José Azocar Bio
José Enrique Azócar is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, the New York Mets, and the Atlanta Braves, building a career defined by versatility, contact hitting, and speed on the base paths. Azócar first reached the majors in 2022 and has appeared in both regular-season and postseason games, while also earning recognition in the minor leagues as the 2019 Eastern League Rookie of the Year.
Early Life and Background
José Enrique Azócar was born on May 11, 1996, in Venezuela. Growing up in a country with a deep baseball tradition, he developed an early passion for the sport and trained in the same system that has produced many of Venezuela’s major league players. His athletic foundation in Venezuela eventually opened the door to a professional contract, as Azócar signed with the Detroit Tigers as an international free agent on October 21, 2012, at the age of sixteen.
Path to Baseball
Azócar made his professional debut in 2013 with the Venezuelan Summer League Tigers, beginning a long climb through the Tigers’ minor league system. In 2015, he joined the Low-A Connecticut Tigers before being reassigned to the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Tigers, where he was named a 2015 Postseason All-Star after hitting .325 with 29 runs batted in, 10 doubles, and five triples. The following year, Azócar moved up to the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps for all of 2016, and in 2017 he advanced to the High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers, where he hit his first professional home runs. The 2018 season saw him split time between West Michigan and Lakeland, and he opened 2019 with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves.
José Azocar Career
Early Career (2013–2020)
Across his first several professional seasons in the Detroit Tigers organization, Azócar steadily developed as a contact hitter with above-average speed. In 2019, his performance with the Erie SeaWolves drew league-wide attention, including a batting average peak of .336 on May 11 and a spot in the Eastern League All-Star Game on June 24. At the All-Star break he led the league in hits with 136, ranked among the leaders in batting average, and had 10 home runs with 56 runs batted in. Although he grounded into 22 double plays that year, he became the first Erie SeaWolves player to earn Eastern League Rookie of the Year honors. After becoming a minor league free agent, he re-signed with the Tigers on November 7, 2019, did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and became a free agent again on November 2, 2020.
San Diego Padres (2022–2024)
On November 18, 2020, Azócar signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres and spent 2021 between the Double-A San Antonio Missions and Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, combining to slash .281/.341/.438 with 9 home runs, 70 runs batted in, and 32 stolen bases across 128 games. The Padres selected his contract on April 7, 2022, and he made his MLB debut that night as a pinch runner and left fielder, collecting his first major league hit two days later. He appeared in two NLDS games and one NLCS game during the 2022 postseason, serving as a pinch runner and replacement left fielder and stealing a base in Game 2 of the NLDS. On September 15, 2023, Azócar hit his first major league home run, a three-run shot in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics. In 2024 he played 61 games for the Padres, slashing .219/.269/.247 with 2 runs batted in and 5 stolen bases, before being designated for assignment on September 2, 2024.
New York Mets (2024–2025)
On September 5, 2024, Azócar was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets and assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, where he batted .353 with 2 home runs and 6 stolen bases in 13 games. He was designated for assignment on March 27, 2025, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Syracuse on March 29. On April 17, 2025, the Mets selected his contract to the active roster after center fielder Jose Siri went on the 10-day injured list with a fractured tibia. In 12 appearances for New York he went 5-for-18 with a .278 average, 1 run batted in, and 1 stolen base. Azócar was designated for assignment again on May 24, cleared waivers, and elected free agency on May 28, 2025. He later returned to the organization, signing a minor league contract on June 27, 2025, and across 71 total appearances for Syracuse he slashed .241/.314/.352 with 4 home runs, 28 runs batted in, and 17 stolen bases, electing free agency on November 6, 2025.
Atlanta Braves (2025)
On May 29, 2025, Azócar signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, and the following day the Braves selected his contract and added him to the active roster. He appeared in two games for Atlanta, flying out in his only at-bat. Azócar was designated for assignment by the Braves on June 16, 2025, and elected free agency after clearing waivers on June 18, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Azócar has built his professional reputation on plate discipline, contact ability, and speed on the base paths, profiles that have allowed him to serve as a useful pinch runner and defensive replacement in the majors. His minor league track record shows a steady stream of stolen bases, including 32 in 2018 and 32 in 2021, and he has shown the ability to handle the outfield at all three spots.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Azócar’s career include his 2019 Eastern League Rookie of the Year award as a member of the Erie SeaWolves, his MLB debut on April 7, 2022, his first major league home run on September 15, 2023, and his appearances in the 2022 NLDS and NLCS as a member of the San Diego Padres.
José Azocar Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Azócar has recorded a series of notable achievements at the minor league level, where his statistical production has been strongest. His biggest individual honor came in 2019, when he was named Eastern League Rookie of the Year, and he earned additional recognition as a 2015 Gulf Coast League Postseason All-Star.
Minor League Highlights
Azócar’s 2019 campaign with the Erie SeaWolves remains his signature minor league season, highlighted by a league-leading 136 hits at the All-Star break and 10 home runs. His 2021 combined work between San Antonio and El Paso produced a .281 average, 9 home runs, 70 runs batted in, and 32 stolen bases, and he added a steady season with Syracuse in 2024, batting .353 in 13 games.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Earlier in his development, Azócar earned 2015 Gulf Coast League Postseason All-Star honors after hitting .325 with 29 runs batted in, and he was selected to the 2019 Eastern League All-Star Game. These milestones have defined his rise from a teenage signee in Venezuela to a free agent with major league experience.
José Azocar Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about José Enrique Azócar’s parents and immediate family has not been confirmed in available sources.
Personal Life
Azócar is a Venezuelan national who has spent much of his baseball career within the United States minor league system, traveling between affiliates in Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, and New York. Further details about his personal life are not publicly available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a busy year for Azócar as he moved across multiple organizations while remaining a free agent between stints. He began the year in the New York Mets system, reached the majors in April after Jose Siri’s injury, and produced a 5-for-18 line in 12 games before being designated for assignment in late May. He then signed with the Atlanta Braves, appeared in two big league games, and was again designated for assignment in mid-June.
Later in 2025, Azócar returned to the Mets organization on a minor league contract and spent the bulk of his season with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, where he slashed .241/.314/.352 with 4 home runs, 28 runs batted in, and 17 stolen bases across 71 total appearances. He elected free agency on November 6, 2025, ending the year as an experienced depth outfielder whose speed and contact profile continue to draw interest from clubs looking for bench help. Heading into the next signing window, Azócar is positioned to compete for a major league roster spot or a high-level minor league deal as a versatile outfielder.