Joshua Palacios #77

Joshua John Palacios...His brother, Richie, plays in the Tampa Bay Rays organization...Is the nephew of former big leaguer Rey Palacios, who played parts of three seasons (1988-90) for Kansas City...Attended San Jacinto College (Texas) College before transferring to Auburn (AL) University... Hit .385 with a 1.071 OPS in 34 games for Auburn in 2016 before suffering a wrist injury... Growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., was a fan of the New York Yankees...His favorite player was Derek Jeter... His hobbies include TV/movies, being a "foodie," and fashion...He enjoys both Spanish and Italian food, his favorite movie is Batman and his favorite show is Peaky Blinders.

2023

Shared the Major League lead in pinch-hit home runs (two), ranked second in RBI (eight) and tied for third among all players in pinch hits (eight)…Began the season with Double-A Altoona before being promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on 4/21…Hit .556 (10-for-18) with three doubles, four home runs, 13 RBI and a 2.056 OPS in five games from 4/25-29 and was named the International League’s Player of the Week for the week of 4/24-30…Was selected to the Major League roster on 5/9…Made his first start with the Pirates in right field on 5/9 vs. Colorado…Went hitless in his first nine at-bats with the Pirates before going 3-for-4 with three RBI on 5/19 vs. Arizona…Connected off Giovanny Gallegos for his first big league home run on 6/2 vs. St. Louis…Went 4-for-22 (.182) with four RBI in 10 games during the month of July before being optioned to Triple-A on 7/17…Was recalled on 7/28 after Carlos Santana was traded to Milwaukee…Started in center field on 7/30 vs. Philadelphia on his 28th birthday and went 3-for-5 with a walk-off home run in the 10th inning…Became the first Pirate to hit a walk-off home run on his birthday, joining Alex Rodriguez as the only players in MLB history to have three hits and hit a walk-off home run on their birthday…Homered and had a career-high five RBI on 8/21 vs. St. Louis (with Richie Palacios of the Cardinals entering the game in the ninth inning on 8/21 and Joshua homering in the fourth inning, it marked just the third time in the modern era that the Pirates had a player hit a home run in a game that his brother also played for the opposing team)…Bounced a home run into the Allegheny River on 8/24 against Justin Steele of the Cubs…Hit a game-winning home run as a pinch hitter in the top of the ninth inning at St. Louis on 9/2 (also connected with a three-run homer as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning on 9/21 at Wrigley Field)…Hit .320 (24-for-75) with four home runs and 14 RBI in his final 28 games dating back to 8/27… Produced a .310 average (27-for-87) four home runs and 17 RBI while batting in the seventh inning or later.

2021

Recalled from the alternate site and made his MLB debut on April 9 vs. LAA, starting the game in right field before moving to left field in the 3rd inning…Finished the night 0-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch and two strikeouts... Notched his 1st MLB hit on April 10 vs. LAA, picking up a bunt single in the 2nd inning before finishing the night 4-for-4 with four runs and a walk...Became the 2nd player in AL history with 4+ hits and 4+ runs in one of his first two career games (also: Milwaukee’s Wid Conroy - April 25, 1901)...Also became the 2nd player in Blue Jays history to have a four-hit game within his first two MLB contests, joining J.P. Arencibia (4H on Aug. 7, 2010 vs. TB), and is the only Blue Jay to reach base five times in a single contest within his first two games... Hit .241 with two doubles and two RBI in 16 total games for Triple-A Buffalo...Was on the Minor League injured list with a hand injury from May 10-Aug. 12... Recalled from the Bisons on Aug. 23 for his 2nd stint with Toronto...Went 0-for-7 in three games before being optioned on Aug. 30.

2020

Played in 13 games during Spring Training, going 2-for-21 with two runs scored, a double and three RBI...Joined the 60-player pool for Summer Camp at Rogers Centre in July and spent the season at the club’s alternate training site...Added to Toronto’s 40-man roster at the end of the year to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.

2019

Spent the entire season with Double-A New Hampshire...Landed on the injured list from April 29-May 28...Homered in back-to-back games on Aug. 9 and 10...Finished the season strong, with three doubles, three home runs and six RBI while going 9-for-29 (.310) over his last eight games...Slashed .280/.376/.469 with five of his seven homers after the All-Star break.