Yohel Pozo is a Venezuelan catcher born in Maracaibo on June 14, 1997, who reached the big leagues on August 13, 2021. His career has taken him through several organizations, building experience at the most demanding position on the diamond as he looks to lock down a steady MLB roster spot.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Yohel Pozo
- Position: Catcher
- Team: Baltimore Orioles
- Number: 79
- Bats / Throws: Right / Right
- Height / Weight: 5’11» / 201 lb
- Born: June 14, 1997 (age 29) — Maracaibo, Venezuela 🇻🇪
- MLB Debut: August 13, 2021
Background
A Maracaibo native, Pozo worked his way through the minor league system before getting his MLB call-up in August 2021. As a right-handed bat and thrower, he arrived with the defensive profile scouts look for in a catcher: pitch framing, blocking, and game management. His early career had him moving through multiple organizations, picking up experience at every stop and adapting to the pace of professional baseball in North America.
Professional Career
In 2026, Pozo split time between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Baltimore Orioles, where he saw his most active stretch of recent action. With Baltimore, he hit .222 with 1 home run, 2 RBI, and an OPS of .756. Across both clubs combined, Pozo posted a .238 average with 1 homer and 7 RBI, finishing with a .566 OPS on the season.
Those numbers tell the story of a catcher fighting for playing time in a position where defense and pitching management carry just as much weight as the offensive line. Pozo knows that — and so do the teams that keep giving him chances.
2026 Stats
- 2026 Combined: .238 AVG | 1 HR | 7 RBI | 1 R | .566 OPS | 0 SB
- Baltimore Orioles: .222 AVG | 1 HR | 2 RBI | 1 R | .756 OPS | 0 SB
- St. Louis Cardinals: .242 AVG | 0 HR | 5 RBI | 0 R | .515 OPS | 0 SB
Awards and Records
Pozo has not yet earned individual MLB awards — no Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, or All-Star nod so far. His focus remains on proving himself as a dependable option behind the plate, and there’s still plenty of career ahead of him to change that.
Fun Fact
Venezuela has one of the richest catching traditions in baseball history, and Pozo is part of that lineage. His journey from Maracaibo to the majors mirrors the path of countless Latin American talents who grind through the minors chasing a big-league dream — and then fight just as hard to stay there.
