Jeimer Candelario Bio
Jeimer Candelario is an American professional baseball third baseman and first baseman who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on November 24, 1993, in New York City, he moved to the Dominican Republic at the age of five and grew up surrounded by the game. Candelario signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2010 and reached the majors in 2016. Over the course of his career, he has suited up for the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds, while also representing the Dominican Republic in international play.
Early Life and Background
Jeimer Candelario was born on November 24, 1993, in New York City, New York. When he was five years old, his family relocated to the Dominican Republic so that his father could open a baseball training center. Growing up in a baseball-rich environment shaped his early development as a player and gave him daily exposure to the sport. The move also connected him to one of the deepest talent pipelines in the world, where he could refine his skills against strong competition from a young age.
Coming from a family with a clear connection to the game, Candelario’s path to professional baseball was nurtured from childhood. His father’s training center offered both a foundation and a goal, and the Dominican baseball culture provided the structure and competition that helped him progress. By his teenage years, Candelario had emerged as a promising infielder with the tools to attract Major League scouts.
Path to Professional Baseball
Candelario’s journey to the pros began on November 20, 2010, when he signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent. He made his professional debut the following year with the Dominican Summer League Cubs, taking his first steps in the organization’s farm system. In 2012, he joined the Boise Hawks of the Low-A Northwest League, and the next season he moved to the Kane County Cougars of the Single-A Midwest League.
He continued his development across multiple levels, spending 2014 with Kane County and the Daytona Cubs, and beginning 2015 with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the High-A Carolina League. That same season, he earned a promotion to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A Southern League, demonstrating the steady progress that would soon lead to the majors. After the 2015 season, the Cubs added him to their 40-man roster, signaling that his big-league arrival was close.
Jeimer Candelario Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Candelario opened 2016 with the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, where he batted .333 in his first 25 games. That performance earned him a promotion to the major league club on July 3, 2016, when he was called up to replace Chris Coghlan, who had been placed on the disabled list. He made his MLB debut the same day against the New York Mets. Although he appeared in only five games and finished with a .091 average, he was part of the Cubs’ 40-man roster when the team won the 2016 World Series, earning his first championship ring.
On July 31, 2017, the Cubs traded Candelario, along with Isaac Paredes and a player to be named later or cash considerations, to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Alex Avila and Justin Wilson. After a brief assignment to the Toledo Mud Hens, he returned to the majors on August 7, 2017. With the Tigers that year, Candelario went 31-for-94 (.330) with two home runs and 13 RBIs, offering an early glimpse of the offensive potential that would define his Detroit tenure.
Detroit Tigers Breakthrough (2017–2022)
Candelario became the Tigers’ regular third baseman in 2018, his first full MLB season. On May 26 of that year, he recorded the first multi-homer game of his career, going deep in his first two at-bats against Chicago White Sox starter Hector Santiago. He finished 2018 with a .224 average, 19 home runs, and 54 RBIs, showing the power that would become a hallmark of his game.
In 2019, he produced a memorable five-hit game against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 31, but struggled through the early part of the season and was optioned to Toledo before returning later in the year. He rebounded in 2020, when he was named American League Player of the Week for September 7–13 after hitting .423 with four doubles, three home runs, and nine RBI. He finished 2020 batting .297 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs, and he led the Tigers with 21 extra-base hits.
Candelario’s best season came in 2021, when he hit .271 with 16 home runs, 67 RBIs, and an MLB-leading 42 doubles. He was named Tiger of the Year for the second straight season by the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, becoming the first player since Miguel Cabrera (2012 and 2013) to win the award in back-to-back years. After a 2022 season in which he hit .217 with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs, the Tigers non-tendered him on November 18, 2022, making him a free agent.
Washington Nationals Era (2023)
On November 29, 2022, Candelario signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Washington Nationals, with another $1 million available in incentives. He made 99 appearances for the Nationals in 2023, slashing .258/.342/.481 with 16 home runs, 53 RBI, and six stolen bases. His offensive production made him a popular trade target as the season progressed.
Chicago Cubs Return (2023)
On July 31, 2023, the Nationals traded Candelario back to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for DJ Herz and Kevin Made. In 41 appearances with the Cubs, he batted .234/.318/.445 with six home runs, 17 RBI, and two stolen bases. He became a free agent after the season.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2024–2025)
On December 11, 2023, Candelario signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds, which also included a club option for a fourth year. He made 112 appearances for Cincinnati in 2024, hitting .225/.279/.429 with 20 home runs, 56 RBI, and four stolen bases. In 2025, he appeared in 22 games for the Reds, batting .113/.198/.213 with two home runs and 10 RBI before being designated for assignment on June 23, 2025. He was released after clearing waivers on June 29, 2025.
New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels (2025–2026)
On July 5, 2025, Candelario signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. He made 61 appearances for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, slashing .203/.289/.357 with seven home runs and 31 RBI, before electing free agency on November 6, 2025. On February 3, 2026, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels, and on March 24 his contract was selected after he made the team’s Opening Day roster. In seven appearances, he went 2-for-18 (.111) with one walk before being designated for assignment on April 11, 2026. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees on April 13, 2026.
Notable Events and Milestones
Candelario’s career features several signature moments, including his first multi-homer game in 2018 and a five-hit game against the Toronto Blue Jays in 2019. He earned his first World Series title as a member of the Cubs’ 40-man roster in 2016, and he was named Tiger of the Year in back-to-back seasons in 2020 and 2021, joining Miguel Cabrera as the only Tigers to achieve that feat in consecutive years. In 2021, he also led MLB with 42 doubles, a career-high mark.
Jeimer Candelario Career Wins
Candelario’s professional journey spans more than a decade across multiple organizations, and his career statistics reflect a durable middle-of-the-order hitter. Through his time in the majors, he has accumulated 110 home runs and 384 RBIs, with a career batting average of .236. His power has been a consistent feature, while his ability to play both third base and first base has provided steady defensive value.
MLB Highlights
Across his MLB career, Candelario has appeared for the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds, and Los Angeles Angels. His most productive season came in 2021, when he hit .271 with 16 home runs, 67 RBIs, and an MLB-leading 42 doubles for the Tigers. He has also delivered strong seasons with Washington in 2023 and Cincinnati in 2024, when he hit 20 home runs.
Jeimer Candelario Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Candelario was raised in a household deeply connected to baseball. When he was five years old, his family moved from New York City to the Dominican Republic so that his father could open a baseball training center, which became an important part of his early development. The training center provided a foundation that helped him grow as a player and eventually sign with the Chicago Cubs in 2010.
2025 Season Performance
Candelario’s 2025 season was a difficult one at the major league level. He appeared in 22 games for the Cincinnati Reds, batting .113/.198/.213 with two home runs and 10 RBI before being designated for assignment on June 23, 2025, and released after clearing waivers on June 29. Shortly after, he signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees and spent the rest of the year with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, where he played 61 games and slugged seven home runs.
His offensive output in Triple-A suggested a return to form, even as his major league opportunities were limited. After electing free agency on November 6, 2025, Candelario positioned himself for a fresh opportunity, eventually signing with the Los Angeles Angels in February 2026. Looking ahead, the 2026 outlook will depend on whether he can stabilize his swing and earn an extended look in the Angels’ infield mix.