Atlanta designates former SF Giants middle infielder for assignment

Atlanta designated 11-year big-league veteran and former SF Giants infielder Ehire Adrianza on Monday.

Atlanta designated former SF Giants infielder Ehire Adrianza for assignment on Monday. Adrianza had been on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder strain but was healthy enough to return. However, Atlanta decided not to have him return to the roster, designating him for assignment instead. The 11-year MLB veteran only appeared in five games with Atlanta this season, finishing 0-for-10 at the plate with a walk and four strikeouts.

SF Giants SS Ehire Adrianza makes a play against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. (2016) / Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants signed Adrianza as an amateur prospect out of Venezuela back in 2005. He started his career in the Dominican Summer League in 2006, where he remained for two seasons as the soft-hitting switch-hitter adjusted to professional pitching. 

In 2008 he split his time between the Arizona Complex League, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, and the Fresno Grizzlies, hitting .288 in 66 at-bats. He spent the next four years working his way up the minor leagues, helping the Low-A San Jose Giants win a championship in 2010, just like their major league counterpart.

In 2013 he made his MLB debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks, scoring the winning run in an extra-inning victory as the pinch runner. Despite several other such storybook moments throughout his time within the majors, he volleyed back and forth between Triple-A and San Francisco until 2017, when the Giants designated him for assignment.

In January of 2017, the Brewers picked him up off waivers but then also designated him for assignment three days later. On February 6th, the Minnesota Twins picked him up, and he played 70 games at the major league level for them that season, batting .265/.324/.383 with two home runs and eight stolen bases.

He established himself as a regular in their middle infield for several more years, signing three consecutive one-year contracts with the team. In 2021 he again signed a one-year contract, this time with Atlanta, who would go on to win the championship that year, though he was actually removed from the roster during the World Series because his wife went into labor.

In 2022, he signed a one-year minor league contract with the Washington Nationals and was selected to the 40-man roster. But he suffered a quad strain that put him on the injured list to start the season and was only activated in June. In August, he was traded back to Atlanta. That year, he appeared in six games, going 2-for-13 with three walks.

Adrianza returned to Atlanta on a minor league contract in 2023, earning a roster spot over the likes of Vaughn Grissom and Brandon Shewmake. But after appearing in five games, he was placed on the injured list with elbow inflammation, then transferred to the 60-day IL after injuring his shoulder during rehab. Likely to go unclaimed on waivers, Ehire Adrianza will likely become a free agent soon and will be able to sign with a new organization.