Gilberto Celestino
Gilberto Celestino (born February 13, 1999) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder in the Minnesota Twins organization.
Gilberto Celestino | |
---|---|
Minnesota Twins | |
Outfielder | |
Born: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | February 13, 1999|
Bats: Right Throws: Left | |
MLB debut | |
June 2, 2021, for the Minnesota Twins | |
MLB statistics (through 2022 season) | |
Batting average | .222 |
Home runs | 4 |
Runs batted in | 27 |
Teams | |
Career
Houston Astros
Celestino signed with the Houston Astros as an international free agent on July 2, 2015, for a $2.25 million signing bonus.[1] He split the 2016 season between the DSL Astros and the GCL Astros, hitting a combined .257/.365/.393/.758 with 2 home runs and 19 RBI. He spent the 2017 season with the Greeneville Astros, hitting .268/.331/.379/.709 with 4 home runs and 24 RBI.
Minnesota Twins
On July 27, 2018, Celestino and Jorge Alcalá were traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Ryan Pressly.[2] Celestino split the 2018 season between the Tri-City ValleyCats, Corpus Christi Hooks, and the Elizabethton Twins, hitting a combined .287/.341/.406/.747 with 5 home runs and 34 RBI.[3]
In 2019, Celestino split the season between the Cedar Rapids Kernels and the Fort Myers Miracle, hitting a combined .277/.349/.410/.759 with 10 home runs and 54 RBI.[4][5] Celestino played for the Dominican Republic national baseball team at the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[6] On November 20, 2019, Celestino was added to the Twins 40-man roster.[7][8] Celestino did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
On June 2, 2021, Celestino was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[10] He made his MLB debut that day as the starting center fielder against the Baltimore Orioles. In the game, he went 0-for-2 before being subbed out for Miguel Sanó. On June 9, Celestino notched his first career hit, a single off of New York Yankees reliever Brooks Kriske. He appeared in 23 games for Minnesota in his rookie campaign, hitting .136/.177/.288 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI. In 2022, Celestino appeared in 122 contests with the Twins, slashing .238/.313/.302 with 2 home runs and 24 RBI.
On March 2, 2023, Celestino suffered a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, and underwent thumb surgery that included a recovery period of 6-8 weeks.[11] He was activated from the injured list on June 18, and was subsequently optioned to the Triple–A St. Paul Saints.[12] Celestino did not play in a game for Minnesota, hitting .243 with 4 home runs and 31 RBI in 55 games for St. Paul. On October 1, Celestino was designated for assignment by Minnesota.[13] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to St. Paul on October 5.[14]
References
- Jesse Sanchez (July 3, 2019). "Astros sign int'l OF prospect Celestino". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- Rhett Bollinger (July 27, 2018). "Twins' 2nd deal sends Pressly to Astros". MLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- J.J. Cooper (July 28, 2018). "Astros Acquire Ryan Pressly, Twins Gets Plenty Of Upside". Baseball America. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- Jeff Johnson (July 1, 2019). "Gilberto Celestino shows off skills that make him a Minnesota Twins prospect". The Gazette. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- Duane Cross (November 18, 2019). "Twins prospects up the ante in arms race". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- "Celestino's fantastic catch leads Dominican Republic to first-ever Premier12 win". WBSC. November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- Betsy Helfand (November 20, 2019). "Twins add five to 40-man roster before Wednesday night's deadline". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- La Velle E. Neal III (November 20, 2019). "Jhoan Duran, four others added to Twins' roster". Star Tribune. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". 30 June 2020.
- "Twins Recall Ryan Jeffers, Gilberto Celestino". 2 June 2021.
- "Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Out 6-8 weeks with thumb injury". cbssports.com. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- "Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Optioned after coming off IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- "Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Designated for assignment". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- "Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet