Robinson Chirinos


Robinson David Chirinos González is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball. He signed with the Chicago Cubs as a nondrafted free agent out of Venezuela in 2000. He made his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, and has also played for the Houston Astros.

Career

Chirinos signed with the Chicago Cubs as a nondrafted free agent out of Venezuela in 2000.

Chicago Cubs

Following the 2010 season, Chirinos was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster.

Tampa Bay Rays

After the 2010 season, Chirinos was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays with Sam Fuld, Hak-Ju Lee, Brandon Guyer, and Chris Archer for Matt Garza, Fernando Perez, and Zac Rosscup.
Chirinos was promoted to the majors for the first time on July 18, 2011, by the Rays. He doubled in his first major-league at bat against A. J. Burnett of the New York Yankees. Chirinos hit his first MLB home run on August 3 against the Toronto Blue Jays. He also recorded his first RBI earlier in this game.
In 2011 he batted.218/.283/.309. That season Chirinos allowed 21 stolen bases, as he caught 2 runners, for a caught-stealing percentage of 9%.
Chirinos had an opportunity to make the big league club in 2012 out of spring training, but he suffered a concussion which prevented him from playing any baseball during the 2012 season.

Texas Rangers

Chirinos was traded to the Texas Rangers on April 8, 2013. He had a very limited role behind A. J. Pierzynski as the backup, as he only played in 13 games batting.179/.233/.286 in 28 at-bats.
Chirinos got his chance to start for the Rangers in 2014, playing in a career-high 93 games. He had many more career-highs in 2014 as well, with 13 home runs, 40 RBIs, and batting.239/.290/.415. He made six errors, third-most for a catcher in the AL.
Chirinos started for the Rangers again in 2015. He batted.232/.325/.438. He came back for the ALDS against the Toronto Blue Jays and hit 3-for-11 and one home run in 3 games played in a series loss.
In 2016 he batted.224/.314/.483. That season Chirinos allowed 22 stolen bases, as he caught 8 runners, for a caught-stealing percentage of 27%.
In 2017 Chirinos allowed 46 stolen bases, as he caught 15 runners, for a caught-stealing percentage of 25%.
On June 13, 2018, Chirinos was struck by Matt Kemp during a home-plate collision. Chirinos, thinking that the collision was intentional, scolded Kemp for colliding into him, and the two fought, leading to the benches clearing. Both combatants were ejected and the Rangers lost against the Dodgers 3-2 in 11 innings.
In 2018 he batted.222/.338/.419. Chirinos allowed 53 stolen bases, fourth-most for a catcher in the AL, as he caught 6 runners, for a caught-stealing percentage of 10%. The Rangers declined his $4.5 million option for 2019.

Houston Astros

On December 6, 2018, Chirinos signed a one-year contract with the Houston Astros. On September 1, 2019, Chirinos caught Justin Verlander's third career no-hitter. In 2019 he batted.238/.347/.443.

Texas Rangers (second stint)

On January 15, 2020, Chirinos signed a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers.

International career

Chirinos played for the Venezuela national baseball team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, batting.214.
In October 2018 he was selected an MLB All-Star for the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series.