What is José Bautista's Net Worth?
José Bautista, a former professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic, has amassed a net worth of $45 million. Known as 'Joey Bats,' Bautista built his wealth over a 15-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, Orioles, Devil Rays, Royals, Pirates, Braves, Mets, and Phillies. Bautista retired after the 2018 season, but he signed a one-day contract with the Blue Jays in August 2023 to retire as a team member. During his MLB career, he earned a total of $105 million in salary.
Early Life
José Antonio Bautista Santos was born on October 19, 1980, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Raised in a middle-class family that valued education, his mother was an accountant and financial planner, while his father managed poultry farms after earning a master's degree in agricultural engineering. Bautista began playing baseball at a young age and attended De La Salle High School.
After displaying his talents to various MLB clubs, he declined offers from the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks, choosing instead to attend Chipola College where he played for two years before being drafted.
MLB Career
Bautista was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 599th overall pick in the 20th round of the 2000 MLB Draft. After a brief stint in the minor leagues and a sequence of team changes, he made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in April 2004. Bautista's journey saw him play for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, and back to the Pittsburgh Pirates before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
As a Blue Jay, Bautista transitioned to the right fielder position in 2010, marking the apex of his career. He became a six-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger Award winner, two-time Hank Aaron Award winner, and two-time MLB home run leader. However, Bautista's performance dipped in his final year with the Blue Jays in 2017, leading to the team's decision not to renew his contract.
Bautista played for the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies during the 2018 season, but did not secure a lasting position and did not return to MLB after taking 2019 off. He also represented the Dominican Republic national baseball team, earning a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
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Contracts & Career Earnings
In 2011, Bautista signed a five-year, $65 million contract with the Blue Jays. After declining a $17.2 million qualifying offer from the team in November 2016, he agreed to a one-year, $18 million deal in January 2017. Throughout his MLB tenure, Bautista earned more than $105 million in salary.
Personal Life
In November 2017, Bautista married Neisha Croyle. The couple has two daughters. Bautista’s father is Spanish, and his younger brother, Luis, played college baseball at Florida International University before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 32nd round of the 2007 MLB Draft.
In 2011, Bautista established a program to help athletes gain opportunities to attend American universities, expanding it from the Dominican Republic to Canada. In May 2020, he was appointed as a special advisor to the general manager for the Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Professional Baseball League.
