Omar David Narváez (born February 10, 1992) is a Venezuelan professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catc ...

in the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major leag ...

organization. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

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) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

, and

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

. He made his MLB debut in 2016 and was an

All-Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...

in 2021.

Career

Tampa Bay Rays

At the age of 16, on July 4, 2008, Narváez signed a contract with the

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...

organization. In 2009, he made his professional debut with the VSL Rays of the

Venezuelan Summer League The Venezuelan Summer League (VSL) was a professional baseball league that operated in Venezuela from 1997 to 2015, primarily in the state of Carabobo. Teams in the league served as academies for Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations, and wer ...

. In 47 games, Narváez posted a .315 batting average and 27 runs batted in (RBIs). He remained with the VSL Rays in 2010, batting .308 in 46 games, with one homer and 20 RBIs. Narváez also earned 27 walks compared to only 11

strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...

s. Narváez joined the

GCL Rays The Florida Complex League Rays are a minor league baseball team in Port Charlotte, Florida, competing as a Rookie-level team in the Florida Complex League as an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional b ...

of the

Gulf Coast League The Florida Complex League (FCL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Before 2021, it was known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL). Together with the Arizona Complex League (ACL), it forms the low ...

for the 2011 season. In 47 games, his average dipped to .221 and he drove in 15 runs. His batting average climbed back to .305 in 2012, when Narváez joined the

Princeton Rays The Princeton Rays were a Minor League Baseball team in Princeton, West Virginia, operating as an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League. The team was affiliated with several Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises, primarily the Ta ...

of the

Appalachian League The Appalachian League is a Collegiate summer baseball, collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wooden ...

. In 43 games, he tallied one homer and 16 RBIs. In 2013, Narváez was promoted above Rookie–level for the first time in his career. He joined the

Hudson Valley Renegades The Hudson Valley Renegades are a Minor League Baseball team based in Fishkill, New York. The High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, the Renegades play in the South Atlantic League. The Renegades play their home games at Heritage Financial Pa ...

of the Single–A

New York–Penn League The New York–Penn League (NYPL) was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the northeastern United States from 1939 to 2020. Classified as a Class A Short Season league, its season started in June, after major-league teams signed th ...

. He batted .267 in 39 games, driving in 13 runs.

Chicago White Sox

On December 12, the

selected Narváez from the Rays in the minor league phase of the

Rule 5 draft The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball (MLB) player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor lea ...

. Narváez split the 2014 season between the

Kannapolis Intimidators Kannapolis () is a city in Cabarrus and Rowan Counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, northwest of Concord and northeast of Charlotte, and is a suburb in the Charlotte metropolitan area. The city of Kannapolis was incorporated in 1984. ...

and the

Winston-Salem Dash The Winston-Salem Dash are a Minor League Baseball team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They are a High-A team in the South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Chicago White Sox since 1997. The Dash began playing their home games ...

. With Kannapolis, a member of the mid Single–A

South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League, often informally called the Sally League, is a Minor League Baseball league with teams predominantly in states along the Atlantic coast of the United States from New York to Georgia. A Class A league for most of its h ...

, Narváez saw action in 38 games. He batted .291 and drove in 20 runs. Narváez also appeared in 47 games with Winston-Salem of the high Single–A

Carolina League The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 unti ...

, where he batted .279, with 2 homers, 16 RBI, 27 walks, and 21 strikeouts. Narváez played in a total of 85 games in 2014, well surpassing his prior career high of 47 appearances (in 2009 and 2011). Narváez remained with Winston-Salem for the 2015 season. He saw action in 98 games and posted a .274 average, with one home run, 27 RBI, 40 walks, and 31 strikeouts. He also appeared in 13 games for Bravos de Margarita of the Venezuelan Winter League. Narváez spent the 2016 season with a pair of Chicago's minor league affiliates, the AA

Birmingham Barons The Birmingham Barons are a Minor League Baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and plays at Regions Field in downtown Birmingham. The Baron ...

and the AAA

Charlotte Knights The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field ...

, as well as the parent club. He batted .222 in 13 games with Birmingham and .245 in 41 appearances for Charlotte. Narváez was called up to the major leagues for the first time on July 6, 2016. He made his MLB debut on July 17 against the

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

, and doubled off pitcher

Jered Weaver Jered David Weaver (born October 4, 1982) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres. Weaver was drafted in the first round (12th overall ...

in his first at-bat. Narváez hit his first MLB home run, a solo shot off

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...

reliever Pat Dean, on September 30, his father's birthday. Overall, Narváez played in 34 games for the White Sox and posted a .267 batting average with one home run and 10 RBIs.

