David Bañuelos Bio
David Clemente Bañuelos (born October 1, 1996) is an American professional baseball catcher who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles. A right-handed hitting backstop, Bañuelos worked his way through the minor league systems of the Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, and Baltimore before reaching the major leagues in 2024. He is recognized for his defensive work behind the plate and for his leadership of pitching staffs at several minor league levels.
Early Life and Background
David Clemente Bañuelos grew up in Southern California, where he developed his baseball skills in the local youth system. He attended Damien High School in La Verne, California, graduating in 2014. As a senior, he batted .395 with four home runs and 24 runs batted in (RBIs), establishing himself as one of the top catching prospects in the region. Despite his strong performance, Bañuelos went undrafted in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.
Following high school, Bañuelos enrolled at California State University, Long Beach, where he played college baseball for the Long Beach State Dirtbags. He became the Dirtbags’ starting catcher as a sophomore in 2016, showcasing his defensive abilities and offensive potential. During the summer of 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast League, gaining valuable experience against high-level competition. His development at Long Beach State positioned him as a prospect heading into the 2017 MLB draft.
Path to Baseball
Bañuelos’ path to professional baseball was solidified during his junior season at Long Beach State in 2017. That year, he batted .289 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs, earning him national recognition. He was named a First-Team All-American by Baseball America and was selected as one of three finalists for the Johnny Bench Award, which honors the top collegiate catcher in the nation. These accolades highlighted his offensive growth and defensive leadership behind the plate.
The Seattle Mariners selected Bañuelos in the fifth round, with the 153rd overall pick, of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Mariners, receiving a $300,000 signing bonus, and made his professional debut that summer. His transition to professional baseball began with the Low-A Everett AquaSox, where he spent his first professional season, posting a .236 batting average with four home runs and 26 RBI in 36 games. This strong start laid the foundation for his climb through the minor leagues.
David Bañuelos Career
Early Career (2017-2018)
David Clemente Bañuelos began his professional career in 2017 after being drafted by the Seattle Mariners. He was assigned to the Low-A Everett AquaSox, where he quickly adapted to professional pitching. In 36 games with Everett, he hit .236 with four home runs and 26 RBI, demonstrating both contact skills and run-producing ability. His first professional season provided a solid foundation for his development as a catching prospect.
On December 6, 2017, during the 2017-18 offseason, the Mariners traded Bañuelos to the Minnesota Twins for $1 million in international signing bonus money, in an attempt to sign Shohei Ohtani. He spent the 2018 season with the Single-A Cedar Rapids Kernels, batting .220 with two home runs and 22 RBI in 73 games. This period allowed him to refine his defensive skills and adjust to the rigors of a full professional season.
Minnesota Twins Organization (2019-2023)
Bañuelos began 2019 with Cedar Rapids before being promoted to the High-A Fort Myers Miracle in May. Over 63 games that year, he slashed .177/.232/.263 with two home runs and twenty RBI, working to improve his offensive consistency. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing him from playing in any games that year. He returned to action in 2021 with the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge and Triple-A St. Paul Saints, batting a combined .201/.245/.340 with 3 home runs and 18 RBI in 45 games.
Bañuelos spent the 2022 season with Triple-A St. Paul, playing in 55 games and hitting .204/.273/.376 with 8 home runs and 26 RBI. In 2023, he spent the entirety of the season with Double-A Wichita, playing in 48 contests and slashing .270/.369/.526 with career-highs in home runs (10) and RBI (30). Following the 2023 season, Bañuelos elected free agency on November 6, 2023, ending his tenure in the Minnesota Twins organization.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2024-2025)
On December 21, 2023, Bañuelos signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles. On April 16, 2024, he was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his major league debut that night as a pinch hitter, flying out in his only at-bat. The following day, Bañuelos was designated for assignment by Baltimore, clearing waivers and being sent outright to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides on April 19. On April 22, the Orioles selected his contract again, adding him back to the major league roster, though he did not appear for the team before being designated for assignment for a second time on April 26.
On September 1, 2024, the Orioles selected Bañuelos’ contract, adding him to their active roster, though he did not play for Baltimore before being designated for assignment the following day. On October 16, 2024, Bañuelos re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league contract and began the 2025 season with Triple-A Norfolk. On July 10, 2025, the Orioles selected his contract, adding him to their active roster. He played in one game against the Miami Marlins, being hit by an Eury Pérez pitch and striking out against Josh Simpson in his sole plate appearances. On July 14, Bañuelos was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk. He elected free agency on October 6, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
David Clemente Bañuelos reached the major leagues for the first time on April 16, 2024, when he debuted as a pinch hitter for the Baltimore Orioles. His selection to the 40-man roster marked the culmination of seven years in the minor leagues. Being named a First-Team All-American by Baseball America and a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award in 2017 stand as highlights of his amateur career.
David Bañuelos Career Wins
David Clemente Bañuelos has not accumulated major league victories as a pitcher, as his professional role is that of a catcher. His career statistics reflect his offensive contributions and defensive work behind the plate at various minor league levels. He has posted consistent on-base percentages and shown power potential in Double-A and Triple-A competition, with his best offensive season coming in 2023 with the Wichita Wind Surge.
Minor League Highlights
Bañuelos earned First-Team All-American honors from Baseball America in 2017 during his junior season at Long Beach State, where he batted .289 with seven home runs and 29 RBI. He was also a finalist for the Johnny Bench Award that year. In 2023, he set career highs with 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 48 games with Double-A Wichita, slashing .270/.369/.526. His selection to major league rosters in 2024 and 2025 with the Baltimore Orioles represented the pinnacle of his professional progression through the minor leagues.
David Bañuelos Family
Personal Life
David Clemente Bañuelos is a native of Southern California, having attended Damien High School in La Verne, California, before continuing his education and baseball career at California State University, Long Beach. He has maintained a presence on social media platforms, including Twitter and Instagram, where he shares updates about his baseball journey.
2025 Season Performance
David Clemente Bañuelos began the 2025 season with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, the top minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Working as a catcher in the upper levels of the minor leagues, he continued his development behind the plate and contributed to the Tides’ pitching staff. His performance at Norfolk positioned him for another opportunity in the major leagues during the summer months.
On July 10, 2025, Bañuelos had his contract selected by the Orioles, adding him to the active major league roster. He appeared in one game for Baltimore against the Miami Marlins, during which he was hit by a pitch from Eury Pérez and struck out against Josh Simpson in his only plate appearance. On July 14, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright back to Triple-A Norfolk, where he finished the season. Bañuelos elected free agency on October 6, 2025, becoming available to sign with any organization for the upcoming offseason.