On Tuesday, Cuban infielder César Prieto was called up to the Major Leagues for the third time as the St. Louis Cardinals added him to their active roster. This move comes after Lars Nootbaar vacated his spot, as confirmed by journalist Francys Romero.
Nootbaar was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday during the MLB trade deadline. In this deal, St. Louis acquired right-hander Daniel Eagen—ranked as Arizona's fifth-best prospect—left-hander Sandro Santana, and a player to be named later.
Born on May 10, 1999, in Cienfuegos, Prieto finds himself back in the big leagues following a season marked by fluctuations between Major League Baseball and Triple-A Memphis.
Prieto made his MLB debut on August 29, 2025, becoming the 33rd Cuban to play in a regular MLB season. His initial stint was short and underwhelming, logging just six at-bats with one hit and five strikeouts for a batting average of .167 before being sent back to the minors on September 5, 2025.
His second call-up was on May 4, 2026, supported by impressive Triple-A statistics: a .311 batting average, six home runs, and 14 RBIs in 106 at-bats, with an OPS of .923. However, his return to the majors yielded no hits in 17 at-bats.
A New Chance to Shine
With this third call-up, Prieto has another chance to prove that his minor league success can translate to the highest level of professional baseball. The journey for the player from Cienfuegos to the Cardinals was far from easy.
In May 2021, Prieto left the Cuban national team in Miami during the Pre-Olympic baseball tournament, a decision publicly criticized by Cuba's INDER. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles in January 2022 and joined the St. Louis organization on August 1, 2023, as part of the trade that sent pitcher Jack Flaherty to Baltimore.
Throughout his minor league career, Prieto has maintained a .294 batting average, hit 44 home runs, driven in 253 runs, and stolen 31 bases.
Cardinals manager Oli Mármol expressed his confidence in Prieto back in December 2025, stating, "He has quite a few chances for 2026."
Frequently Asked Questions About César Prieto's MLB Journey
What led to César Prieto's third MLB call-up?
César Prieto was called up to fill the roster spot vacated by Lars Nootbaar, who was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
How has César Prieto performed in the minor leagues?
Prieto has a minor league career batting average of .294, with 44 home runs, 253 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases.
What was César Prieto's journey to the Cardinals?
Prieto left the Cuban national team in 2021, signed with the Orioles in 2022, and was traded to the Cardinals in 2023.