Raynel Espinal

Espinal began his professional career with the New York Yankees organization, first playing for the Dominican Summer League Yankees in 2013 and 2014.[1] After not playing professionally during 2015, he played for four different Yankees farm teams during 2016, advancing to the Class A Short Season level with the Staten Island Yankees.[1] In 2017, he played for three different teams and reached Double-A with the Trenton Thunder.[1] Espinal then spent all of the 2018 and 2019 seasons in Triple-A with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.[1] With the RailRiders, he appeared in 59 total games (15 starts) allowing 64 runs in 142 innings pitched for a 4.06 earned run average (ERA). In July 2019, Espinal underwent Tommy John surgery.[2]

The Red Sox selected Espinal from the Yankees in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft after the 2019 season.[3] He did not pitch during 2020, due to cancellation of the minor-league season, then began the 2021 season in Triple-A with the Worcester Red Sox.[2] The Red Sox promoted Espinal to the major leagues on August 30, 2021, to add bullpen depth due to players being placed on the COVID-related list.[4] He made his MLB debut that day, pitching in relief against the Tampa Bay Rays.[5] He was returned to Worcester the next day and removed from the 40-man roster.[6] Worcester named Espinal their pitcher of the year, having gone 11–4 with a 3.55 ERA in Triple-A.[7] Espinal became a free agent following the 2021 season.

On February 5, 2022, Espinal signed a minor-league contract with the San Francisco Giants.[8] He began the season in Triple-A with the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League.[1]

On July 31, 2022, the Giants traded Espinal to the Chicago Cubs for Dixon Machado.[9] In two appearances, he surrendered 6 runs on 6 hits with 4 strikeouts in 3+1⁄3 innings pitched. Espinal was released by the Cubs organization on August 16.[10]

On August 18, 2022, Espinal signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization. He had his contract selected to the major league roster on September 11. In 2 appearances for the Reds, Espinal allowed 4 runs on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts in 4+2⁄3 innings of work. On October 15, Espinal was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Louisville Bats.[11] He elected free agency following the season on November 10.[12]

On December 5, 2022, Espinal signed with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball. [13] Espinal made only 3 appearances for the team in 2023, logging a 5.40 ERA with 4 strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work. On August 28, 2023, Espinal was released by the Swallows.[14]