Kevin Maitán
Venezuelan baseball player (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kevin Francisco Maitán Hernández (born February 12, 2000) is a Venezuelan professional baseball shortstop for the Caciques de Distrito of the Venezuelan Major League.
| Kevin Maitán | |
|---|---|
| Caciques de Distrito – No. 55 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born: February 12, 2000 Puerto Cabello, Venezuela | |
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
| Stats at Baseball Reference |
Professional career
Atlanta Braves
Maitán was considered the top international prospect for the 2016 class.[1][2] Though a natural shortstop, Maitán has most often been projected as a third baseman in professional baseball.[3][4] He has been called the best international free agent since Miguel Sanó in 2009 and has been compared to Miguel Cabrera and Chipper Jones.[5] He signed with the Atlanta Braves on July 2,[6][7] receiving a $4.25 million signing bonus.[8] Maitán arrived in the United States in September to begin his professional career at the instructional league.[9] He made his debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Braves on July 3, 2017,[10] and after batting .314 with a .751 OPS in nine games, he was promoted to the Rookie Advanced Danville Braves, where he finished 2017, posting a .220 average with two home runs and 15 RBIs.[11]
On October 2, 2017, Braves general manager John Coppolella and international scouting director Gordon Blakely resigned after an MLB investigation into their activities discovered several rules violations regarding international signings.[12] On November 21, MLB ordered that Maitan and several other players were released from their contracts and declared to be free agents.[13]
Los Angeles Angels
Maitán signed with the Los Angeles Angels, receiving a $2.2 million signing bonus.[14] He played for the Orem Owlz of the Advanced Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2018.[15] In 2019, he was promoted to the Single-A Burlington Bees. He played 123 games and finished with a slash line of .214/.278/.323.[16] Maitán did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]
In 2021, Maitán split the year between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Angels and the High-A Tri-City Dust Devils. In 37 games, he batted a cumulative .212/.261/.258 with one home run and 13 RBI.[18] Maitán spent the 2022 season with the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas, playing in 114 games and hitting .261/.338/.399 with 11 home runs and 45 RBI (both one under his career-highs).[19] In 2023, he played in 53 games for Rocket City, struggling to a .192/.300/.256 batting line with 1 home run and 15 RBI. On June 19, 2023, Maitán was released by the Angels organization.[20]
Lake Country DockHounds
On July 21, 2023, Maitán signed with the Lake Country DockHounds of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[21] In 9 games, he went 4–for–33 (.121) with 3 RBI and 3 walks. On August 2, Maitán was released by the team.[22]
Charleston Dirty Birds
On April 24, 2024, Maitán signed with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[23] In 14 games for the Dirty Birds, Maitán hit .333/.410/.611 with three home runs and 14 RBI.
Minnesota Twins
On May 13, 2024, Maitán's contract was purchased by the Minnesota Twins organization.[24] He was subsequently assigned to the High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels,[25] for whom he made 75 appearances and batted .246/.296/.389 with eight home runs, 35 RBI, and two stolen bases.
In 2025, Maitán made 26 appearances split between Cedar Rapids and the Single-A Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, batting a combined .218/.296/.310 with eight RBI. Maitán was released by the Twins organization on May 30, 2025.[26]
Caciques de Distrito
On June 13, 2025, Maitan signed with the Caciques de Distrito of the Venezuelan Major League.[27]