David Villar Bio
David Alexander Villar is an American professional baseball third baseman who is currently a free agent. Born on January 27, 1997, in Atlanta, Georgia, he grew up in Pembroke Pines, Florida, and developed into a power-hitting corner infielder known for his patience at the plate.
Villar played college baseball at the University of South Florida and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 2022 and was awarded the Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award the same year. His MLB career has included stints with the Giants and the New York Mets.
Early Life and Background
David Alexander Villar was born on January 27, 1997, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was raised in Pembroke Pines, Florida, by his parents, Lazaro and Mirta, and he has a sister named Natalie. Growing up in South Florida, Villar was introduced to baseball at a young age and quickly developed into a promising young player.
Villar attended American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida, where he played for the school baseball team starting in eighth grade. As a sophomore, he batted .346, and as a junior, he batted .444, earning First Team All-County honors from the Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. During his senior year, he served as team captain, was named a Preseason Under Armour All-American, batted .324, and was again recognized as First Team All-County by both publications.
Path to Professional Baseball
After high school, Villar took his talents to the University of South Florida, where he played college baseball for the South Florida Bulls. In his sophomore year in 2017, he batted .290/.417/.449 with seven home runs, 45 runs batted in, and 41 walks in 214 at-bats while playing third base. That summer, he played for the La Crosse Loggers in the collegiate Northwoods League, batting .312/.399/.546 with 13 home runs and 49 runs batted in over 231 at-bats.
As a junior in 2018, Villar led the American Athletic Conference with 24 doubles and eight sacrifice flies, a conference record. He batted .374/.463/.648 with 12 home runs and 58 runs batted in across 219 at-bats, earning All-American recognition from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and College Sports Madness, as well as First Team All-American Athletic Conference honors. His strong college career led to his selection by the San Francisco Giants in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, with the 316th overall pick, and he signed for a bonus of $125,000.
David Villar Career
Early Career (2018-2021)
Villar began his professional career in the Giants system in 2018, splitting time between the rookie-level Arizona League Giants and the Low-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. He batted a combined .282/.342/.535 in 245 at-bats, with 22 doubles, 13 home runs, and 42 runs batted in at Salem-Keizer, earning 2018 MiLB Organization All-Star recognition.
In 2019, he advanced to the High-A San Jose Giants, where he batted .262/.334/.421 with 68 runs and 144 strikeouts in 423 at-bats across 97 games at third base and 12 at first base. He did not play in 2020 because the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Villar joined the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels and batted .275/.374/.506 with 29 doubles, 20 home runs, and 58 runs batted in, setting a single-season franchise record in home runs and earning another MiLB Organization All-Star selection.
San Francisco Giants Breakthrough (2022-2023)
Villar opened 2022 with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, leading the Pacific Coast League with 21 home runs at the time of his call-up. On July 4, 2022, the Giants selected his contract and promoted him to the majors, and he recorded his first Major League hit that same day, a double on the first pitch of his first at-bat against Madison Bumgarner of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Four days later, he hit his first career home run off San Diego Padres starter Blake Snell, and on September 7, he recorded his first multi-homer game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, including a two-run shot off Clayton Kershaw.
Across 156 at-bats with San Francisco in 2022, Villar batted .231/.332/.455 with nine home runs and 24 runs batted in, while playing multiple positions including third base, first base, second base, and designated hitter. After the season, he was named the 2022 Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player and selected to the postseason PCL All-Star team at third base. In 2023, he played 46 games for the Giants, batting .145/.236/.315 with five home runs and 12 runs batted in, and on April 3, 2023, he hit his first career grand slam off Michael Kopech of the Chicago White Sox.
New York Mets Era (2025)
Villar was designated for assignment by the Giants in March 2025 and elected free agency in May. On May 27, 2025, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets and was assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. In 45 appearances for Syracuse, he batted .196/.322/.346 with six home runs, 18 runs batted in, and one stolen base. Villar was released by the Mets organization on August 11, 2025, returning to free agency.
Driving Style and Strengths
Villar is recognized as a power-hitting corner infielder with a patient approach at the plate, consistently drawing walks and ranking among league leaders in on-base percentage throughout his minor league career. He has shown the versatility to play third base, first base, and second base, giving managers flexibility with their defensive alignments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Villar’s first career home run against Blake Snell, his first multi-homer game against the Dodgers, and his first career grand slam against the Chicago White Sox stand as signature moments in his MLB tenure. His 2021 franchise-record 20 home runs for Richmond and his 2022 Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award further highlight his power-hitting profile.
David Villar Career Wins
Although career win totals for position players are not tracked in the same way as for pitchers, Villar has accumulated notable offensive achievements across the minor and major leagues. He has consistently ranked among league leaders in home runs, runs batted in, walks, and extra-base hits throughout his professional career.
Minor League Highlights
In 2018 at Salem-Keizer, Villar ranked among the Northwest League leaders with 22 doubles, 13 home runs, and 42 runs batted in, earning MiLB Organization All-Star honors. He set a Richmond Flying Squirrels single-season franchise record with 20 home runs in 2021, adding 29 doubles and 58 runs batted in across Double-A, and earned another MiLB Organization All-Star selection. In 2022, he led the Pacific Coast League with 21 home runs at the time of his midseason promotion, finishing the year with 27 home runs and 82 runs batted in for Sacramento.
Major League Highlights
In his debut 2022 season with the Giants, Villar batted .231/.332/.455 with nine home runs and 24 runs batted in across 156 at-bats, highlighted by his first career home run and first multi-homer game. He followed that with five home runs and 12 runs batted in during a 46-game stint with San Francisco in 2023, and added a brief 2024 appearance that included one home run. In 2025, he played nine games for the Giants before joining the Mets organization on a minor league deal.
David Villar Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Villar was raised by his parents, Lazaro and Mirta, and grew up alongside his sister, Natalie, in Pembroke Pines, Florida. His family supported his athletic development from an early age, and he has credited his upbringing in South Florida with shaping his baseball career.
Personal Life
Villar keeps much of his personal life private and has not publicly shared details about a spouse or children. He is known to have strong family ties, with his parents and sister continuing to be a central part of his support system throughout his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Villar’s 2025 season began with the San Francisco Giants organization, where he was designated for assignment in March and elected free agency in May after appearing in nine games. He signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets on May 27, 2025, and was assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, where he worked to rebuild his offensive rhythm.
Across 45 appearances with Syracuse, Villar batted .196/.322/.346 with six home runs, 18 runs batted in, and one stolen base, showing glimpses of his plate discipline and power. The Mets organization released him on August 11, 2025, placing him back in free agency for the remainder of the year.
Heading into the rest of 2025, Villar remains a free agent with a résumé that includes a Pacific Coast League MVP Award and multiple home run milestones in the major leagues. His combination of positional versatility and power-hitting potential is likely to attract interest from clubs looking to add depth at the corner infield positions for the remainder of the season.