combination of contact hitting, defensive versatility, and experience at the upper minor league level positions him as a candidate for future major league opportunities in St. Louis.