Joel Cesar

Joel Daniel Cesar

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 191 lb.

• Born January 26, 1996 in Altamira, Puerto Plata D.R.

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Joel Cesar peaked at AA then pitched for the Dominican national team.

He was signed by Pittsburgh Pirates scouts Rene Gayo, Juan Mercado and Victor Santana in October 2015. He allowed three runs (two earned) in 6 2/3 IP for the 2016 DSL Pirates. In 2017, he was 1-1 with 7 saves and a 3.67 ERA for the West Virginia Black Bears. He tied Jonathan Teaney for 4th in the New York-Penn League with 22 appearances and he tied Reed Hayes for 5th in saves. Among Pirates farmhands, he tied Dan Runzler for 9th in saves.

Cesar went to Pittsburgh's other West Virginia affiliate, the West Virginia Power, in 2018. He was 2-1 with 3 saves and a 3.15 ERA in 2018. He struck out the only batter he faced for the Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League following his year with the Power. In '19, he split time between the Bradenton Marauders (2-0, 5 Sv, 0.73 in 9 G) and Altoona Curve (3-4, Sv, 3.76 in 28 G), striking out 52 in 50 2/3 IP between the stops. He allowed two runs in five innings that winter.

The Altamira native was then dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies as the player to be named later in a deal with cash considerations for Austin Davis. He pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings for the 2020-2021 Gigantes. He struggled with the 2021 Reading Fightin Phils (0-1, Sv, 10.29 ERA, 2.14 WHIP in 6 G). He was back in 2022 with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws but again had a rough time (4 R in 2 2/3 IP) to end his time in the Phillies chain.

Appearing for the Dominican entry in the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games, he saved Miguel Rosario's opening win over El Salvador. He went 1-2-3 against José Medina, Ronald Lopez and Anselmo Joya, the latter two by strikeout, then struck out the side in the last inning (Emerson Bonilla, Jason Flores and Wilfredo Jiménez) though Cesar Ciron did single. His other two outings weren't as good as he allowed six hits and walks while retiring only two, allowing three runs.

Joel allowed four runs in eight innings for the 2023-2024 Gigantes then went to the Mexican League to open 2024.