Yuli Gurriel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yuli Gurriel
Gurriel with the Miami Marlins in 2023
Free agent
First baseman
Born: (1984-06-09) June 9, 1984 (age 41) Sancti Spíritus, Cuba
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Professional debut
NPB: June 8, 2014, for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars
MLB: August 21, 2016, for the Houston Astros
NPB statistics (through 2015 season)
Batting average	.305
Hits	73
Home runs	11
Runs batted in	30
MLB statistics (through April 27, 2025)
Batting average	.278
Hits	956
Home runs	98
Runs batted in	471
Teams
Yokohama DeNA BayStars (2014–2015) Houston Astros (2016–2022) Miami Marlins (2023) Kansas City Royals (2024) San Diego Padres (2025)
Career highlights and awards
MLB 2x World Series champion (2017, 2022) Gold Glove Award (2021) AL batting champion (2021) International All-World Baseball Classic Team (2006)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  Cuba World Baseball Classic Silver 2006 San Diego Team Olympic Games Gold 2004 Athens Team Silver 2008 Beijing Team Baseball World Cup Gold 2003 Havana Team Gold 2005 Rotterdam Team Silver 2007 Taipei Team Silver 2009 Nettuno Team Silver 2011 Panama City Team Intercontinental Cup Gold 2002 Havana Team Gold 2006 Taichung Team Gold 2010 Taichung Team Pan American Games Gold 2003 Santo Domingo Team Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team Bronze 2011 Guadalajara Team Central American and Caribbean Games Gold 2006 Cartagena Team Gold 2014 Veracruz Team

Yulieski Gourriel Castillo (born June 9, 1984), known as Yuli Gurriel, is a professional baseball player from Cuba. He plays as a first baseman and is currently a free agent. Yuli has played for teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) like the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins. He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.

Before joining MLB, Gurriel was a key player for Cuba's national team. He even won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games. Many experts thought he was the best player in Cuba in 2006.

In 2016, Gurriel moved from Cuba to play in the major leagues. In 2017, he helped the Houston Astros win the 2017 World Series. This made him one of the few players to win both an Olympic gold medal and a World Series title. He won another World Series with the Astros in 2022.

In 2021, Gurriel won the American League batting title. This means he had the best batting average in the league. At 37 years old, he was one of the oldest players to win this award. He also won a Gold Glove Award for being the best defensive first baseman in the AL that year.

Yuli Gurriel's Baseball Journey

Playing in Cuba

Gurriel had a great career in the Cuban National Series, which is Cuba's top baseball league. In the 2005–06 season, he led the league in runs batted in (RBI), runs scored, and triples. He hit 27 home runs that season, almost breaking the league record. He played for teams like Sancti Spíritus and Industriales.

Time in Japan

Gurriel at Meiji Jingu Stadium in 2014

In May 2014, Gurriel signed a one-year contract with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in Japan. He joined the team halfway through the season. He played well, hitting .305 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs in 62 games.

Moving to Major League Baseball

In February 2016, Gurriel and his younger brother, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., left Cuba after playing in a tournament. They moved to Haiti to become eligible to play in Major League Baseball. In June 2016, MLB announced that Gurriel could be signed by any major league team.

Some people had mistakenly reported that Gurriel had left Cuba earlier, but he always said he returned home. A former agent who followed Cuban baseball said that if Gurriel had come to MLB at a younger age, he might have become a Hall of Famer.

Houston Astros Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues and MLB Debut (2016)

Gurriel with the Astros in 2016

On July 16, 2016, Gurriel signed a five-year contract with the Houston Astros. He played a few games in the Astros' minor league system to get ready. He played for teams at different levels, from Rookie-level to Triple-A. On August 21, he was called up to the major league team. In his first 19 games with the Astros, he batted .344, showing he was ready for the big leagues.

Winning the World Series (2017)

In 2017, Gurriel played in 139 games for the Astros. He batted .299, which is a very good average. He also hit 18 home runs and had 75 RBIs. He was one of the best rookies in the American League (AL) that year. He set new team records for rookies in doubles and extra base hits.

