Yohel Pozo is a Venezuelan catcher from Maracaibo who has been navigating the big leagues since his MLB debut on August 13, 2021, with the Atlanta Braves. His path — multiple teams, backup roles, limited at-bats — is the familiar grind of a Latin American prospect fighting to stick in the majors.
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
Pozo grew up in Maracaibo and came up through Caribbean baseball academies before signing with the Braves organization. Atlanta called him up mid-season in 2021, and his right-right profile as a defensive catcher has always been his calling card. Offense, though, has been the consistent challenge throughout his professional career.
Professional Career
After breaking in with Atlanta, Pozo has bounced around the league in search of a steady role — the kind of journey that’s all too common for backup catchers in MLB. In 2026 he’s appeared in different uniforms, posting a combined .231 AVG with 6 RBI across stops.
The split tells the story: with the Baltimore Orioles he’s hitting .167 with an OPS of .310, while his time with the St. Louis Cardinals went considerably better — .242 AVG and a .515 OPS. Those numbers make it clear where the offensive ceiling sits, but also show he’s capable of more than his Orioles line suggests.
At 29, Pozo is still competing for a defined big-league role at a position loaded with talent. Catchers who can’t hit have to earn every roster spot with their glove and their ability to manage a pitching staff — and that’s exactly the case Pozo keeps making every time he gets a chance.
2026 Stats
- Overall: .231 AVG | 0 HR | 6 RBI | .481 OPS
- Baltimore Orioles: .167 AVG | 0 HR | 1 RBI | .310 OPS
- St. Louis Cardinals: .242 AVG | 0 HR | 5 RBI | .515 OPS
Awards & Records
Pozo hasn’t picked up any individual MLB awards. Working primarily as a backup limits the counting stats needed to enter Gold Glove or All-Star conversations, so for now his value lives in the details — framing, game-calling, keeping pitchers comfortable.
Worth Knowing
Three different uniforms in a single season says everything about how tight the competition is for backup catcher spots in the majors. Pozo’s ability to keep getting calls is itself a testament to what he brings behind the plate — because the bat alone wouldn’t keep him in the conversation.
