Vimael Machín
Vimael Machín Soto (born September 25, 1993) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball infielder in the Colorado Rockies organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles, and he has also competed in Puerto Rico’s winter league and in the Mexican League.
Early Life and Background
Vimael Machín Soto was born on September 25, 1993, in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. He grew up in the same community where he would later attend high school, building his baseball foundation close to home. From a young age, Machín showed the kind of versatility and bat-to-ball skill that would eventually carry him through professional baseball.
He attended the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School in Gurabo, a program well known for developing Puerto Rican prospects. Even before completing his secondary education, Machín drew the attention of professional scouts. In the 2011 MLB draft, the San Diego Padres selected him in the 29th round. He chose not to sign, opting instead to continue his baseball development at the collegiate level.
After high school, Machín enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he spent four seasons playing college baseball for the VCU Rams. During the summer of 2014, he sharpened his game in two prestigious wooden-bat leagues, suiting up for the Danbury Westerners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League and the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Those experiences helped him mature into a draft-ready prospect by the end of his college career.
Path to Professional Baseball
Machín’s path to the pros accelerated in 2015, when the Chicago Cubs selected him in the 10th round of the MLB draft. He signed with the organization and began a steady climb through the minor league system. His first professional season was a learning experience, as he split the year between the Eugene Emeralds and the South Bend Cubs, hitting a combined .181 with 10 runs batted in (RBI).
The following seasons showed steady growth. In 2016, Machín advanced through Eugene, South Bend, and the Iowa Cubs, posting a combined .267 average across three levels. His biggest developmental jump came in 2017, when he split the year between South Bend and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, batting .303 with 11 home runs and 72 RBI, a performance that established him as a legitimate middle-infield prospect.
Machín continued to progress through the Cubs’ system in 2018 and 2019, playing for the Tennessee Smokies and the Iowa Cubs. In 2019, he combined to hit .295 with seven home runs and 62 RBI, numbers that caught the attention of other organizations as the Rule 5 draft approached. That offseason, on December 12, 2019, the Philadelphia Phillies selected Machín in the Rule 5 draft and immediately traded him to the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations, setting the stage for his major league debut.
Vimael Machín Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Machín began his professional career in 2015 as a 10th-round selection by the Chicago Cubs. His early years were spent moving between short-season and full-season affiliates, including Eugene, South Bend, Myrtle Beach, Tennessee, and Iowa. The 2017 campaign stands out as a breakout, when he batted .303 with 11 home runs and 72 RBI between South Bend and Myrtle Beach.
After another productive year in 2019, Machín’s contract path changed when the Phillies grabbed him in the Rule 5 draft and dealt him to Oakland. His time in the Cubs’ system prepared him for the speed and demands of upper-level professional baseball.
Oakland Athletics Era (2020–2022)
Machín made his major league debut on July 26, 2020, against the Los Angeles Angels, going hitless in three at-bats. In 24 games during that pandemic-shortened rookie season, he slashed .206/.296/.238 with no home runs or RBI. He spent most of 2021 in the minor leagues with the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, where he batted .295 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI, while appearing in only 15 games for Oakland.
His most productive major league season came in 2022. After being outrighted to Triple-A in April, Machín was selected back to Oakland’s active roster in late June. On July 10, 2022, he hit his first career home run off Houston Astros reliever Phil Maton in a multi-hit performance. In 73 games for the A’s that year, he posted a .220/.300/.287 slash line with one home run and a career-high 13 RBI. Following the December 2022 trade of Sean Murphy, Machín was designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and ultimately elected free agency.
Philadelphia Phillies and Mexican League Stints (2023–2024)
On January 12, 2023, Machín signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization and reported to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In 52 games, he hit .235 with four home runs and 21 RBI before being released on June 13. He quickly found a new opportunity, joining the Mariachis de Guadalajara of the Mexican League on June 19, where he batted .338 with four home runs and 21 RBI in 40 games.
In 2024, Machín signed with the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League, where he enjoyed his most prolific professional offensive season. In 85 games, he slashed .401/.495/.579 with seven home runs, 54 RBI, and 10 stolen bases, a performance that put him back on the radar of major league organizations.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2025)
On November 11, 2024, Machín signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles organization. He opened the 2025 season with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, appearing in 107 games and batting .285 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. On August 22, 2025, the Orioles selected his contract, adding him to the active roster. In four major league appearances for Baltimore, he went 1-for-11 with one home run, one RBI, and one walk. He was designated for assignment on August 27, cleared waivers, was sent outright to Norfolk on August 29, and elected free agency on September 29, 2025.
Colorado Rockies Era (2025–Present)
On December 21, 2025, Machín signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies organization, his fourth major league organization. The move gave him another opportunity to compete for an active roster spot and continue his major league career. As of the most recent reporting, Machín remains active in professional baseball with the Rockies organization.
Notable Events and Milestones
Machín’s first career home run off Phil Maton of the Houston Astros on July 10, 2022, stands as one of his signature major league moments. His dominant 2024 season with the Charros de Jalisco, where he batted .401, marked his most productive offensive campaign at any level. He has also represented Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico’s winter league since 2018.
Vimael Machín Personal Life
Machín grew up in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, and has stayed connected to the island throughout his career. Beyond his professional baseball journey and his representation of Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico’s winter league since 2018, public details about his family and personal life remain limited.
2025 Season Performance
Machín’s 2025 season was split between the Triple-A Norfolk Tides and the Baltimore Orioles. He opened the year in Norfolk and produced one of his strongest minor league campaigns, batting .285/.344/.470 with 15 home runs, 70 RBI, and 13 stolen bases across 107 games. Those numbers earned him a brief call-up to Baltimore’s active roster in late August.
In four major league appearances with the Orioles, Machín went 1-for-11 but connected for his first home run of the season, a milestone moment in his third major league stint. After his designation for assignment in late August, he was outrighted back to Norfolk, where he finished the year before electing free agency in late September.
Shortly after reaching free agency, Machín signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies, giving him a fresh opportunity heading into the next chapter of his career. His track record of contact hitting, on-base skills, and positional versatility continues to make him a useful utility option in professional baseball.