During the 2017 World Series, Gurriel made a mistake after hitting a home run. He made an offensive gesture that was seen as disrespectful to the opposing pitcher. Gurriel quickly apologized and said he understood it was wrong. He was suspended for the first five games of the next season and had to go through special training.

Despite this, Gurriel continued to play well in the World Series. He hit a big home run in Game 5 to help the Astros win a close game. In Game 7, the Astros won the series, making them World Series champions for the first time ever. Gurriel became the fifth player to win both an Olympic gold medal and a World Series.

Strong Seasons (2018–2020)

In 2018, Gurriel and his brother Lourdes Jr. made history. They both hit two home runs on the same day for their different teams. Gurriel was named the AL Player of the Week for his great hitting. He batted .291 for the season and was especially good at hitting with runners in scoring position.

In 2019, Gurriel had an amazing season. He hit home runs in five straight games in July, including a grand slam. He was named the AL Player of the Month for July. He set new career highs with 31 home runs and 104 RBIs. At 35, he was the oldest Astro to have such a powerful season. The Astros reached the 2019 World Series but lost to the Washington Nationals.

The 2020 season was shorter due to the pandemic, and Gurriel had a tougher time hitting. However, the Astros still made it to the AL Championship Series.

Batting Champion and Gold Glove Winner (2021)

After the 2020 season, Gurriel worked hard and improved. In 2021, he had an outstanding year. He won the AL batting title with a .319 average. This made him the first Cuban player since 1971 to win this award. He also won his first career Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense at first base. He was the second Astro to win a Gold Glove at that position.

In the ALCS, Gurriel hit very well, helping the Astros reach the 2021 World Series. However, the Astros lost the World Series to the Atlanta Braves.

Another World Series Title (2022)

The Astros picked up Gurriel's contract option for 2022. He continued to be a key part of the team. On May 17, 2022, Gurriel hit one of five Astros home runs in a single inning, tying a major league record.

In 2022, Gurriel batted .242 with 8 home runs and 53 RBIs. He also stole a career-high 8 bases. In the ALDS, he played a big role in the Astros sweeping the Mariners. During Game 5 of the 2022 World Series, he had to leave with a knee injury. Even so, the Astros went on to win the World Series the next day, giving Gurriel his second championship ring.

After the 2022 season, Gurriel became a free agent.

Miami Marlins (2023)

In March 2023, Gurriel signed with the Miami Marlins. He made the team's Opening Day roster. On April 25, 2023, he hit an exciting inside-the-park home run. In 108 games for the Marlins, he batted .245 with four home runs. He became a free agent again after the season.

Kansas City Royals (2024)

In April 2024, Gurriel signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves. He played well for their Triple-A team. On August 31, 2024, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals. He joined their active roster and made his debut on September 1. In 18 games for the Royals, he batted .241.

San Diego Padres (2025)

On February 17, 2025, Gurriel signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. He made their Opening Day roster. He played 16 games for the Padres before being released on April 29, 2025. He then became a free agent again.

International Baseball Career

Before playing in MLB, Gurriel was a star for the Cuban national team.

• He won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
• He also won gold medals at the Baseball World Cup in 2003 and 2005.
• At the 2006 World Baseball Classic, he played second base for Cuba.
• He played for Cuba again in the 2009 World Baseball Classic as their third baseman.

In December 2023, Gurriel was going to play for a team of Cuban players living outside Cuba in a new tournament. However, the tournament was cancelled.

Batting Style

Yuli Gurriel is a right-handed batter. It's interesting because he often hits better against right-handed pitchers than left-handed ones. He is also known for being good at hitting breaking balls, especially sliders.

Personal Life

Yuli Gurriel is the older brother of Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Their father, Lourdes Gurriel, was also a famous Cuban baseball player. Yuli's family lives in Miami, Florida.

See also

In Spanish: Yulieski Gourriel para niños