Cleveland Indians / Guardians
Lavastida attended Westland Hialeah Senior High School and played college baseball at Hillsborough Community College. [1] He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 15th round,with the 460th overall selection,of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. [2]
Lavastida made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona League Indians,batting .292 over 33 games. He played 2019 with the Low-A Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Single-A Lake County Captains,slashing .335/.410/.481 with two home runs and 38 runs batted in over 59 games. Lavastida did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] He started 2021 with Lake County before being promoted to the Double-A Akron RubberDucks. [4] Lavastida was promoted to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers in September. [5] Over 84 games between the two teams,he slashed .289/.380/.456 with nine home runs,51 runs batted in,and 16 stolen bases. [6]
The newly named Cleveland Guardians selected Lavastida to their 40-man roster on November 19,2021,in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. On April 2,2022,the Guardians announced that he had been named to their Opening Day roster. [7] He appeared in only 6 games for Cleveland in his rookie campaign,going 1-for-12 with three walks. Lavastida spent the majority of the season with Akron and Columbus,hitting .209/.284/.349 with 9 home runs,30 RBI,and 7 stolen bases in 84 games.
Lavastida was optioned to Triple-A Columbus to begin the 2023 season. [8] He was designated for assignment on April 23,2023. [9] After clearing waivers,he was sent outright to Double-A Akron on April 28. [10] In 108 appearances split between Akron and Columbus,Lavastida batted .240/.341/.378 with 12 home runs,70 RBI,and 16 stolen bases. [11]
Lavastida spent the 2024 campaign with Triple-A Columbus,playing in 87 games and hitting .232/.334/.387 with eight home runs,42 RBI,and 27 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 4,2024. [12]
