Martín Maldonado

[Michael Trzinski]

Martín Maldonado was a fan favorite at Miller Park from 2011-16. He was mostly a back-up catcher but usually made 50 or so starts per year. He had an above-average arm and would win a Gold Glove in 2017 as the main catcher for the Los Angeles Angels. People would probably be surprised to learn that Maldonado played 64 games at age 37 in 2025 before getting released by the San Diego Padres.

Martín Benjamin Maldonado was drafted in the 27^th round of the 2004 MLB Amateur Draft by the Anaheim Angels. Maldonado played for three years in the Angels organization before getting released in January 2007. He was signed as a minor league free agent by the Brewers shortly after. Maldonado played for five years in the minors for Milwaukee before getting a sip of Starbucks for Milwaukee in September 2011.

Maldonado make the big-league team out of spring training in 2012 and had one of his finest batting years with a slash line of .266/.321/.408 with an OPS+ of 93. Maldonado served as a back-up to Jonathan Lucroy over the next four seasons before being traded to the Angels after the 2016 season. The catcher, also known as ‘Machete,’ bounced around the majors the next few years, playing for the Angels, Astros, Royals, and Cubs before a second stint with the Astros from 2019-23. Maldonado played for the Chicago White Sox in 2024 and then the Padres in 2025 before being released in July.

The right-handed hitter has played 1,230 games and has a career batting line of .203/.277/.343 with 119 home runs. Maldonado was a member of the 2022 World Series champion Astros. He also played for Team Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

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