Wikipedia

Tyler Fitzgerald

Tyler Joseph Fitzgerald (born September 15, 1997) is an American professional baseball utility player for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball at the University of Louisville. He was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Tyler Fitzgerald
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shortstop / Center fielder / Second baseman
Born: (1997-09-15) September 15, 1997 (age 28)
Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 21, 2023, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Batting average.252
Home runs21
Runs batted in53
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Early life

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Fitzgerald was born in Springfield, Illinois,[1] and attended Rochester High School in Rochester, Illinois. As a senior in 2016, he batted .500 with nine home runs, 31 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases.[2] He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 30th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign and instead enrolled at the University of Louisville to play college baseball.[3]

Fitzgerald appeared in 48 games for Louisville as a freshman in 2017, slashing .208/.303/.272 over 125 at bats.[4] As a sophomore, he batted .264/.344/.378 with 57 runs (8th in the conference), three home runs, 24 RBIs, 23 stolen bases (4th in the conference) in 24 attempts, 9 sacrifice hits (2nd), and 17 doubles (8th) over 246 at bats over 64 games.[5][6] In 2017 and 2018, Fitzgerald played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[7][8][9][10] As a junior in 2019, he hit .315/.391/.483 with 64 runs (5th in the conference), three triples (6th), eight home runs, 65 RBIs (7th), 18 stolen bases (6th), and seven sacrifice flies (second) in 267 at bats over 66 games.[11][12][13]

Professional career

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San Francisco Giants

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Fitzgerald was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the fourth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[14] He signed for $497,500.[15][16] In 2019, Fitzgerald spent his first professional season with the Arizona League Giants, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, and Augusta GreenJackets, batting .276/.359/.395 with one home run, six stolen bases in seven attempts, and 30 RBI over 48 games.[17] He did not play in 2020, during the pandemic.

He played the 2021 season with the Eugene Emeralds, tied for the league lead with 28 doubles and 139 strikeouts and slashing .262/.342/.495 with 71 runs (2nd in the league), 19 home runs (2nd), and 65 RBI (3rd) in 382 at-bats over 103 games, playing shortstop exclusively.[16][18] He was a 2021 NWL post-season All Star, and an MiLB Organization All Star.[19]

He was assigned to the Richmond Flying Squirrels for the 2022 season.[20] Over 125 games, Fitzgerald slashed .229/.310/.424 with 74 runs (2nd in the league), 21 home runs, 58 RBI, 19 hit by pitch (3rd), 171 strikeouts (2nd), and 20 stolen bases in 21 attempts.[21][22] He played 87 games at shortstop, 30 at second base, eight at third base, and two as a designated hitter.[22]

He returned to Richmond to open the 2023 season.[23] After 19 games for Richmond in which he batted .324/.410/.588 in 68 at bats, Fitzgerald was promoted to the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats, where he played in 102 games and hit .287/.358/.499 with 72 runs, 20 home runs, 69 RBI, and 29 stolen bases (7th in the PCL) in 415 at bats.[24] On September 21, 2023, Fitzgerald was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[25]

Fitzgerald was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to begin the 2026 season.[26]On March 30, 2026, Fitzgerald was designated for assignment by San Francisco following the acquisition of Dylan Smith.[27]

Toronto Blue Jays

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On April 4, 2026, Fitzgerald was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations.[28] He was recalled to the majors on April 7.[29] Fitzgerald did not appear in a game for Toronto prior to being optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on April 14; he was designated for assignment by the team on April 24.[30]

Los Angeles Dodgers

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On April 28, 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Fitzgerald from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations.[31]

Personal life

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Fitzgerald's father, Mike, was drafted in the first round in the 1984 MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and played 13 games in the majors as a first baseman; in the minors, in 1987 he led the Texas League with 108 RBIs, and was fourth in the league in home runs with 27.[32][33]

References

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  1. ↑ "Tyler Fitzgerald Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com.
  2. ↑ "Fitzgerald named top Illinois high school baseball player". The State Journal-Register. June 28, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Fitzgerald defers pro baseball dream while two other local players sign". The State Journal-Register. June 16, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  4. ↑ Lourim, Jake (February 15, 2018). "Can a new-look team still return to Omaha?". Louisville baseball. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  5. ↑ Mastroianni, Jake (November 20, 2018). "2019 CBD TOP 100 COUNTDOWN: 82. TYLER FITZGERALD (LOUISVILLE)". College Baseball Daily. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  6. ↑ "2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  7. ↑ "#5 Tyler Fitzgerald – Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  8. ↑ "#4 Tyler Fitzgerald". pointstreak.com. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Bourne Braves Baseball » from Omaha to Bourne: The College World Series Experience of Five Braves".
  10. ↑ "Bourne Braves Baseball » Braves silence the Firebirds' bats in second straight win".
  11. ↑ "2019 Atlantic Coast Conference Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ↑ Kane, Dave (June 25, 2019). "Fitzgerald to embrace Giants". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  13. ↑ "2019 Atlantic Coast Conference Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Rochester's Tyler Fitzgerald drafted in fourth round of MLB Draft". Journal Star. June 5, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  15. ↑ Harten, David (June 30, 2019). "Louisville baseball: San Francisco Giants sign Wyatt, Fitzgerald". Courier-Journal. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  16. 1 2 "2021 High-A West Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  17. ↑ Johnson, Dalton (September 19, 2019). "How Giants' top five picks from 2019 MLB Draft played in first season". NBC Sports Bay Area & California. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  18. ↑ Nichols, Dave (September 20, 2021). "High-A West championship series: Spokane Indians, Eugene Emeralds bring different styles to league title matchup". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Tyler Fitzgerald Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  20. ↑ Wilson, Trey (April 6, 2022). "Giants set initial Flying Squirrels roster". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Tyler Fitzgerald Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  22. 1 2 "Tyler Fitzgerald Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  23. ↑ Regodon, Wrenzie (April 7, 2023). "SF Giants: Get to know the Richmond Flying Squirrels roster". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  24. ↑ "2023 Pacific Coast League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Longtime Giants SS Brandon Crawford (hamstring) placed on IL". ESPN.com. Reuters. September 21, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  26. ↑ Guardado, Maria (March 19, 2026). "Giants want top prospect Eldridge to get more reps at Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  27. ↑ Guardado, Maria (March 30, 2026). "Giants acquire RHP Smith in trade with Tigers, part ways with Matos, Fitzgerald". MLB.com. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  28. ↑ Matheson, Keegan (April 4, 2026). "Blue Jays acquire veteran Fitzgerald from Giants to boost infield depth". MLB.com. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Blue Jays' Kirk likely out 6 weeks; Scherzer in line for start". ESPN.com. April 7, 2026. Retrieved April 8, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Blue Jays Acquire Willie MacIver, Designate Tyler Fitzgerald For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  31. ↑ Staff, Sportsnet (April 28, 2026). "Blue Jays trade Tyler Fitzgerald to Dodgers for cash". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
  32. ↑ Kroner, Steve (October 31, 2019). "Tyler Fitzgerald's Game Is Greater Than Sum Of Parts". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  33. ↑ "1987 Texas League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
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