Riley Adams Bio
Riley Keaton Adams, born on June 26, 1996, is an American professional baseball catcher known for his strong college career with the University of San Diego Toreros and his subsequent rise through Major League Baseball. He has played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Washington Nationals, making his major league debut in 2021. A native of Encinitas, California, Adams has built a reputation as a reliable backstop with offensive upside, and he continues to contribute in professional baseball.
Adams was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft and spent several seasons developing in the minor leagues before reaching the majors. After a brief stint with the Blue Jays, he was traded to the Washington Nationals during the 2021 season, where he has remained a part of the catching corps. Throughout his career, Adams has shown resilience and a willingness to adapt, transitioning between roles as a catcher and occasional first baseman.
Early Life and Background
Riley Keaton Adams was born on June 26, 1996, in Encinitas, California. He grew up in the San Diego area and attended Canyon Crest Academy, where he distinguished himself as a two-sport athlete in basketball and baseball. In basketball, Adams once recorded an impressive 31 rebounds in a single game, showcasing his athletic ability beyond the diamond. In baseball, he made the varsity team as a freshman, initially playing shortstop before switching to catcher in his sophomore year at the request of his coach.
Adams earned All League honors in basketball as a sophomore, junior, and senior, further demonstrating his versatility as an athlete. Outside of sports, he was an accomplished science fair competitor, notably for his studies of pampas grass, which led to his participation in the California State Science Fair. He also began practicing karate at the age of three and earned a second-degree black belt by the age of 13, before shifting his full focus to baseball.
Despite being selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB Draft, Adams chose not to sign and instead enrolled at the University of San Diego to continue his development. His elder brother, Cameron, also played college baseball at Washington University in St. Louis, reflecting a family connection to the sport.
Path to Baseball
Adams played college baseball for the San Diego Toreros, where he developed into one of the top catching prospects in the nation. During the summer of 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star. He was twice named a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, which is given annually to the best collegiate catcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
As a junior in 2017, Adams won the West Coast Conference Player of the Year Award, capping off a stellar collegiate career. He finished his time at the University of San Diego with a .305 batting average, 24 home runs, and 110 runs batted in across 159 games played. His performance at the plate and behind it drew the attention of major league scouts, leading to his selection by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft with the 99th overall pick.
Riley Adams Career
Early Career (2017-2019)
After being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017, Adams signed a contract with a $542,000 signing bonus and made his professional debut with the Vancouver Canadians of the Low-A Northwest League. He went on to start in the Northwest/Pioneer League All-Star Game, and in 52 games for the Canadians, he hit .305 with three home runs and 35 RBI.
In 2018, Adams played for the Dunedin Blue Jays of the High-A Florida State League, where he slashed .246/.352/.361 with four home runs and 43 RBI in 99 games. The following year, he appeared in 81 games for the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, hitting .258 with 11 home runs. Adams did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, though he was added to the Blue Jays’ 60-man player pool and later the 40-man roster.
Toronto Blue Jays Era (2021)
Adams was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on May 2, 2021, after backup catcher Alejandro Kirk was placed on the 10-day injured list. Although he was optioned to Triple-A on May 5 without making a major league appearance, he was recalled again on June 8, 2021. That same day, Adams made his MLB debut as the starting catcher against the Chicago White Sox, recording his first career hit, a double off White Sox starter Carlos Rodón.
His time with the Blue Jays at the major league level was brief, as he was traded to the Washington Nationals for reliever Brad Hand on July 29, 2021. In his short stint with Toronto, Adams showed promise as a young catcher with offensive potential, setting the stage for his development in Washington.
Washington Nationals Era (2021-Present)
Adams quickly made an impact with the Washington Nationals after the trade. On August 7, 2021, he notched his first hit as a National, as well as his first career home run and RBI, off Atlanta Braves reliever Will Smith in the ninth inning, giving his team the late lead. In 35 games down the stretch, Adams hit .268 with two home runs and 10 RBI.
