Reiver Sanmartin Bio
Reiver José Sanmartín is a Colombian professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds. Sanmartín began his career as an international free agent signing with the Texas Rangers in 2015 and has worked his way up through the minor leagues before making his MLB debut in 2021. Throughout his career, he has displayed his abilities as a pitcher, recording notable performance metrics, and has played a pivotal role in various teams’ bullpens.
Born on April 15, 1996, Sanmartín represents a growing wave of Colombian talent reaching the highest level of professional baseball. A left-handed pitcher, he has spent time as both a starter and a reliever, giving managers flexibility in how he is deployed. His path from the Dominican Summer League to a Major League roster reflects years of steady development across multiple organizations.
Early Life and Background
Reiver José Sanmartín was born on April 15, 1996, and grew up in Colombia, a country that has steadily produced more professional baseball players over the past two decades. While specific details about his hometown and family are not widely documented, his Colombian heritage is a notable part of his identity as a player. Colombia has developed a stronger baseball infrastructure in recent years, and Sanmartín is part of a new generation of Colombian pitchers reaching the upper levels of the sport.
From a young age, Sanmartín focused on pitching, developing the left-handed delivery that would eventually catch the attention of Major League scouts. His early baseball experience in Colombia helped lay the foundation for a professional career that would begin when he was still a teenager. By the time he was signed in 2015, he was regarded as one of the promising international pitching prospects from his country.
Path to Baseball
Sanmartín’s professional path began on July 2, 2015, when he signed as an international free agent with the Texas Rangers. He was assigned to the DSL Rangers of the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, where he spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons refining his craft. In 2016, he went 0–1 with a 5.23 ERA over a small sample of innings, but he returned in 2017 with a strong 7–1 record, a 2.35 ERA, and 56 strikeouts across 61 and one-third innings.
Also during the 2017 season, Sanmartín moved up through the Low-A Northwest League with the Spokane Indians and the Single-A South Atlantic League with the Hickory Crawdads. Across those levels, he posted a combined 7–2 record with a 2.45 ERA and 56 strikeouts over 66 innings, signaling that he was ready for higher competition. These results established him as a pitcher to watch within the Rangers’ minor league system.
Reiver Sanmartin Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Sanmartín’s early professional career was defined by his time in the Rangers’ developmental system. After signing as an international free agent in 2015, he spent his first full seasons in the Dominican Summer League before advancing to short-season and full-season affiliates in the United States. His performance in 2017, when he posted a combined 2.45 ERA across multiple levels, was a turning point that showed he could handle advanced competition.
His progression through Spokane and Hickory gave him valuable experience pitching in different environments against older hitters. The Rangers’ investment in international scouting paid off as Sanmartín developed into a polished left-handed prospect with swing-and-miss stuff. By the end of 2017, he had positioned himself as a trade asset for the Rangers.
New York Yankees System (2018)
On November 20, 2017, Sanmartín was traded to the New York Yankees in exchange for pitcher Ronald Herrera. The trade gave him a fresh start in a new organization known for developing pitching talent. In 2018, he split his season across four affiliates, including the Low-A Staten Island Yankees, the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs, the High-A Tampa Tarpons, and the Double-A Trenton Thunder.
Between those four levels, Sanmartín posted a combined 5–7 record with a 2.81 ERA and 58 strikeouts over 67 and one-third innings. The volume of innings and the variety of competition helped him prepare for the upper minors, and his strong ERA indicated that he was not overmatched even when facing more advanced hitters.
Cincinnati Reds Era (2019–2025)
On January 21, 2019, Sanmartín was traded to the Cincinnati Reds as part of a package that sent Sonny Gray to the Yankees, with Shed Long Jr. and draft pick compensation heading back the other way. He split 2019 between the High-A Daytona Tortugas and the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, going 4–12 with a 4.05 ERA and 114 strikeouts over 122 and one-third innings. Sanmartín did not play in 2020 because the Minor League Baseball season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Sanmartín split his minor league season between Chattanooga and the Triple-A Louisville Bats, going 10–2 with a 3.32 ERA and 112 strikeouts over 100 and one-third innings. On September 27, 2021, his contract was selected to the active roster, and he made his MLB debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In two starts during his rookie campaign, he logged a 1.54 ERA with 11 strikeouts across 11 and two-thirds innings.
