José Bautista

Did You Know?

• Bautista was named a special advisor to the general manager for the Leones del Escogido in 2022.
• He garnered 1.6% of votes in the 2024 National Baseball Hall of Fame election.
• He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025.

Early life

Bautista grew up in a middle-class Dominican family that valued education; he began studying English at age eight. His mother worked as an accountant and financial planner, while his father, who held a master's degree in agricultural engineering from Hungary, managed poultry farms. He attended De La Salle High School in Santo Domingo and later studied business at Mother and Teacher Pontifical Catholic University as a backup plan. Through the Latin Athletes Education Fund, he connected with Don Odermann, who helped him enroll at Chipola College in Florida. Before that, Bautista had turned down offers from the Yankees and Diamondbacks, and accepted a $300,000 offer from the Reds that was rescinded after a change in ownership. He then made a highlight tape and sent it to US colleges, eventually receiving a call from Oscar Pérez about the education fund.

Professional career

The Pirates selected Bautista in the 20th round of the 2000 draft, and he signed for a $500,000 bonus. He played in the minors for Williamsport, Hickory, and Lynchburg before being taken by the Orioles in the Rule 5 draft. He debuted for Baltimore on April 4, 2004, and that season became the first player to appear on five MLB rosters in one year (though he never played for the Mets). After stints with the Devil Rays, Royals, and Mets (without playing), he returned to the Pirates. In 2006 he hit 16 home runs, and in 2007 he became the starting third baseman. In 2008 he was traded to the Blue Jays in August. After adjusting his swing, he hit ten home runs in September 2009. From 2010 to 2017 he hit at least 20 home runs each year, with four seasons of 35 or more, and twice led the AL in walks. In the 2015 ALDS, his bat flip became a symbol of Toronto's first playoff appearance in 22 years.

International career

He was selected for the 2020 Summer Olympics Americas Qualifying, which was postponed due to COVID-19. The rescheduled qualifier took place in Florida, with Bautista starting at first base. The Dominican Republic finished second in that qualifier, then won the Final Qualifying Tournament to earn a spot in the 2020 Olympics, where they won a bronze medal.

Personal life

Bautista's father is Spanish. He and his then-girlfriend Neisha Croyle had a daughter in April 2011 and another in November 2012; they married in November 2017. In 2011 he established a program to help athletes from the Dominican Republic attend US universities, later expanded to Canada. His younger brother Luis played college baseball at Florida International University and was drafted by the Cubs in 2007. A species of weevil, Sicoderus bautistai, was named for him in 2018. In January 2024 he became primary owner of USL Championship soccer club Las Vegas Lights FC. He has also invested in Canadian e-commerce, real estate, food technology, cleantech, and private equity.