Gio Urshela signs with Caimanes de Barranquilla  in Colombian Winter League

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Julian Guilarte

The news was announced on Caimanes de Barranquilla’s social media pages. Urshela made his season debut with Caimanes de Barranquilla on December 12 and has played three games so far. He’s gotten one hit in seven at-bats without any home runs or RBI for Caimanes de Barranquilla.  

¡Bienvenido a tu nueva casa Urshela! La organización Caimanes de Barranquilla, en encabezada por su presidente Roberto Char informa que el grandesligas colombiano Giovanni Urshela hará parte de nuestro roster para la presente temporada 2023-2024 pic.twitter.com/A9n6pk74hd

— Caimanes de Barranquilla (@caimanesLPB) December 11, 2023

Colombian infielder Gio Urshela signed with Caimanes de Barranquilla on December 11 in The Liga Profesional de Béisbol Colombia. Urshela, 32, will now finish out the winter season in Colombia with Caimanes de Barranquilla.  

Caimanes de Barranquilla was founded in 1984 and has won 12 championships. Their stadium Estadio Edgar Renteria is named after former MLB shortstop and Colombian legend Edgar Rentaria was born in Barranquilla and made it to MLB out of Colombia as an international free agent with the Florida Marlins in 1992.  

Renteria was a 16-year MLB veteran and he won a World Series with the Florida Marlins in 1997 and in 2010 with the San Francisco Giants. In 2010 he was named World Series MVP. He had two home runs, six RBI, and 1.209 OPS in the 2010 World Series. Renteria is a five-time All Star and also won three Silver Sluggers and two gold gloves. 

Caimanes de Barranquilla was an invitee to the 2022 Caribbean Series at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal and won the championship title beating the 2021-2022 LIDOM champions Gigantes de Cibao 4-1 in the championship game for Colombia’s first Caribbean Series championship in the history of their nation.  

The 2022 Caribbean Series was Caimanes’s second appearance in the tournament after appearing in the 2021 event in Mazatlan, Mexico.  

Urshela is an eight-year MLB veteran and is currently a free agent. He also played for Colombia twice in the WBC in 2017 and 2023. Urshela had one RBI in four games in 2023 in Pool C of the WBC at Chase Field in Phoenix. Colombia went 1-3 in the 2023 WBC.  

Urshela played three games in the LPB last season with Tigres de Cartagena. He had two hits in 13 at-bats and one RBI with Tigres de Cartagena last winter. In 2022, was his first action in the LPB and he previously played in Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana and Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional. 

His career numbers playing in the winter leagues are seven home runs, 66 RBI, and an OPS of .805 in 386 at-bats across four seasons.  

Urshela signed as an international free agent out of Colombia with the Cleveland Indians in 2008. Urshela spent six years in the Indians system before being added to their 40 man roster in 2014. Urshela was promoted to their Triple-A affiliate the Columbus Clippers that same season. Ursehla made his MLB debut with the Indians in 2015. He had six home runs, and 21 RBI in 267 MLB at-bats in 2015. In 2016 he spent his whole season with the Columbus Clippers.  

In 2017, he got called back up by the Indians and played 67 games for them. Urshela hit one home run and drove in 15 runs in 156 MLB at-bats in 2017. Urshela started 140 out of his 152 games with the Indians at third base. He also played shortstop, first base, and second base. Urshella began the 2018 on the IL, due to a right hamstring strain. Urshela was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations or a player to be named later on May 9, 2018.  

Ursehla played 19 games with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018. He was designated for assignment on June 26, 2018. He cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Blue Jays Triple-A affiliate the Buffalo Bisons. He was traded to the New York Yankees on August 4, 2018, for cash considerations. He finished the 2018 season with the Yankees Triple-A affiliate the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RaiRiders. 

Urshela was added to the New York Yankees active roster on April 6, 2019 because Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar went on the IL with a torn labrum. Urshella had the best season of his MLB career with 21 home runs, 74 RBI, and an OPS of .889. Ursehla was the Yankees starting third baseman in 2020 and had six home runs and 30 RBI in 151 at bats. Urshela played 116 games with the Yankees in 2021. He had 14 home runs, 49 RBI, and an OPS of .720 

Urshela made the Postseason with the Yankees every season from 2019-2021. He had three home runs and eight RBI in the Postseason with the Yankees. Urshela was traded to the Minnesota Twins with Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez for Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson and Twins shortstop Isiah Kiner Falefa before the 2022 season.  

Urshela played 144 games for the Twins in 2022 and had 13 home runs, 64 RBI, and an OPS of .767. Urshela was traded to the Los Angels of Anaheim for RHP Alejandro Hidalgo. Urshela played 62 games for the Angeles and had two home runs and 24 RBI. His season ended due to a pelvis injury on June 16, 2023. Urshela’s career MLB numbers are 64 home runs, 280 RBI, and an OPS of .745 in 2,194 MLB at-bats. Urshela is currently a free agent.   

Caimanes de Barranquilla 15-13 will play Tigres de Cartagena 13-15 on December 15 at 8 p.m EST at Estadio Edgar Renteria in Barranquilla.