Yohel Pozo is a Venezuelan catcher who has been making his way through the big leagues since his debut in August 2021. Born in Maracaibo on June 14, 1997, the right-handed backstop has moved through several organizations looking to lock down a steady role behind the plate — bringing defensive value and pitching-staff management skills while posting modest offensive numbers, including a .238 AVG in 2026.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Yohel Pozo
- Position: Catcher
- Team: Baltimore Orioles
- Number: 79
- Bats / Throws: Right / Right
- Height / Weight: 5’11» / 200 lb
- Born: June 14, 1997 (age 29)
- Hometown: Maracaibo, Venezuela 🇻🇪
- MLB Debut: August 13, 2021
Background
Pozo came up through Venezuelan baseball academies before working his way into the US minor league system. His path to the majors followed a familiar Caribbean blueprint: patience, defensive consistency, and waiting for an organization to take a chance on him. On August 13, 2021, that moment arrived — his official MLB debut. Since then, he’s been moving between organizations, chasing the kind of regular playing time that would let him fully establish himself at the most demanding position on the field.
Professional Career
Pozo’s big-league career has been defined by roster movement and the search for continuity. He has suited up for the Baltimore Orioles and the St. Louis Cardinals, consistently posting batting averages in the .220–.240 range. In 2026, his overall OPS sat at .566, reflecting the offensive struggles that have kept him from earning a full-time job.
His best stretch of 2026 came with Baltimore, where he put up a .756 OPS — his strongest mark of the season — though the sample was limited: 1 home run and 2 RBI in his time with the Orioles. His real currency has always been defense and game-calling, skills that don’t always show up in the box score but matter plenty to a pitching staff.
With St. Louis, Pozo hit .242 with 5 RBI, reinforcing his profile as a defense-first catcher who is still working to produce enough at the plate to earn more regular at-bats.
2026 Stats at a Glance
- Overall: .238 AVG | 1 HR | 7 RBI | 1 R | .566 OPS | 0 SB
- Baltimore Orioles: .222 AVG | 1 HR | 2 RBI | 1 R | .756 OPS
- St. Louis Cardinals: .242 AVG | 0 HR | 5 RBI | 0 R | .515 OPS
Awards and Records
Pozo has not yet earned individual hardware — no Silver Slugger, no Gold Glove, no MVP votes. His career has been about proving himself as a reliable option behind the plate, where his defensive work and ability to manage a pitching staff are his biggest contributions.
Worth Knowing
As a Venezuelan catcher, Pozo is part of a long and proud tradition of Caribbean backstops who have made their mark in the big leagues. His journey from Maracaibo to the majors speaks to just how deep the love of baseball runs in Venezuela — a country that has produced some of the best catchers in the history of the game. Pozo is still writing his chapter in that story.
