Isaac Paredes Bio
Isaac Edgardo Paredes Calderón (born February 18, 1999) is a Mexican professional baseball third baseman for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Chicago Cubs. A two-time All-Star, Paredes is recognized for his disciplined plate approach and steady power production at the hot corner.
Signed by the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent in 2015, Paredes climbed through the minor leagues before reaching the majors with Detroit in 2020. He later developed into an All-Star with Tampa Bay in 2024 before being traded to the Cubs and then to the Astros.
Early Life and Background
Isaac Edgardo Paredes Calderón was born on February 18, 1999. He grew up in Mexico and developed an early interest in baseball, a sport with deep roots in his home country. As a teenager, he attracted attention from Major League Baseball scouts for his advanced hitting instincts and smooth actions at third base.
In July 2015, at the age of 16, Paredes signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent. That agreement launched his professional career and set the course for years of development in the Cubs minor-league system. His path reflected the growing presence of Mexican prospects moving through American baseball academies.
Path to Professional Baseball
Paredes made his professional debut in 2016 with the Arizona League Cubs, where he posted a .305 batting average with one home run and 26 RBIs in 47 games. He also appeared in three games with the South Bend Cubs that season, providing an early glimpse of his offensive potential.
On July 31, 2017, the Cubs traded Paredes and Jeimer Candelario to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Alex Avila and Justin Wilson. The move gave Paredes a fresh organizational home where he could continue refining his game. He responded by progressing steadily through the Tigers farm system, splitting time between the West Michigan Whitecaps, Lakeland Flying Tigers, and Erie SeaWolves.
In 2019, Paredes was named to the All-Star Futures Game and later played in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox. He finished the season with 13 home runs, 66 RBIs, a .282 average, and 57 walks against 61 strikeouts, showing the on-base skills that would define his big-league profile. Following the season, Detroit added him to its 40-man roster.
Isaac Paredes Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
On August 17, 2020, the Tigers recalled Paredes, and he made his MLB debut that day against the Chicago White Sox, playing third base. In his second major league at-bat, he delivered a bases-loaded, two-RBI single off Gio González for his first hit. Four days later, on August 21 against the Cleveland Indians, Paredes hit a grand slam for his first career home run, becoming the youngest Tiger to hit a grand slam since Al Kaline in 1954.
In 34 games during the shortened 2020 season, Paredes hit .220 with one home run and six RBIs. He did not break camp with Detroit in 2021, but was recalled from Triple-A Toledo on June 8 and played the rest of the year in the majors despite a stint on the injured list with a sore hip.
Tampa Bay Rays Breakthrough (2022–2024)
On April 4, 2022, the Tigers traded Paredes and a competitive balance Round B pick to the Tampa Bay Rays for Austin Meadows. After a brief stint at Triple-A Durham, he debuted with the Rays on May 1 against the Minnesota Twins. On May 18, he notched his first career multi-homer game against the Tigers at Tropicana Field, and on June 21 he homered three times against the New York Yankees in a 5–4 victory. He finished 2022 with 20 home runs and 45 RBIs in 111 games.
In 2023, Paredes became the Rays’ Opening Day starter at third base. On May 7, he delivered a walk-off single in the 10th inning against the Yankees. He played 143 games and hit .250/.352/.488 with 31 home runs and 98 RBIs, cementing his role as a middle-of-the-order run producer.
Paredes opened 2024 with another strong stretch at the plate. In 101 games with Tampa Bay, he slashed .245/.357/.435 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs before his trade. On July 28, 2024, the Rays dealt him to the Chicago Cubs for Christopher Morel, Hunter Bigge, and Ty Johnson. In 52 appearances for Chicago, Paredes slashed .223/.325/.307 with three home runs and 25 RBI, finishing the year as an All-Star for the first time in his career.
Houston Astros Era (2025–Present)
On December 13, 2024, the Cubs traded Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and Cam Smith to the Houston Astros for Kyle Tucker. On January 9, 2025, the Astros signed Paredes to a $6.625 million contract, avoiding arbitration. He connected for his first home run in an Astros uniform on April 11, 2025, off Ian Anderson of the Los Angeles Angels, and on May 13 he hit his first career walk-off home run to lift Houston past the Kansas City Royals 2–1.
On July 9, 2025, it was announced that Paredes would join the All-Star Game as a replacement for José Ramírez, earning his second career selection. In 94 appearances for Houston, he slashed .259/.359/.470 with 19 home runs and 50 RBI. On July 19, he exited a game against the Seattle Mariners with a right hamstring strain and was placed on the injured list the next day; manager Joe Espada later called the strain pretty significant, and Paredes was transferred to the 60-day IL on August 6 before being activated on September 19.
Driving Style and Strengths
Paredes has built his reputation on plate discipline and power to the pull side. He consistently posts high walk rates, draws tough counts, and uses the entire field, which allows him to thrive in lineups that emphasize on-base skills. Defensively, his soft hands and internal clock at third base give managers confidence to pencil him in at the hot corner on a daily basis.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Paredes became the youngest Tiger to hit a grand slam since Al Kaline in 1954 and later blasted three home runs against the Yankees in 2022. He was also a key contributor for Mexico during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, hitting .375/.444/.500 and driving in six runs as Mexico reached the semifinals, its best-ever finish in the tournament.
Isaac Paredes Career Wins
Across his major league tenure with the Tigers, Rays, Cubs, and Astros, Paredes has built a resume highlighted by consistent extra-base production and timely hitting. His combination of on-base skills and pop has made him a fixture in the middle of lineups wherever he has played.
Major League Highlights
Paredes set career highs in 2023 with 31 home runs and 98 RBIs for Tampa Bay, following that with a 2024 All-Star campaign split between the Rays and Cubs. He reached the 20-homer threshold in his first full Rays season in 2022 and added three home runs in his brief stint with the Cubs that same year. His 2025 first-half work with Houston, including a walk-off homer against Kansas City, underscored his continued growth.
International Highlights
In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Paredes helped Mexico post its best-ever finish by reaching the semifinals. He tied Joey Meneses for second on the team with six RBIs and delivered clutch hits in both the quarterfinal win over Puerto Rico and the semifinal loss to Japan.
Isaac Paredes Family
Personal Life
Isaac Paredes was born and raised in Mexico before launching his professional career as a teenager with the Chicago Cubs. Public details about his immediate family and personal relationships have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Paredes opened 2025 as the Astros’ everyday third baseman and quickly produced, slugging his first Houston homer on April 11 and later delivering a walk-off shot against the Royals on May 13. By the All-Star break, he had slashed .259/.359/.470 with 19 home runs and 50 RBI in 94 games, earning his second career All-Star nod as a replacement for José Ramírez. The July hamstring strain briefly halted his momentum, but his activation on September 19 set the stage for a late-season push as Houston chased another playoff berth.