Santiago Roman Espinal…drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 10th round of the 2016 MLB draft…moved from the Dominican Republic to Florida at age 13…batted .432 for Miami Dade College in 2016.
2025
In his first game of the season, went 2-for-3 in the Reds’ 3-2 victory over San Francisco on March 29...Had a season-high three hits at Colorado on April 25.
2024
On March 20, was acquired from the Blue Jays for Minor League RHP Chris McElvain...Over a 33-game stretch from July 8 vs. COL to Sept. 2 vs. HOU, batted .419 (44-for-105), the highest mark in MLB (min. 100 at-bats) in that span...Was the highest batting average by a Red in any 33-game stretch (min. 100 at-bats) since Joey Votto (.425) from July 22- Aug. 27, 2016...Swung and missed at 109 of the 1,505 pitches he faced this season, tied with MIL's Sal Frelick for sixth-fewest in the Majors among those with 1,500+ pitches faced, trailing only CLE's Steven Kwan (68), ARI's Geraldo Perdomo (77), SD's Luis Arraez (82), WAS' Keibert Ruiz (105) and BOS' Masataka Yoshida (106)...His 54 strikeouts in 2024 were tied with WAS' Keibert Ruiz for fifth-fewest among all Major Leaguers with at 350+ at-bats, behind only SD's Luis Arraez (29), TOR's Ernie Clement (41), CLE's Steven Kwan (51) and BOS' Masataka Yoshida (52)...On April 7 vs. NYM, collected the 100th RBI of his Major League career, hitting a sacrifice fly off Sean Manaea that scored Jeimer Candelario in the fourth inning...From July 8 vs. COL to July 13 vs. MIA, had an RBI in a career-high five straight games, tied for the longest streak by a Reds batter in 2024 (Jeimer Candelario, June 11-16)...From June 19 at PIT to July 3 at NYY, did not strike out in 36 straight plate appearances...Was the longest active streak in the majors at the time it was snapped...In the seventh inning on May 31 at CHC, hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer off Drew Smyly...Was his first career pinch-hit homer...Was the first go-ahead, pinch-hit homer by a Reds batter in the seventh inning or later of a game since Tyler Stephenson on July 2, 2023 vs. SD (eighth inning, off Nick Martinez)...On July 30 vs. CHC, finished a triple shy of the cycle and set new career highs with four hits and three extra-base hits (one HR, two 2B)...Across 15 games in July, batted .432 (19-for-44), the second-highest mark in the NL and fourth-highest in MLB (min. 40 at-bats)...From July 8 vs. COL to July 31 vs. CHC, had an 11-game hitting streak...Also had a hit in 10 straight games from Aug. 18 vs. KC to Aug. 28 vs. the Athletics, making him the first Red with two separate hitting streaks of 10+ games in a single season since Kyle Farmer also had two such streaks in 2021...On Sept. 1 vs. MIL, delivered the first walk-off hit of his career, a pinch-hit, RBI single off Bryse Wilson in the 11th inning...Became the first Red to record a game-ending hit as a PH since Tyler Stephenson (1B) on April 17, 2021 vs. CLE.
2023
Blasted his 1st homer of the year in his only at-bat of the game on April 17 at HOU...Placed on the IL with right hamstring inflammation from May 21-June 5...Appeared in four rehab games for Single-A Dunedin, batting .308 (4-for-13) with a double...Laced a pinch-hit double to left in the eighth inning on Sept. 23 at TB, his MLB-leading fourth pinch-hit double of the year...Became the only player in franchise history to record four pinch-hit doubles in a single season...Over his last 21 regular-season games, batted .383 (18-for-47) with six doubles and six RBI (.919 OPS)...Entered Game 2 of the ALWC on Oct. 4 at MIN in the sixth inning and recorded a pinch-hit single...Became the 13th player in club history with a pinch-hit in the playoffs...Added another single in the ninth for his second career postseason multi-hit game...Is now 4-for-6 with a double in playoff contests.
