Vidal Bruján Bio
Vidal Bruján Esteva (born February 9, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball utility player who most recently played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets. A versatile defender who has spent time at second base and in the outfield, Bruján has appeared in the majors for the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, and the Mets. He signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent in 2014 and made his MLB debut with the organization in 2021.
Known for his speed and switch-hitting ability in the minor leagues, Bruján built a reputation as a contact-oriented table-setter with a strong track record of stolen bases. Over the course of his MLB career, he has bounced between organizations through trades, waiver claims, and outright assignments, carving out a role as a depth player capable of filling in at multiple positions.
Early Life and Background
Vidal Bruján Esteva was born on February 9, 1998, in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic has long been one of the most fertile producers of Major League Baseball talent, and Bruján grew up surrounded by a baseball culture that has produced generations of big-league players. He comes from a close-knit family, and his father, Vidal Bruján Sr., played an important role in his early development as a player.
Bruján’s path to professional baseball was shaped by the international scouting networks that have brought many Dominican teenagers into the affiliated ranks each year. He signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent in October 2014, when he was 16 years old, beginning a long climb through the organization’s minor-league system.
Path to Major League Baseball
After signing with the Rays in 2014, Bruján made his professional debut in 2015 with the Dominican Summer League Rays. He batted .301 with two home runs, 20 runs batted in (RBI), and 22 stolen bases in 60 games, showing the speed that would become his trademark. He split 2016 between the Gulf Coast Rays and the Hudson Valley Renegades, hitting a combined .271 with one home run and eight RBI in 51 games, and returned to Hudson Valley in 2017, where he batted .285 with three home runs, 20 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in 67 games.
In 2018, Bruján played for both the Bowling Green Hot Rods, where he was named a Midwest League All-Star, and the Charlotte Stone Crabs, combining to slash .320/.403/.459 with nine home runs, 53 RBI, and 55 stolen bases across 122 games. He split 2019 between Charlotte and the Montgomery Biscuits, hitting a combined .277/.346/.389 with four home runs and 40 RBI, and later played for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League. Following the 2019 season, he was added to the Rays’ 40-man roster. He was selected to the All-Star Futures Game in June 2021.
Vidal Bruján Career
Early Career (2015–2020)
Bruján’s early professional years were spent steadily climbing the ladder within the Rays system. Across his first four seasons, he consistently posted strong on-base numbers and stole bases at a high rate, which earned him promotions each year. His 2018 campaign with Bowling Green and Charlotte stands out as his first true breakout, as he earned Midwest League All-Star recognition while setting new personal bests in average, on-base percentage, and stolen bases.
Bruján did not play in a regular-season game in 2020 after the minor-league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He used the time away from competition to continue developing, and by 2021 he was considered one of the top prospects in the Rays’ deep farm system.
Tampa Bay Rays Breakthrough (2021–2023)
On July 7, 2021, Bruján was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut that day as the starting second baseman in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians, and he recorded his first career hit, an RBI single off Indians starter J. C. Mejía. The debut marked the culmination of a six-year development path through the Rays’ minor-league affiliates.
Bruján spent most of 2022 with the Triple-A Durham Bulls, where he batted .292, and he also played in 52 games with the Rays. On June 10, 2022, he hit his first MLB home run off Devin Smeltzer of the Minnesota Twins. He was optioned to Triple-A Durham to begin the 2023 season and played 37 games for Tampa Bay, hitting .171/.241/.197 with no home runs, six RBI, and three stolen bases.
Miami Marlins Era (2024)
On November 17, 2023, Bruján and Calvin Faucher were traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Erick Lara, Andrew Lindsey, and a player to be named later. In 102 appearances for Miami, he slashed .222/.303/.319 with two home runs, 16 RBI, and five stolen bases. During an August 24, 2024, blowout loss against the Chicago Cubs, he entered the game in the ninth inning and recorded his first career pitching strikeout against Isaac Paredes. Following the signing of Eric Wagaman on December 20, 2024, Bruján was designated for assignment.
Chicago Cubs Era (2025)
On December 29, 2024, the Marlins traded Bruján to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Matt Mervis. He made 36 appearances for the Cubs, batting .222/.234/.289 with three RBI and two stolen bases. He was designated for assignment by Chicago on July 30, 2025.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2025)
On August 3, 2025, Bruján was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. His only appearance for the team came against the Philadelphia Phillies on August 6, when he recorded a single off Joe Ross in his only at-bat. He was claimed off waivers again just days later.
Atlanta Braves Era (2025)
On August 8, 2025, Bruján was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. He made 23 appearances for Atlanta, batting .268/.362/.317 with five RBI. He was designated for assignment by the Braves following the acquisition of Ken Waldichuk on January 8, 2026.
New York Mets Era (2026–Present)
On January 14, 2026, Bruján was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins, then designated for assignment on January 21. The Twins traded him to the New York Mets in exchange for cash considerations the following day. On March 25, 2026, the Mets designated him for assignment, but he cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets on March 27. The Mets selected his contract on May 3, 2026, adding him back to their active roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bruján’s most memorable MLB moments include his debut hit off J. C. Mejía in 2021, his first MLB home run off Devin Smeltzer in June 2022, and his first career pitching strikeout against Isaac Paredes in August 2024. His selection to the 2021 All-Star Futures Game remains one of the most significant honors of his prospect career.
Vidal Bruján Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Vidal Bruján’s father, Vidal Bruján Sr., was a central figure in his life and baseball journey. Bruján Sr. died from heart failure in 2018, a personal loss that occurred during a breakout season for his son. Public details about other family members and his personal life have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of constant movement for Vidal Bruján, who changed organizations several times. He began the year with the Chicago Cubs, where he appeared in 36 games and batted .222/.234/.289 with three RBI and two stolen bases before being designated for assignment on July 30, 2025.
After a brief stop with the Baltimore Orioles in early August 2025, where he recorded a single in his only at-bat, Bruján was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves on August 8, 2025. He played 23 games for Atlanta and batted .268/.362/.317 with five RBI, finishing the year on the Braves’ roster before being designated for assignment following the acquisition of Ken Waldichuk in January 2026.
Heading into the next chapter, Bruján’s combination of speed, defensive versatility, and contact approach continues to make him an attractive depth option for organizations seeking utility help. His 2025 performance, while limited in playing time, showed a rebound in average and on-base percentage with the Braves, suggesting he can still contribute at the MLB level when given a steady opportunity.