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Jonathan Aranda

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Aranda and the second or maternal family name is Ventura.
Jonathan Aranda
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 62
Infielder
Born: (1998-05-23) May 23, 1998 (age 26)
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 24, 2022, for the Tampa Bay Rays
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.222
Home runs10
Runs batted in33
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Mexico
World Baseball Classic
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Miami Team

Jonathan Alexander Aranda Ventura (born May 23, 1998) is a Mexican professional baseball infielder for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022. Aranda also represents the Mexican national team.

Professional career

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Aranda signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an international free agent on July 2, 2015.[1] Aranda spent his professional debut season of 2016 with the Dominican Summer League Rays, hitting .257/.345/.366/.711 with 1 home run and 17 RBI.[1] He split the 2017 season between the GCL Rays and the Princeton Rays, hitting a combined .287/.345/.348 with 15 RBI and 14 stolen bases.[2] He was named the Rays 2017 GCL MVP.[3] Aranda split the 2018 season between Princeton and the Hudson Valley Renegades, combining to hit .269/.337/.391 with 1 home run and 29 RBI.[1]

Aranda split the 2019 season between the GCL Rays, the Bowling Green Hot Rods, and the Charlotte Stone Crabs, hitting a combined .272/.359/.383 with 3 home runs and 35 RBI.[1] He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] Aranda split the 2021 season between Bowling Green and the Montgomery Biscuits, hitting a combined .330/.418/.543 with 14 home runs and 65 RBI.[5][6][7] He was named the 2021 Double-A South Most Valuable Player.[8] He was selected to the 40-man roster following the season on November 19, 2021.[9]

Aranda began the 2022 season with the Durham Bulls. In 63 games, he hit .310/.386/.512 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI. He was promoted to the majors on June 21, 2022.[10] He made his major league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 24, 2022, going 1-for-2 with an RBI single in a 4-3 Rays victory.[11] On September 13, Aranda hit his first career home run, a solo shot off of Toronto Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah.[12] After the season, he was selected for the International League Most Valuable Player Award.[13]

Aranda was optioned to Triple-A Durham to begin the 2023 season.[14] In 34 games for the Rays, he batted .230/.340/.368 with two home runs and 13 RBI.[15]

In 2024, Aranda was poised to make the Opening Day roster after a strong spring. However, on March 20, 2024, he suffered a broken right ring finger while fielding a ground ball, and underwent surgery that ruled him out for four–to–six weeks.[16]

International career

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Aranda was named to the Mexico national team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He slashed .167/.167/.167 over the course of the tournament, with six at-bats over three games.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Jonathan Aranda Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  2. ^ Germain, Mat (November 29, 2017). "Rays top 50 prospects: No. 49, 2B Jonathan Aranda". DRaysBay (SB Nation). Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  3. ^ Russell, Daniel (September 29, 2017). "Rays announce 2017 Minor League Award Winners, including OF Jesus Sanchez, RHP Yonny Chirinos, and SS Willy Adames". DRaysBay (SB Nation). Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  5. ^ Berry, Adam (October 18, 2021). "Standout Rays prospects from the '21 season". MLB.com. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  6. ^ Grauer, Scott (October 12, 2021). "Rays prospects and minor leagues: Wrapping up the season". DRaysBay (SB Nation). Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "Aranda quickly becoming an offensive threat in Biscuits' lineup". River Region Sports. August 19, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  8. ^ Jackson, Josh (October 6, 2021). "MiLB's Double-A award winners and All-Stars". MLB.com. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  9. ^ "Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Protected from Rule 5 draft". November 19, 2021.
  10. ^ "Rays Place Manuel Margot, Kevin Kiermaier On Injured List". mlbtraderumors. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  11. ^ "Jonathan Aranda delivers RBI single in MLB debut". rotowire. June 25, 2022.
  12. ^ "Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Launches first career homer". cbssports.com. September 14, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  13. ^ "Triple-A Award Winners and All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Sent to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  15. ^ "Aranda doing his part to break camp with Rays". mlb.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  16. ^ "Rays' Jonathan Aranda placed on IL with broken finger". espn.com. March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
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