Joseph Alexander Dunand Jr. (born September 20, 1995) is an American professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins.

Joe Dunand
Dunand with the Gwinnett Stripers in 2023
Free agent
Infielder
Born: (1995-09-20) September 20, 1995 (age 29)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 7, 2022, for the Miami Marlins
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.300
Home runs1
Runs batted in1
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Amateur career

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Dunand attended Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, Florida. After his senior year, he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 35th round of the 2014 MLB draft.[1] He did not sign, instead enrolling at North Carolina State University. He played college baseball as a shortstop for the NC State Wolfpack. In 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was named a league all-star.[2][3] In 2017, his junior year, he hit .289 with 16 home runs.[4]

Professional career

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Miami Marlins

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The Miami Marlins selected Dunand with the 51st overall selection of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[5] Dunand signed with the Marlins, receiving a $1.2 million signing bonus.[6] He made his professional debut that year and spent his first professional season with both the Jupiter Hammerheads and the GCL Marlins, slashing .370/.471/.667 with one home run and five doubles in eight games between the two teams.[7]

Dunand began 2018 with Jupiter. After batting .263 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs in 66 games, he was promoted to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.[8] He finished the year with Jacksonville, hitting .212 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs in 61 games.[9] He returned to Jacksonville for the 2019 season, slashing .242/.314/.333 with five home runs and 42 RBIs over 130 games.[10] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[11] In 2021, Dunand returned to play with Jacksonville with whom he batted .201 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs over 64 games.[12]

 
Dunand with Leones del Escogido in 2019

On May 7, 2022, Dunand was selected to the major league roster as a COVID replacement.[13] He made his major league debut that night and hit a home run in his first at bat.[14] The Marlins designated him for assignment on May 29.[15]

Atlanta Braves

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The Atlanta Braves claimed Dunand off of waivers on June 1.[16] On June 10, the Braves designated Dunand for assignment.[17] On June 12, Dunand cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers.[18] In 70 games for the Stripers, he batted .205/.300/.319 with 4 home runs and 15 RBI.[19]

Dunand returned to Gwinnett in 2023, playing in 95 games and hitting .268/.362/.481 with 17 home runs, 52 RBI, and 3 stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.[20]

Staten Island FerryHawks

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On January 31, 2024, Dunand signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox.[21] He was released by the Red Sox organization on March 24.[22]

On April 22, 2024, Dunand signed with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[23] In 62 games for Staten Island, he batted .252/.328/.382 with seven home runs and 28 RBI. Dunand was released by the FerryHawks on July 15.[24]

See also

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Personal life

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Dunand's uncle is Alex Rodriguez.[25][26]

References

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  1. ^ "A-Rod's nephew Joe Dunand shows promise as Marlins prospect | Miami Herald". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018.
  2. ^ "#11 Joseph Dunand - Profile". Pointstreak.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "2016 All-Star teams, Home Run Hitting Contest participants announced". capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  4. ^ "Marlins draft A-Rod's nephew and former Gulliver Prep star, Joe Dunand | Miami Herald". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on June 16, 2017.
  5. ^ Spencer, Clark (June 12, 2017). "Marlins draft A-Rod's nephew and former Gulliver Prep star, Joe Dunand". Miami Herald. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  6. ^ "Marlins sign top draft picks Rogers, Miller, Dunand". Sun Sentinel. June 24, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  7. ^ "Joe Dunand Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  8. ^ "Dunand enjoys two-homer, four-RBI night". MiLB.com.
  9. ^ "Joe Dunand Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  10. ^ Gene Frenette (April 4, 2019). "Gene Frenette: Jumbo Shrimp SS benefits from uncle A-Rod's influence - Sports - The Florida Times-Union - Jacksonville, FL". Jacksonville.com. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  11. ^ West, Jenna. "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Canceled". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  12. ^ Sussman, Ely (May 3, 2021). "LISTEN: ETS #34: Joe Dunand Interview & MiLB Season Preview". Fish Stripes. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  13. ^ De Nicola, Christina (May 8, 2022). "Newest Marlin homers in first MLB AB; 695 behind uncle A-Rod". MLB.com. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  14. ^ "Newest Marlin homers in first MLB AB; 695 behind uncle A-Rod". MLB.com.
  15. ^ "Elieser Hernandez gives up three home runs in Marlins' series-finale loss to Braves".
  16. ^ "Braves add Alex Rodriguez's nephew, send him to Gwinnett". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  17. ^ "Braves claim former Yankees 1B Ford off waivers from Seattle". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022. Alternative URL 1 and 2[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "Braves' Joe Dunand: Clears waivers". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  19. ^ "Braves' Joe Dunand: Sent to minor-league camp". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  20. ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. November 8, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  21. ^ "Transactions".
  22. ^ "Transactions".
  23. ^ https://twitter.com/FerryHawks/status/1782452898095390887
  24. ^ "Transactions". baseball.pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  25. ^ Braziller, Zach (June 11, 2017). "Perks and downside of being A-Rod's nephew — whose day is here | New York Post". Nypost.com. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  26. ^ Spencer, Clark. "Alex Rodriguez looks on as nephew is introduced by Miami Marlins". Miami Herald. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
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