Yasmani Grandal Parents: Meet Avelino Grandal And Maria Luisa Gomez

Yasmani Grandal is a Cuban-American professional baseball catcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Grandal previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Milwaukee Brewers and he is a two-time MLB All-Star.

Grandal was born on November 8, 1988 to parents Avelino Grandal and Maria Luisa Gomez in Havana, Cuba where he played shortstop and third base on a junior national team

Grandal emigrated to the United States with his mother, step-father, and maternal grandparents at age 10, through the lottery system.

In the States, Grandal attended Miami Springs High School in Miami Springs, Florida, where Baseball America ranked him as the 19th best high school baseball player in 2007.

Grandal was rated as one of the top defensive catchers heading into the 2007 Major League Baseball draft, but there were some questions about his hitting ability.

Grandal was drafted in the 27th round by the Boston Red Sox but he did not think they made him an acceptable offer so he chose not to sign with them.

Grandal attended the University of Miami, where he played college baseball for the Miami Hurricanes.

Grandal was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and finished second for the Golden Spikes Award behind Bryce Harper.

Grandal was also named to the 2010 NCBWA Division I All-America Team.

Grandal was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2020 at its 52nd Induction Banquet on November 16, 2021.