In 2022, Adams made 48 appearances for the Nationals, slashing .176/.245/.310 with a career-high five home runs and 10 RBI. The following year, he played in 44 games, batting .273/.331/.476 with 4 home runs and 21 RBI, before a fractured hamate bone in his left wrist cut his season short in September 2023. He underwent surgery on September 11, 2023, ending his year.
Adams started the 2024 season on the major league roster but was optioned to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings on June 2 to get more playing time as both a catcher and a first baseman. He eventually played in 41 games with the Nationals in 2024, batting .224/.292/.336 with two home runs and eight RBI.
In 2025, Adams received significantly more playing time after a series of concussions kept starting catcher Keibert Ruiz out of play. He played in 83 games for the team, slashing .186/.252/.308, with eight home runs and 24 RBI. On January 22, 2026, Adams was designated for assignment by Washington, and after clearing waivers, he was sent outright to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings on January 28.
Driving Style and Strengths
Adams is known for his offensive capabilities as a catcher, with a track record of driving in runs and hitting for power, as evidenced by his 21 career home runs and 73 RBI through the 2025 season. His athletic background in basketball and karate has contributed to his agility and quick reflexes behind the plate. Adams has demonstrated the ability to play multiple positions, including first base, adding to his value as a versatile roster piece.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Adams’ career came on August 7, 2021, when he hit his first career home run as a National off Will Smith to give Washington the lead in the ninth inning. He was also a two-time semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award in college and won the West Coast Conference Player of the Year Award in 2017. His resilience in returning from a 2023 hamate bone surgery and a 2024 demotion to Triple-A highlights his determination and work ethic.
Riley Adams Career Wins
While career wins are not a traditional statistic for position players like catchers, Adams’ career can be measured through his offensive production and milestones at the plate. Across his time in MLB with the Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals, he has accumulated 21 home runs and 73 RBI through the 2025 season, with a career batting average of .211.
Major League Highlights
Adams made his MLB debut on June 8, 2021, as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, recording his first hit, a double, off Carlos Rodón of the Chicago White Sox. He later hit his first career home run on August 7, 2021, while with the Washington Nationals. His most productive MLB season statistically was 2023, when he batted .273/.331/.476 with 4 home runs and 21 RBI in 44 games before a wrist injury ended his campaign.
Other Performances
In the minor leagues, Adams was a standout performer, earning Northwest/Pioneer League All-Star Game honors in 2017 with the Vancouver Canadians. He also won the West Coast Conference Player of the Year Award during his junior season at the University of San Diego, capping a collegiate career that included a .305 batting average, 24 home runs, and 110 RBI in 159 games.
Riley Adams Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Riley Adams comes from an athletic family, with his elder brother, Cameron Adams, having played college baseball at Washington University in St. Louis. The Adams family’s support for athletics helped shape Riley’s path in sports from a young age, particularly in baseball and basketball.
Personal Life
Beyond baseball, Adams has a diverse range of interests and accomplishments. He began practicing karate at the age of three and earned a second-degree black belt by the time he was 13, demonstrating his discipline and dedication. He was also an accomplished science fair competitor, notably studying pampas grass and participating in the California State Science Fair. Adams attended Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, California, where he excelled in both basketball and baseball.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant chapter in Riley Adams’ career with the Washington Nationals, as he received considerably more playing time following a series of concussions that sidelined starting catcher Keibert Ruiz. Adams appeared in 83 games for the team, a career high in terms of major league opportunities, and finished the year slashing .186/.252/.308 with eight home runs and 24 RBI.
While his batting average dipped compared to previous seasons, Adams provided stability behind the plate and contributed offensively during a transitional period for the Nationals’ catching corps. His versatility was also on display, as he continued to be used occasionally at first base, a role he had embraced since his 2024 stint in Triple-A.
On January 22, 2026, Adams was designated for assignment by Washington, and he later cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings on January 28. Despite this transaction, Adams’ 2025 campaign underscored his value as a dependable backup catcher with offensive upside, and he remains a part of the Nationals organization as he looks toward future opportunities in professional baseball.