Estevan Florial was born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He holds dual-citizenship with Haiti due to his mother being born there. In the first couple of years with the Yankees organization, they mistakenly listed him as being born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, which would have made him a forerunner to become the first Haitian-born Major League player.[1] Florial signed with the New York Yankees under the name Haniel d'Oleo in 2014. However the contract was voided after he was unable to provide a birth certificate and he re-signed with the Yankees under the name Estevan Florial in 2015.[2]
Career
New York Yankees
Minor leagues
Florial made his professional debut that season with the Dominican Summer League Yankees 1 where he batted .313 with seven home runs and 53 RBIs in 57 games. He played in 2016 with the Pulaski Yankees, Charleston RiverDogs and Tampa Yankees,[3] batting a combined .227 with eight home runs and thirty RBIs in 67 total games among the three teams.
Florial started the 2017 season with Charleston.[4] He was selected to appear in the All-Star Futures Game in July.[5] After batting .297 with 11 home runs, 43 RBIs and 17 stolen bases for Charleston, he was promoted to Tampa in August, where he finished the season[6] slashing .303/.368/.461 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 19 games.[7] The Yankees promoted him to the Trenton Thunder for their postseason but did not appear in a game.[8]
Florial entered 2018 as one of the top prospects in the minor leagues.[9] Playing for Tampa, he broke the hamate bone in his right wrist in May and required surgery, costing him three months of the season.[10] In 2019, the Yankees invited Florial to spring training as a non-roster player.[11] He suffered a non-displaced fracture in his right wrist during spring training.[12] He returned to Tampa in June,[13] where he played for the 2019 season.[14]
Major leagues
Florial was called up to the majors on August 28, 2020.[15] He played in the first game of a doubleheader that same day against the New York Mets, where he got his first MLB hit. At the end of the day he was sent back to the minors.[16]
On July 20, 2021, the Yankees promoted Florial to the major leagues to replace the injured Trey Amburgey.[17] He recorded his first major league RBI on a groundout to first base, and later hit his first major league home run; a solo shot off of pitcher Enyel De Los Santos of the Philadelphia Phillies.[18] In 11 games for the Yankees, Florial went 6–for–20 (.300) with one home run, two RBI, and one stolen base.[19] Florial made 17 appearances for New York in 2022, going 3–for–31 (.097) with one RBI and two stolen bases.[20]
Out of options in 2023, Florial made the Yankees Opening Day roster.[21] He appeared as a pinch runner on Opening Day, but was designated for assignment on April 1.[22] Florial had 63 plate appearances for the Yankees across four seasons, batting .185 with 21 strikeouts.[23] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on April 7.[24] In 101 games in Triple–A, he batted .284/.380/.565 with 28 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. On September 11, Florial had his contract selected back to the major league roster.[25] In 19 major league games for New York, he hit .230/.324/.312 with no home runs, eight RBIs, and three stolen bases.
Cleveland Guardians
On December 26, 2023, the Yankees traded Florial to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for Cody Morris.[26] In 36 games for Cleveland in 2024, he batted .173/.264/.367 with career–highs in home runs (3) and RBI (11). Florial was designated for assignment by the Guardians on May 31, 2024.[27][28] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers on June 7.[29] Florial elected minor league free agency on October 21.[30]
