Vimael Machín Bio
Vimael Machín Soto (born September 25, 1993) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball infielder in the Colorado Rockies organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles. A versatile middle-infield prospect, Machín has built his career through steady production in the minor leagues and stints in the Mexican League before earning select opportunities at the highest level.
Early Life and Background
Vimael Machín Soto was born on September 25, 1993, in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, a small municipality on the eastern side of the island with a deep baseball tradition. Growing up in Puerto Rico, he was surrounded by a culture that treats baseball as a daily rhythm, and the sport shaped his earliest ambitions. Machín attended Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School, an institution known for producing professional talent and giving young players a structured path toward the sport. His time at the academy allowed him to refine his infield skills and gain exposure to scouts.
As an amateur, Machín drew the attention of professional clubs before he finished high school. He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 29th round of the 2011 MLB draft but chose not to sign, opting instead to continue his development. He later enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he played four seasons of college baseball for the VCU Rams. The college environment gave him a stronger foundation against older competition and prepared him for the next stage of his professional journey.
Path to Baseball
During his college years, Machín expanded his résumé with summer-league experience that sharpened his game. In 2014, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Danbury Westerners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League and the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League, two of the most respected wooden-bat leagues in the United States. That exposure paid off the following year when the Chicago Cubs selected him in the 10th round of the 2015 MLB draft, and he signed with the organization. His path to professional baseball had been gradual, but it had been built on a series of deliberate choices that prioritized long-term development over short-term rewards.
Vimael Machín Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Machín began his professional career in the Cubs system, splitting the 2015 season between the Eugene Emeralds and South Bend Cubs, where he hit a combined .181/.270/.222 with 10 RBI. The next year, he moved between Eugene, South Bend, and the Iowa Cubs, posting a more encouraging .267/.377/.311 line with 17 RBI. His development accelerated in 2017, when he split time between South Bend and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and batted a combined .303/.360/.438 with 11 home runs and 72 RBI. That season established him as a middle-infield prospect worth tracking.
After a more difficult 2018 split between Myrtle Beach and the Tennessee Smokies, Machín rebounded in 2019. Splitting the year between Tennessee and Iowa, he hit a combined .295/.390/.412 with 7 home runs and 62 RBI. His plate discipline and on-base skills were hallmarks of his profile, and the Cubs organization viewed him as a depth piece ready for an opportunity.
Oakland Athletics Breakthrough (2020–2022)
On December 12, 2019, Machín was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2019 Rule 5 draft and immediately traded to the Oakland Athletics for cash. He made his major league debut on July 26, 2020, against the Los Angeles Angels, going hitless in three at-bats. In 24 games during his rookie season, Machín slashed .206/.296/.238 with no home runs or RBI. The 2021 campaign was quieter at the MLB level, as he played only 15 games for Oakland, going 4-for-32, but he thrived at Triple-A Las Vegas, batting .295/.389/.479 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI in 89 games.
The 2022 season brought Machín’s most memorable MLB moment. After being outrighted to Triple-A on April 3 and recalled on June 30, he hit his first career home run on July 10 off Houston Astros reliever Phil Maton, a multi-hit game in which he went 2-for-4. In 73 games for the Athletics that year, he posted a .220/.300/.287 slash with one home run and a career-high 13 RBI. Following the trade of catcher Sean Murphy on December 12, Oakland designated Machín for assignment. He cleared waivers, was sent outright to Triple-A Las Vegas on December 16, and two days later elected free agency in lieu of the assignment.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2024–2025)
After a brief stop in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and a strong run in the Mexican League with the Mariachis de Guadalajara and Charros de Jalisco, Machín signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles on November 11, 2024. He began 2025 with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides and was one of the most productive players in that clubhouse, making 107 appearances and batting .285/.344/.470 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. That production earned him another MLB opportunity.
On August 22, 2025, the Orioles selected Machín’s contract, adding him to their active roster. In four appearances with Baltimore, he went 1-for-11 with one home run, one RBI, and one walk. Following the promotion of Emmanuel Rivera on August 27, he was designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk on August 29. Machín elected free agency on September 29, closing his chapter with the Orioles.
Colorado Rockies Era (2025–Present)
On December 21, 2025, Machín signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies, giving him another opportunity to compete for an MLB roster spot. The move placed him in an organization looking for veteran depth across the infield.
Driving Style and Strengths
Machín is recognized as a contact-oriented middle infielder whose offensive strengths center on plate discipline, on-base ability, and gap-to-gap line-drive hitting. His winter-ball and Latin American experience has also shown he can handle different strike zones and environments, and he has delivered some of his strongest production against advanced pitching in the upper minors.
Notable Events and Milestones
Machín’s standout milestones include his MLB debut on July 26, 2020, his first career home run on July 10, 2022, off Phil Maton of the Houston Astros, and his 2025 selection to the Baltimore Orioles’ active roster. He has also produced standout seasons in the Mexican League and in Puerto Rico’s winter league with Criollos de Caguas, where he has played since 2018.
Vimael Machín Career Wins
Vimael Machín Soto has built a professional résumé defined more by cumulative offensive production than by headline win totals, since infielders are evaluated primarily on batting metrics rather than wins. Across MLB, Triple-A, the Mexican League, and Puerto Rico’s winter league, he has delivered multiple seasons with batting averages above .290 and consistent on-base percentages.
MLB Highlights
In 112 major league games between the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles, Machín posted a .204/.304/.260 line with 2 home runs and 15 RBI. His 2022 season with Oakland, in which he set a career high with 13 RBI and recorded his first home run, remains his most productive MLB campaign to date.
Other Wins & Performances
Machín has excelled in the upper minors, most notably with Triple-A Las Vegas in 2021 (.295/.389/.479) and Triple-A Norfolk in 2025 (.285/.344/.470). In the Mexican League, he batted .338/.415/.540 in 40 games for the Mariachis de Guadalajara in 2023 and produced a .401/.495/.579 line in 85 games for the Charros de Jalisco in 2024.
Vimael Machín Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Vimael Machín Soto’s immediate family is limited. His upbringing in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, and his attendance at Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School reflect a community that prizes athletic development, though specific relatives are not widely documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Verified details about Machín’s personal life, including marital status, spouse, and children, are not publicly documented in the available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Vimael Machín Soto entered 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles organization, splitting the year between Triple-A Norfolk and the major league club. With the Norfolk Tides, he appeared in 107 games and batted .285/.344/.470 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI, and 13 stolen bases, anchoring the middle of their lineup for most of the summer. That production led to his selection to Baltimore’s active roster on August 22, 2025.
In his brief MLB stint with the Orioles, Machín went 1-for-11 with one home run, one RBI, and one walk across four appearances before being designated for assignment following the promotion of Emmanuel Rivera on August 27. After clearing waivers and electing free agency on September 29, he signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies on December 21, 2025. With Colorado, Machín is expected to compete for a depth role in the infield and potentially add another chapter to his major league journey in the coming seasons.