José Gregorio Rondón Hidalgo (born March 3, 1994) is a Venezuelan

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...

for the

Toros de Tijuana The Toros de Tijuana (or Tijuana Bulls) are a Mexican Baseball team based in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. They are members of the Mexican Baseball League and play their home games at Estadio Chevron. Team history Original Attempt The fran ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

. He previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB) for the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...

, and

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals hav ...

Career

Los Angeles Angels

Rondón was signed by the

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...

as an international free agent on January 13, 2011. He made his professional debut that season with the

Dominican Summer League Angels The Dominican Summer Angels are a minor league baseball team in the Dominican Summer League. The team plays in the Boca Chica North division and is affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels. History The team came into existence in 1989, and has mostl ...

. He started 2014 with the

Inland Empire 66ers The Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The 66ers are based in San Bernardino, California, and play at San Manuel Stadium. Franchise ...

. In July he played in the

All-Star Futures Game The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game hosted by Major League Baseball (MLB) in conjunction with the mid-summer MLB All-Star Game. A team of American League-affiliated prospects competes against a team of National League ...

as an injury replacement for

Carlos Correa Carlos Javier Correa Oppenheimer Jr. (born September 22, 1994) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, who selected him first overall in the ...

San Diego Padres

On July 31, 2014, Rondón, along with

Taylor Lindsey Taylor Thomas Lindsey (born December 2, 1991) is a professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. Career Los Angeles Angels Lindsey was drafted 37th overall by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draf ...

, R. J. Alvarez and Elliot Morris, was traded to the

for

Huston Street Huston Lowell Street ( ; born August 2, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels. After ...

and

Trevor Gott Trevor Vaughan Gott (born August 26, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Washington Nationals, San Franc ...

. The Padres assigned him to the

Lake Elsinore Storm The Lake Elsinore Storm are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays their home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond (Pete Lehr Field), which opened in 1994; the park se ...

. On November 19, 2015, the Padres added Rondón to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Rondón was called up to the major leagues on July 29, 2016, and he made his major league debut that night as a pinch hitter for Edwin Jackson, wearing #13. On January 6, 2018, he was designated for assignment by the Padres.

Chicago White Sox

On January 10, 2018, Rondón was acquired by the

. Rondón ended the year playing in 42 games with the White Sox, hitting .230/.280/.470 in 107 plate appearances. On July 28, 2019, Rondón was designated for assignment. In 2019 with the White Sox, Rondón batted .197/.265/.282 in 156 plate appearances throughout 55 games.

Baltimore Orioles

On July 30, 2019, Rondón was claimed off waivers by the

. He was designated for assignment on August 3, 2019, and outrighted on August 7. Rondon received only one at bat for the Orioles against

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

pitcher

Buddy Boshers Jeffrey Alan "Buddy" Boshers (born May 9, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, and Toronto Blue Jays. Early life A native of Huntsville, A ...

and popped out to catcher

Danny Jansen Daniel Robert Jansen (born April 15, 1995) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Professional career Minor leagues Jansen attended Appleton West High School in Appleton, Wisconsin ...

. He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

St. Louis Cardinals

On December 18, 2020, Rondón signed a minor league contract with the

organization. On May 29, 2021, Rondón was selected to the active roster. Rondón mostly served as a

pinch hitter In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute Batting (baseball), batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the dead ball (baseball), ball is dead (not in active play); the manager (baseball), manager may use any player who has not yet ...

for St. Louis, batting .308/.349/.564 in that role. On November 30, 2021, Rondon was non-tendered by the Cardinals, making him a free agent. On April 4, 2022, Rondón was suspended by MLB for 80 games after violation of their Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, testing positive for

Boldenone Boldenone (developmental code name RU-18761), is a naturally occurring anabolic–androgenic steroid (AAS) and the 1(2)- dehydrogenated analogue of testosterone. Boldenone itself has never been marketed; as a pharmaceutical drug, it is used as ...

Toros de Tijuana

On December 12, 2022, Rondón signed with the