Daniel Palka of the Boston Red Sox runs to first base after hitting a single in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a Grapefruit League Spring Training game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 21, 2023 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Daniel Palka signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol for 2024, the organization announced on their X account on January 9.
Palka, 32, was born in Greenville, S.C., and has played two seasons in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox.
Last season, Palka played for Triple-A Worcester in the Boston Red Sox organization and in Triple-A Syracuse in the New York Mets organization.
The left-hand hitter started the 2023 season with Triple-A Worcester, playing in 79 games with 314 plate appearances and batted .233 with 66 hits, 12 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 48 RBI, 30 walks, 72 strikeouts, and a .719 OPS before being released on July 30, 2023.
Palka signed a minor league contract with the Mets on Aug. 26, 2023 and was assigned to Triple-A Syracuse on August 27.
With Triple-A Syracuse, Palka played in 23 games with 98 plate appearances, batting .250 with 22 hits, three doubles, five home runs, 12 RBI, eight walks, and 24 strikeouts before he elected free agency on November 6, 2023.
Palka played with Aguilas Cibaenas in the 2023-24 LIDOM season, appearing in 19 games and batting .206 with smacking 14 hits, two doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI, three walks, and 17 strikeouts.
In two MLB seasons with the White Sox, Palka has played in 154 games with 542 plate appearances, batting .218 with 109 hits, 15 doubles, three triples, 29 home runs, 71 RBI, 38 walks, 188 strikeouts, and a .710 OPS.
Palka has played five seasons outside the U.S., appearing with the Leones del Escogido in LIDOM during the 2016-17 season, the Navegantes del Magallanes in Liga Venezolana de Beisbol Profesional in 2017-18, the Samsung Lions in the Korean Baseball Organization in 2020, the Cangrejeros de Santurce during the 2021-22 season in Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente in Puerto Rico, and in 2023-24 with Aguilas Cibaenas.
In five international seasons, Palka has a lifetime average of .209 in 542 plate appearances, playing in 118 games with 109 hits, 15 doubles, three triples, 29 home runs, 71 RBI, 38 walks, 188 strikeouts, and a .710 OPS.
The 2024 Liga Mexicana de Beisbol regular season will open up its first game with the Diablos Rojos del México against the Pericos de Puebla at Estadio de Béisbol Hermanos Serdán on April 11.
The Guerreros de Oaxaca will play their first game of the 2024 LMB regular season on April 12 at home against the Águila de Veracruz at Estadio Eduardo Vasconcelos.