Reiver Sanmartin Bio
Reiver José Sanmartín is a Colombian professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds. Sanmartín began his career as an international free agent signing with the Texas Rangers in 2015 and has worked his way up through the minor leagues before making his MLB debut in 2021. Throughout his career, he has displayed his abilities as a pitcher, recording notable performance metrics, and has played a pivotal role in various teams’ bullpens.
Early Life and Background
Reiver José Sanmartín was born on April 15, 1996. He is Colombian by nationality and grew up in a country where baseball has historically taken a back seat to soccer, making his journey to the major leagues a notable story within the international scouting landscape of MLB. Sanmartín developed into a promising left-handed pitcher during his teenage years, drawing attention from international scouts evaluating amateur talent across Latin America.
His progression through the amateur ranks in Colombia positioned him as a prospect of interest for MLB clubs looking to expand their presence in the international market. Sanmartín’s family and early baseball environment in Colombia helped shape his work ethic and competitive drive, both of which would later define his professional career. His physical build and pitching mechanics made him a stand-out candidate when he became eligible to sign as an international free agent.
Path to Baseball
Sanmartín signed as an international free agent with the Texas Rangers on July 2, 2015, beginning his professional career at the Rookie level. He spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons with the DSL Rangers of the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, where he posted a 0–1 record with a 5.23 ERA in 2016 before breaking out in 2017 with a 7–1 mark, a 2.35 ERA, and 56 strikeouts over 61 and one-third innings. That performance marked his first real statement as a legitimate pitching prospect within the Rangers’ system.
During the same 2017 season, Sanmartín also split time between the Spokane Indians of the Low-A Northwest League and the Hickory Crawdads of the Single-A South Atlantic League, going a combined 7–2 with a 2.45 ERA and 56 strikeouts over 66 innings. These results showcased his ability to handle multiple levels in a single year. On November 20, 2017, Sanmartín was traded to the New York Yankees in exchange for Ronald Herrera, signaling his rising value within professional baseball circles.
Reiver Sanmartin Career
Early Career (2018)
After joining the Yankees organization, Sanmartín spent the 2018 season splitting time between four affiliates: the Low-A Staten Island Yankees, the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs, the High-A Tampa Tarpons, and the Double-A Trenton Thunder. Between those four levels, he posted a combined 5–7 record with a 2.81 ERA and 58 strikeouts over 67 and one-third innings. The workload demonstrated the Yankees’ willingness to test his durability across multiple levels in a single campaign.
On January 21, 2019, Sanmartín was part of a notable trade, sent alongside Sonny Gray to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Shed Long Jr. and draft pick compensation. He split the 2019 season between the High-A Daytona Tortugas and the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, going a combined 4–12 with a 4.05 ERA and 114 strikeouts over 122 and one-third innings. The strikeout totals hinted at the swing-and-miss potential that would later translate to the major leagues.
Cincinnati Reds Debut and Bullpen Years (2021–2023)
Sanmartín did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned in 2021 and split his minor league season between Chattanooga and the Triple-A Louisville Bats, going a combined 10–2 with a 3.32 ERA and 112 strikeouts over 100 and one-third innings. On September 27, 2021, the Reds selected his contract to the active roster, allowing him to make his MLB debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In two starts during his rookie campaign, Sanmartín logged a pristine 1.54 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 11 and two-thirds innings, immediately establishing himself as a capable arm at the major league level. Sanmartín spent the 2022 season mainly working out of the Reds’ bullpen, making 45 appearances including 4 starts and registering a 4–4 record and 6.32 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched. He began the 2023 season in Cincinnati’s bullpen as a situational reliever but struggled to a 7.07 ERA in 14 games before departing an appearance against the Chicago White Sox on May 7 with left elbow soreness.
Sanmartín was placed on the 60-day injured list on May 14, 2023, with a stress reaction in his left elbow. On July 7, 2023, he underwent season-ending UCL surgery and was non-tendered, becoming a free agent on November 17. On November 19, 2023, Sanmartín re-signed with the Reds on a minor league contract and spent the majority of 2024 with Triple-A Louisville, making 18 appearances and logging a 7.36 ERA with 18 strikeouts across 18 and one-third innings.
Return to the Majors (2025)
Sanmartín began the 2025 season back with Triple-A Louisville, where he compiled a 6–2 record and 2.75 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 42 appearances. On September 2, 2025, the Reds selected Sanmartín’s contract, adding him to their active roster. He made one scoreless appearance for Cincinnati, striking out two over 1 and two-thirds innings pitched.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sanmartín’s MLB debut on September 27, 2021, against the Pittsburgh Pirates stands as one of the defining moments of his professional career. His pristine 1.54 ERA across his first two major league starts immediately announced his arrival. The 2023 season-ending UCL surgery and his subsequent return to the majors in 2025 highlight the resilience that has defined his path.
Reiver Sanmartin Family
Personal Life
Reiver José Sanmartín is a Colombian national who has built his professional baseball career in the United States after signing as an international free agent in 2015. Detailed public information about his family, marital status, and personal residence is not widely documented in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Sanmartín’s 2025 storyline has been one of perseverance and redemption after his 2023 UCL surgery. He spent most of the season at Triple-A Louisville, compiling a 6–2 record and a 2.75 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 42 appearances, demonstrating that his elbow had fully recovered and that his strikeout ability remained intact. His consistency at the Triple-A level earned him another opportunity at the major leagues when the Reds selected his contract on September 2, 2025.
In his brief return to the Cincinnati roster, Sanmartín delivered one scoreless appearance, striking out two batters over 1 and two-thirds innings and reinforcing the reliability that had defined his minor league campaign. His late-season performance positioned him as a candidate for further major league opportunities, and on November 6, 2025, Sanmartín was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants, opening a new chapter in his career. The transition to the Giants organization presents a fresh opportunity for Sanmartín to compete for a bullpen role heading into the next MLB season.