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Joe Dunand
Joe Dunand
Joe Dunand
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Joseph Alexander Dunand Jr. (born September 20, 1995) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins during the 2022 season.

Key Information

Amateur career

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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]

On May 30, 2025, Dunand announced his retirement per his Instagram account.[25]

See also

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Personal life

[edit]

Dunand's uncle is Alex Rodriguez.[26][27]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Joe Dunand

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Joseph Alexander Dunand Jr. (born September 20, 1995) is an American former infielder who played briefly in (MLB) for the and spent much of his career in the with several organizations. Known for his versatility across the infield, including positions at third base, , and first base, Dunand batted and threw right-handed, standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 205 pounds. The nephew of MLB legend , he garnered attention early in his career for his power potential and defensive skills. Dunand attended , where he played for the from 2015 to 2017, earning recognition as a standout and helping the team reach the in 2015. Selected by the in the second round (51st overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft, he began his professional career in the Marlins' farm system, progressing through affiliates like the Gulf Coast League Marlins and . His MLB debut came on May 7, 2022, against the San Diego Padres, where he notably homered in his first at-bat, going 3-for-10 with one and one RBI over three games that season. Following his brief MLB stint, Dunand was waived by the Marlins and claimed by the in June 2022, and remained in the Braves' organization through 2023, playing for the Triple-A . He signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox in January 2024 and played for their Triple-A affiliate, the , before being released in March 2024 and joining the independent for the remainder of the season. On May 30, 2025, Dunand announced his retirement from after 25 years in the sport, concluding a career marked by perseverance in the minors despite high draft expectations.

Early life and amateur career

Early life and family

Joseph was born on September 20, 1995, in , Florida. He is the youngest of three sons born to Sr. and Miosocis Dunand. His mother died of at age 34 when he was two years old, after which his father raised him as a in . Dunand Sr. is the half-brother of former player , sharing the same mother, Lourdes Navarro; this makes Dunand the nephew of Rodriguez. From a young age, Dunand developed a close relationship with his uncle, who provided guidance on and life, while spending summers on road trips with his father and gaining early exposure to environments, including access to major league clubhouses.

High school career

Dunand attended in , where he played as a and during his high school years, graduating in 2014. He demonstrated strong all-around skills, earning a national ranking of 111th overall and 17th among shortstops, as well as a Florida state ranking of 26th overall and 6th at his position, according to Perfect Game evaluations. His most notable performance came during his senior year at the 2014 Horizon National Tournament in , where Gulliver Prep went 4-1 in five games. Dunand batted .833 (10-for-12) and hit nine s, including a streak of eight consecutive at-bats, setting a national high school record for the longest streak in at-bats. This outburst drew significant attention from MLB scouts and solidified his status as a top prospect. Following the tournament, Dunand was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 35th round of the 2014 MLB Draft but chose to honor his commitment to North Carolina State University rather than sign professionally.

College career

Dunand enrolled at North Carolina State University in 2014 and played college baseball for the NC State Wolfpack from 2015 to 2017 as a three-year starter. He primarily played third base during his freshman season before transitioning to shortstop for his sophomore and junior years. Over his college career, he appeared in 178 games, batting .268 with 108 runs scored, 177 hits, 42 doubles, 4 triples, 29 home runs, and 132 RBIs. As a freshman in 2015, Dunand started 57 games at third base and hit .219 with 31 runs, 47 hits, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs, and 40 RBIs in 215 at-bats. That summer, he participated in the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby, where he hit 6 home runs in the first round. In 2016, as a sophomore, he started 58 of 60 games at shortstop and improved to a .297 batting average, with 35 runs, 70 hits (including 18 doubles and 4 home runs), and 41 RBIs in 236 at-bats. During the summer of 2016, Dunand played for the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he batted .326 with 8 doubles, 5 home runs, and 24 RBIs, earning co-MVP honors for Harwich, a spot on the Cape Cod Year-End All-League Team, Perfect Game First Team Summer Collegiate All-America recognition, and inclusion on Baseball America's Cape Cod League Top Prospects list. Dunand's junior season in 2017 was his most productive, as he started 61 games at and batted .287 with 42 runs, 60 hits (including 12 doubles, 3 triples, and a team-high 18 home runs), 51 RBIs, and a .632 in 209 at-bats. He earned second-team All-ACC honors that year. Following his junior year, the selected Dunand in the second round (51st overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft, and he signed for a $1.2 million bonus.

