Andruw Monasterio (born May 30, 1997) is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Career

Chicago Cubs
In 2014, at age 17, Monasterio tried out for the Chicago Cubs at the organization's Venezuelan academy. The Cubs were impressed and signed him to a contract on March 7, 2014. He made his professional debut with the Venezuelan Summer League Cubs. In 2015, Monasterio played in 42 games for the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs, hitting .252/.346/.348 with one home run and 16 RBI.

Originally a shortstop, Monasterio began seeing regular time as a second baseman starting in the 2016 season with the Single-A South Bend Cubs. Playing in 65 games between South Bend and the Low-A Eugene Emeralds, he hit .247/.294/.308 with one home run, 23 RBI, and 8 stolen bases. In 2017, Monasterio played in 84 contests split between South Bend and the High-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, posting a .270/.341/.346 batting line with one home run, 28 RBI, and 8 stolen bases.

Monasterio began the 2018 season with Myrtle Beach, playing in 109 games and hitting .263/.359/.336 with career-highs in home runs (3) and RBI (36).

Washington Nationals
On August 21, 2018, Monasterio was traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Daniel Murphy and cash considerations. Monasterio was assigned to the Potomac Nationals of the High-A Carolina League, where he excelled, hitting .308 with 5 RBI and 2 stolen bases in 13 games.

Baseball scout Adam McInturff of 2080 Baseball described Monasterio in 2018 as a "high-floor prospect" with "above-average" defense, but not much power on offense.

Cleveland Indians
On November 30, 2018, Jefry Rodríguez, Daniel Johnson, and a player to be named later were traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Yan Gomes. On December 17, Monasterio was sent to Cleveland as the unnamed player. Monasterio spent the 2019 season with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks. Although he missed brief time with an oblique injury, Monasterio played in 70 games and batted .217/.279/.253 with one home run and 11 RBI.

Monasterio did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He elected free agency following the season on November 2, 2020. On November 9, Monasterio re-signed with the team on a minor league contract. In 2021, Monasterio played in 107 games split between Akron and the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, hitting a cumulative .287/.371/.442 with 8 home runs, 61 RBI, and 7 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2021.

Milwaukee Brewers
On November 10, 2021, Monasterio signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. On August 1, 2022, while playing for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers, Monasterio hit a walk-off grand slam to defeat the Montgomery Biscuits in 11 innings. In 110 games split between Biloxi and the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, he slashed .271/.364/.406 with 9 home runs, 44 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.

Monasterio returned to Nashville to begin the 2023 season, where he played in 42 games and hit .274/.410/.400 with 4 home runs, 19 RBI, and 11 stolen bases.

MLB Debut 
On May 27, 2023, Monasterio was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time after Willy Adames was placed on the concussion list. He made his MLB debut on May 28, and recorded his first career hit two days later on his 26th birthday. On June 4, Monasterio hit his first major league home run, a three–run shot off of Ben Lively of the Cincinnati Reds. Just over a month later on July 16, Monasterio came up with his first career go-ahead RBI with a single off Reds All-Star closer Alexis Diaz in the top of the 8th inning to take a 4-3 lead.

References

External links

1997 births
Living people
Akron RubberDucks players
Arizona League Cubs players
Arizona League Indians players
Baseball players from Caracas
Biloxi Shuckers players
Caribes de Anzoátegui players
Columbus Clippers players
Eugene Emeralds players
Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
Milwaukee Brewers players
Myrtle Beach Pelicans players
Nashville Sounds players
Potomac Nationals players
South Bend Cubs players
Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States
Venezuelan Summer League Cubs players