Orlando Calixte


Orlando Calixte is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder and shortstop who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants.

Background

Calixte was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to parents born in Haiti. His father Dieudonne, emigrated to the Dominican Republic in 1977; obtained legal status and had several other children who also pursued baseball.

Career

Kansas City Royals

Calixte was signed by the Kansas City Royals as an international free agent in August 2010. He made his professional debut that season with the Dominican Summer League Royals. He played 2011 with the Kane County Cougars and 2012 with Kane County and Wilmington Blue Rocks. In 2013 and 2014 he played for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Calixte began the 2015 season with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. They promoted him to the major leagues on April 19.
On December 2, 2015, the Royals decided to non-tender Orlando. The following day, they signed him to a minor league contract.

San Francisco Giants

On November 14, 2016, Calixte signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants. The Giants added him to their 40-man roster a few days later. He was called up to make his Giants debut against the Washington Nationals on May 30, 2017. In his first at bat of the 2017 season, he recorded his first career hit, a single to shallow center. In his second at bat, he hit a two-RBI double down the left field line. Calixte was optioned back down to the minors on June 9, 2017. He became a free agent after the 2018 season.

Seattle Mariners

On November 19, 2018, Calixte signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.