Sanmartín spent the 2022 season working mostly out of the Reds’ bullpen, making 45 appearances with 4 starts, posting a 4–4 record and a 6.32 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 57 innings. In 2023, he began the year as a situational reliever, but struggled to a 7.07 ERA in 14 games. A left elbow injury led to a 60-day injured list placement in May and ultimately season-ending UCL surgery on July 7, 2023. He became a free agent in November 2023, then re-signed with Cincinnati on a minor league contract.
After spending most of 2024 at Triple-A Louisville, Sanmartín returned to form in 2025 with the Bats, going 6–2 with a 2.75 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 42 appearances. On September 2, 2025, the Reds selected his contract, and he made one scoreless appearance for Cincinnati, striking out two across 1 and two-thirds innings.
San Francisco Giants Era (2026–Present)
On November 6, 2025, Sanmartín was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants, marking the start of a new chapter in his career. He was assigned jersey number 48. On March 25, 2026, he was placed on the 60-day injured list due to a right hip flexor strain, delaying his transition to his new club.
Sanmartín was activated for his Giants and 2026 season debut on June 10. Through that date, his MLB career statistics included an 8–4 win–loss record, a 5.63 earned run average, and 77 strikeouts. His return to the active roster gave the Giants another left-handed option for their pitching staff.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sanmartín is a left-handed pitcher who has been used in a variety of roles throughout his career, including as a starting pitcher and as a multi-inning reliever. His minor league track record shows the ability to generate strikeouts at a high rate, including seasons with more than a strikeout per inning. Managers have valued his flexibility, and his situational usage in Cincinnati highlighted his ability to handle specific matchups out of the bullpen.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Sanmartín’s career came on September 27, 2021, when he made his MLB debut with the Reds against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also navigated significant adversity, including season-ending UCL surgery in July 2023 and a right hip flexor strain that sidelined him at the start of his time with the Giants in 2026. His return to the majors with Cincinnati in September 2025 and his subsequent activation by San Francisco in June 2026 marked two more important milestones.
Reiver Sanmartin Career Wins
Reiver José Sanmartín has accumulated professional wins across the minor leagues and at the Major League level. His career includes strong minor league seasons, particularly in 2017, 2021, and 2025, along with Major League appearances for the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants. Through June 10, 2026, his MLB win–loss record stood at 8–4.
Minor League and MLB Highlights
Sanmartín recorded notable win totals during his developmental years, including a 7–1 record in the Dominican Summer League in 2017 and a 10–2 record split between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville in 2021. In the Majors, his most consistent winning stretch came during his debut season in 2021, when he posted a 1.54 ERA across his first two starts. He also added Major League wins during his 2022 season with Cincinnati, when he made 45 appearances for the Reds.
Other Performances
Outside of his primary developmental and Major League stops, Sanmartín has contributed at several minor league levels, including the Northwest League, the South Atlantic League, the Florida State League, and the International League. His international journey from Colombia through the Dominican Summer League and into the upper minors illustrates the depth of his professional experience.
Reiver Sanmartin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Reiver José Sanmartín’s family background is limited. He is Colombian, and his career path reflects the growing baseball culture in his home country. Beyond that, few verified details about his parents or siblings are widely available.
Personal Life
Details about Sanmartín’s personal life, including marital status, spouse, and children, are not widely documented in public sources. He has spent much of his professional career in the United States, working his way through multiple organizations.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a return to form for Reiver José Sanmartín. He spent the majority of the year with the Triple-A Louisville Bats, compiling a 6–2 record and a 2.75 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 42 appearances. His strong performance at Triple-A earned him a return to the Major League roster late in the season.
On September 2, 2025, the Cincinnati Reds selected Sanmartín’s contract, adding him back to the active roster. He made one scoreless appearance for Cincinnati, striking out two over 1 and two-thirds innings. The season ended with Sanmartín becoming a free agent once again, setting up his next opportunity.
Shortly after the season, on November 6, 2025, Sanmartín was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants, beginning a new chapter in his Major League career. The 2025 campaign served as proof that he could still contribute at the highest level after recovering from UCL surgery, and it set the stage for his move to the National League West.