Seattle Mariners

On November 30, 2018, the White Sox traded Narvaez to the

in exchange for

Alex Colomé Alexander Manuel Colomé Pérez (born December 31, 1988) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Colorad ...

. He made 132 appearances for the Mariners in 2019, batted .278/.353/.460 with 22 home runs and 55 RBI.

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 5, 2019, the Mariners traded Narváez to the

in exchange for

Adam Hill Adam Hill may refer to: * Adam Hill (rugby union) (born 1986), New Zealand rugby union player * Adam Hill (baseball) (born 1997), American baseball player * Blak Douglas, Australian artist and musician formerly known as Adam Hill See also *Adam Hil ...

and a competitive balance round B draft pick in the

2020 MLB draft The 2020 Major League Baseball draft took place on June 10 and 11, 2020. The draft assigned amateur baseball players to Major League Baseball (MLB) teams. The draft order was set based on the reverse order of the 2019 MLB season standings. In ad ...

. In 2020, Narváez hit .176/.294/.269 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 40 games for Milwaukee. Narváez was selected to the 2021 MLB All-Star Game. In 123 games for the Brewers in 2021, he batted .266/.342/.402 with 11 home runs and 49 RBI.

New York Mets

On December 22, 2022, Narváez signed a one-year contract with the

including a player option for 2024 worth $15 million. On April 6, 2023, Narváez was diagnosed with a medium-to-high grade strain of his left calf, and given a recovery timetable of 8–9 weeks. He returned from the 60-day injured list on June 5, and assumed the backup role that was vacated when

Tomás Nido Tomás Enrique Nido Vicéns (born April 12, 1994) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher in the Detroit Tigers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. He made his MLB ...

was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

. Narváez finished the year having made 49 appearances for the Mets, with a slash line of .211/.283/.297 with two home runs and 7 RBI. On May 26, 2024, Narváez hit a walk-off single against the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

, his first and only hit at

Citi Field Citi Field is a baseball park, baseball stadium located in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, in the Boroughs of New York, borough of Queens, New York City, United States. Opened in 2009, Citi Field is the home of Major League Baseball's New York M ...

that season. He played in 28 games for New York in 2024, batting .154/.191/.185 with no home runs and 5 RBI. On May 31, Narváez was designated for assignment by the Mets following the acquisition of Luis Torrens. He was then released by the team on June 5.

Houston Astros

On June 26, 2024, Narváez signed a minor league contract with the

. In 42 games for the Triple-A

Sugar Land Space Cowboys The Sugar Land Space Cowboys are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball club. They are located in Sugar Land, Texas, part of the Greater Houston metro ...

, he batted .196/.325/.304 with three home runs and 20 RBI. Narváez elected free agency following the season on November 4.

Chicago White Sox (second stint)

On January 10, 2025, Narváez signed a minor league contract with the

. He was released by the White Sox prior to the start of the season on March 24. On April 1, Narváez re-signed with the White Sox on a new minor league contract. In 3 games for the Double-A

, he went 2-for-8 (.250) with 2 RBI. On April 10, the White Sox selected Narváez's contract, adding him to their active roster. In four games for Chicago, he went 2-for-7 (.286) with 3 RBI and two walks. Narváez was designated for assignment following the promotion of Edgar Quero on April 17. He elected free agency after clearing waivers on April 21. On April 23, Narváez re-signed with the White Sox organization on a minor league contract. On May 20, Narváez was released by the White Sox.

Houston Astros (second stint)

On June 5, 2025, Narváez signed a minor league contract with the

Personal life

Narváez's cousin, Carlos, also plays in MLB.

References

External links

Venezuelan Youth Dream of Baseball Careers in US Leagues
(2010) from

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via

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Narvaez, Omar 1992 births Living people Baseball players from Maracay Birmingham Barons players Bravos de Margarita players Brooklyn Cyclones players Charlotte Knights players Chicago White Sox players Gulf Coast Rays players Hudson Valley Renegades players Kannapolis Intimidators players Major League Baseball catchers Major League Baseball players from Venezuela 21st-century Venezuelan sportsmen Milwaukee Brewers players Nashville Sounds players New York Mets players Princeton Rays players Seattle Mariners players Sugar Land Space Cowboys players Syracuse Mets players Venezuelan Summer League Rays players Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States Winston-Salem Dash players 2023 World Baseball Classic players