2022
Named to his 1st career All-Star team...Went 0-for-1 with a walk... His .301 AVG vs. LHPs ranked 12th in the AL... Set career highs in games (135), runs (51), hits (120), doubles (25), home runs (7), RBI (51) and walks (36)... Went 3-for-3 with a HBP, a stolen base, and two runs April 11 at NYY...Marked his 6th career three-hit game and his first time reaching base four times in a game... Hit a solo shot off Justin Verlander on April 22 at HOU, his first home run of the season (3rd career)... Delivered the game-winning run with a solo homer in the seventh inning April 23 at HOU, homering in back-to-back games for the first time in his career... Had a career-high 16-game hitting streak from May 5-23 (20-for-56, .357 AVG, 6-2B, 5RBI, .403 OBP, .868 OPS)... Hit his first career leadoff home run off Michael Kopech on June 1 vs. CWS...Marked his 3rd HR in 49G, surpassing last season’s total (2HR in 92G)... Went deep for the fifth time June 6 at KC, homering in consecutive games for the second time in the season and in his career... Drilled his seventh home run Aug. 5 at MIN, was his first since June 30 vs. TB... Placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left oblique from Sept. 22-Oct. 7... Doubled to lead off the third inning in Game 2 of the ALWC vs. SEA, his first career postseason hit in his first career postseason at-bat.
2021
Batted .320 (65-for-203) across 62 starts...Hit .346 (54-for-156) with nine doubles, two homers, 11 RBI and a 19BB/17K ratio from June 1 to the end of the season (.863 OPS)...Played four games at Triple-A Buffalo, hitting .308 (4-for-13) with a double, a home run, and two RBI (.923 OPS)...Recalled from the PDC training site April 10 vs. LAA and tied a career-high with three hits in his season debut (also: Aug. 25, 2020 vs. BOS)...Notched his 1st career triple May 16 vs. PHI...Tied his career-high with three RBI on May 28 at CLE (also: Sept. 13, 2020, vs. NYM)...Hit his 1st career home run July 3 vs. TB, a two-run shot off Matt Wisler in the sixth...Wisler also surrendered Cavan Biggio’s first homer May 26, 2019...Launched his second career round-tripper on Aug. 1 vs. KC, a solo bomb off Josh Staumont in the fourth. ..Placed on the injured list with a right hip flexor strain from Aug. 29-Sept. 23...Went 13-for-29 (.448) in nine games after his IL stint to end the year.
2020
Made his MLB debut on July 25 at TB with a start at third base (0-for-2, 1K)...Entered the game on July 26 at TB as a pinch-runner at 2nd base in the 10th inning...swiped 3rd for his 1st career stolen base and then scored on a sac fly for his 1st career run...Recorded his 1st MLB hit on July 28 at WAS, a single off of Sam Freeman...On Aug. 20 vs. PHI (G1), picked up his 1st career RBI with a sac fly...Singled twice and doubled on Aug. 25 vs. BOS for his 1st three-hit game...Went 1-for-3 at the plate on Sept. 11 vs. NYM before pitching for the 1st time in his career as he tossed the 9th inning (2H, 1ER, 1HBP)...pitched again on Sept. 15 at NYY (1.0 IP, 1H, 1ER, 1HR, 1BB), becoming the 5th position player in team history to pitch more than once in a season...Recorded a personal-best three RBI on Sept. 13 vs. NYM as he went 1-for-4 with a bases-clearing double...Ended the season with a six-game hitting streak (6-for-15, 2-2B, 5 RBI)...Named to Toronto’s Wild Card roster but did not play.
2019
Began the year with Double-A New Hampshire...Batted .278 with 27 extra-base hits in 94 games for the Fisher Cats...Was promoted to Triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 3...Slashed .317/.360/.433 over 28 contests for the Bisons to wrap up his 2019 campaign...Recorded a 10-game hitting streak from Aug. 9-19 (14-for-37) and ended his season on a nine-game hitting streak, from Aug. 25-Sept. 2 (15-for-34)...After the season, was added to Toronto's 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
2018
Was acquired by the Blue Jays from the Red Sox in exchange for OF Steve Pearce and cash considerations on June 28 and assigned to Advanced-A Dunedin... Started the year with Advanced-A Salem...Hit .313 with 15 doubles, three triples and seven home runs over 65 games for Salem... Was named a Mid-Season All-Star... Played 17 games for the D-Jays and slashed .262/.333/.431 with six extra-base hits... Wrapped up his season playing in 42 contests for Double-A New Hampshire...Hit .286 (42-for-147) for the Fisher Cats, including nine doubles, a pair of triples, a homer and 20 RBI...Recorded four singles, two runs and two walks over five postseason games for New Hampshire...Played in 15 games for the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, batting .250 (14-for-56) with three doubles, a triple and four RBI.
