Donovan Solano

[William Malone]

Donovan Solano Preciado was born on December 17, 1987 in Colombia. 

The St. Louis Cardinals signed him as an international free agent in 2005. After a lengthy minor league career, Solano finally broke into the Majors with the Miami Marlins in 2012. He spent four seasons in Miami as a backup utility infielder, batting .257 across 361 games.

Solano played nine games for the New York Yankees in 2016, spending most of that season in Triple-A. He remained on the Yankees Triple-A roster for the entire 2017 season, and spent 2018 in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system.

The San Francisco Giants signed Solano to a minor league deal in 2019. He was called up in May, and eventually became their starting second baseman. Solano hit .308 during his three years with the Giants, winning a Silver Slugger in the COVID shortened 2020 season. He hit .284 in 80 games with the Cincinnati Reds in 2022, missing significant time with a hamstring injury.

Solano signed a one year deal with the Minnesota Twins right before spring training in 2023, giving them a contact bat to help replace the recently traded Luis Arraez. He delivered an RBI pinch hit single in their Opening Day win over the Kansas City Royals, which was the first of many clutch hits he would have during the year. Solano was 27-for-81 (.333) with RISP in 2022, and hit .291 in the seventh inning or later. His biggest hit of the seasons was arguably a bases loaded triple against the Cleveland Guardinas on September 5th, helping extend the Twins division lead to five games. He hit .282 with five home runs and 38 RBI for Minnesota during the regular season, going 1-for-10 with three walks during the playoffs.

Nobody signed Solano during the off-season, and he eventually agreed to a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres in mid-April of 2024. They called him up in early-May. Solano hit .286 with a career high eight home runs for the Padres, going 1-for-14 for them during the postseason. He split 2024 with the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers. As of Opening Day in 2026, Solano is a free agent.

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[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

He was a solid player for the twins in 2023. He made nearly $17 million during his career.  Not bad at all.