Connor Joe Bio
Connor Kok-Wy Joe is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, and Cincinnati Reds. Joe was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft and has spent the past decade working through the minor leagues and the majors to establish himself as a versatile utility player.
Born in 1992, Joe has built a career marked by perseverance, including a public battle with cancer in 2020 and a return to the field that led to his most productive major league seasons. His journey from a San Diego-area high school standout to a first-round draft pick and major league regular reflects years of steady development in the minor leagues.
Early Life and Background
Connor Joe was born on August 16, 1992, in Poway, California, a suburb of San Diego. He is the son of Peter Joe and Mee-Sun Joe, and he is of Chinese heritage. His grandparents immigrated from China, with his father’s family settling in Connecticut and his mother’s family moving to New York. After his parents married, they relocated to Poway, where his family owned and operated two restaurants in San Diego.
Joe grew up in Poway and attended Poway High School, where he developed as a baseball prospect. He then continued his playing career at the University of San Diego, where he played college baseball for the San Diego Toreros. During his amateur summers, he gained valuable experience across several prestigious collegiate leagues, including stints with the Kelowna Falcons of the West Coast League, the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods League, and the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was named a league all-star in 2013.
Path to Baseball
Following his strong summer performances, particularly his Cape Cod League all-star recognition in 2013, Joe entered the 2014 MLB draft as a polished college hitter. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the first round, 39th overall, marking him as a top prospect. He began his professional career in 2015, starting in the low minors with the West Virginia Power.
Over the next several years, Joe worked his way up the Pirates’ system, playing for the Bradenton Marauders, the Altoona Curve, and spending time in the Arizona Fall League. His path included trades to the Atlanta Braves in 2017 and the Los Angeles Dodgers later that same year, as well as a brief Rule 5 draft selection by the Cincinnati Reds in 2018, which led to a quick stop with the San Francisco Giants in 2019.
Connor Joe Career
Early Career (2015-2017)
Connor Joe made his professional debut in 2015 with the West Virginia Power, batting .245/.366/.303 during his first full season. He moved up to High-A in 2016 with the Bradenton Marauders, where he slashed .277/.351/.392 in 107 games while transitioning to third base. After the 2016 season, he played in the Arizona Fall League with the Surprise team, batting .204/.371/.347, and was assigned to the Double-A Altoona Curve to begin the 2017 season.
Midway through 2017, Joe was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Sean Rodriguez and batted .135/.233/.154 in 20 games with the Double-A Mississippi Braves. On September 25, 2017, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for international bonus pool money, opening a new chapter in his development as he split 2018 between the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, where he set career highs with 17 home runs and 55 RBI.
Los Angeles Dodgers and Cancer Recovery (2018-2020)
On December 13, 2018, Joe was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the Rule 5 draft, and on March 21, 2019, the Reds traded him to the San Francisco Giants. He was designated for assignment on April 8, 2019, after recording just one hit in 16 plate appearances. He cleared waivers and was returned to the Dodgers on April 13, 2019, spending the rest of the year in Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he batted .300/.427/.503 with 15 home runs and 68 RBI.
On March 18, 2020, Joe announced he had undergone surgery for testicular cancer and was in his recovery process. He was declared cancer free on July 20, 2020, and opted out of the 2020 season, which was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.
Colorado Rockies Era (2021-2022)
On November 20, 2020, Joe signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies organization. He was selected to the active roster on May 7, 2021, and served primarily as a first baseman and left fielder. He finished the 2021 season hitting .285 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in 63 games, establishing himself as a regular contributor at the major league level.
In 2022, Joe batted .238/.338/.359 with seven home runs and 28 RBI in 404 at-bats for the Rockies, showing solid plate discipline. On December 18, 2022, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Nick Garcia, beginning his second stint with the organization that originally drafted him.
Pittsburgh Pirates Second Stint (2023-2024)
In his return to Pittsburgh, Joe played 133 games in 2023 and batted .247/.339/.421 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI, providing steady production and veteran presence in the lineup. He made 123 appearances in 2024, slashing .228/.320/.368 with nine home runs and 36 RBI. On November 22, 2024, the Pirates non-tendered Joe, making him a free agent once again.
San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds (2025)
On February 8, 2025, Joe signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the San Diego Padres. He was optioned to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas to begin the season, and in seven games for San Diego, he went 0-for-9 with one walk. On May 9, 2025, Joe was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Andrew Moore and cash considerations. In 35 appearances for Cincinnati, he batted .213/.286/.279 with four RBI and two stolen bases. On August 31, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Louisville Bats, and he elected free agency on September 29.
Driving Style and Strengths
Connor Joe has been valued throughout his career for his plate discipline and on-base ability, routinely posting solid on-base percentages across both the minor and major leagues. His versatility has allowed him to play first base, both corner outfield spots, and third base, making him a useful utility player for contenders. He has consistently shown the ability to draw walks and make hard contact, which has helped him stick in the majors despite frequent changes of scenery.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Joe’s career came in 2020 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery in March. His public announcement and subsequent recovery, followed by his declaration as cancer free in July, became an inspirational story in baseball. His selection in the first round of the 2014 draft and his career-best 2018 season with the Dodgers organization, where he set personal highs in home runs and RBI, also stand out as signature milestones.
Connor Joe Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joe is of Chinese heritage, and his grandparents immigrated from China, with his father’s family settling in Connecticut and his mother’s family moving to New York before his parents eventually married and moved to Poway, California. His parents, Peter Joe and Mee-Sun Joe, raised him in Poway, where the family owned and operated two restaurants in San Diego.
Personal Life
Joe married his wife, Kylie, in November 2018. The couple had met at the University of San Diego, where Connor played baseball and Kylie played softball. They reside in Arizona, and their daughter was born in December 2022.
2025 Season Performance
Connor Joe’s 2025 season was marked by movement between organizations and a return to a reserve role. After signing a one-year, $1 million contract with the San Diego Padres in February, he began the year in Triple-A with the El Paso Chihuahuas and struggled in a brief major league stint, going hitless in nine at-bats over seven games. On May 9, 2025, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, where he found slightly more playing time and produced a .213/.286/.279 line with four RBI and two stolen bases in 35 appearances.
Joe’s role diminished as the season progressed, and on August 31, he was removed from the Reds’ 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Louisville Bats. He elected free agency on September 29, 2025, once again hitting the open market. His 2025 campaign highlighted the challenges of finding consistent playing time as a versatile journeyman, while also underscoring his resilience in continuing to contribute at the major league level.