Professional career

Miami Marlins

Dunand was selected by the in the second round (51st overall) of the 2017 MLB Draft out of . He signed with the organization and began his professional career that summer in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League (GCL) Marlins, where he hit .375 with one in five games, before a brief appearance in three games with the . In 2018, Dunand split time between High-A Jupiter and Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, posting a combined .244 batting average with 14 home runs and 70 RBIs across 127 games, showcasing his power potential as a shortstop-third baseman. He returned to Jacksonville for the full 2019 season at Double-A, where he batted .242 with five home runs and 42 RBIs in 130 games, solidifying his defensive versatility while adjusting to the higher competition level. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying further progression. Dunand resumed play in 2021, starting with a brief stint at Jupiter before spending the bulk of the year at Triple-A Jacksonville, where he hit .201 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs in 69 games with a .272 . Entering 2022, he opened the season with Triple-A , batting .242 with two home runs in 20 games before earning a call-up to the majors. Dunand made his MLB debut on May 7, 2022, against the , homering in his first at-bat off reliever for a solo shot in the sixth inning. Over three games with the Marlins, he went 3-for-10 with one , one RBI, two runs scored, and a 1.064 , providing infield depth during a roster crunch. On May 26, 2022, the Marlins designated him for assignment to make room on the roster.

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves claimed infielder Joe Dunand off waivers from the Miami Marlins on June 1, 2022, and optioned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers. Shortly after, on June 10, 2022, the Braves designated Dunand for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, but he cleared waivers and was outrighted to Gwinnett on June 12, allowing the organization to retain him in the minors. In 70 games with the Stripers during the 2022 season, Dunand batted .205/.300/.319 with four home runs and 15 RBI, while recording 78 strikeouts in 229 at-bats. His performance reflected ongoing adjustments at the plate following a brief major league stint earlier that year, as he split time between and third base while providing infield depth for the affiliate. Dunand returned to Gwinnett for the full 2023 season, appearing in 95 games and posting a more productive .268/.362/.481 slash line, highlighted by 17 home runs—pacing the Stripers—and 52 RBI over 347 at-bats. He added 19 doubles and drew 45 walks, though he struck out 107 times. During an early-season surge, Dunand slashed .333/.412/.667 with 10 home runs in 29 games, showcasing hard contact with an exit of 90.5 mph and emerging as a possible organizational depth piece or trade asset. He briefly went on the development list from May 7 to May 23 but remained with the Braves organization through the end of the season. Dunand elected free agency on November 6, 2023.

Boston Red Sox and independent leagues

Following his election of free agency from the Atlanta Braves organization, Dunand signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on January 31, 2024. He was invited to the Red Sox's major league spring training camp in 2024, where he competed for a spot on the roster as an infielder capable of playing multiple positions, including shortstop and third base. On March 7, 2024, Dunand was reassigned to minor league camp as part of the Red Sox's roster trims. He was subsequently released by the organization on March 24, 2024, without appearing in any games for their affiliates. After his release from the Red Sox, Dunand signed with the of the , an independent professional league, on April 22, . Playing primarily as a and , he appeared in 62 games for the FerryHawks during the season, batting .252 with a .328 and .382 . In 238 at-bats, Dunand recorded 60 hits, including 10 doubles and 7 home runs, while driving in 28 runs and drawing 28 walks; he struck out 45 times but stole no bases. His performance provided steady production in the middle of the lineup, highlighted by multi-hit games and occasional power contributions, such as back-to-back home runs with teammate Abiatal Avelino on June 22, . Dunand was released by the FerryHawks on July 15, 2024. In October 2024, he briefly appeared in five games for of the Dominican Winter League, going 0-for-12. He announced his retirement from baseball on May 30, 2025, via , reflecting on a 25-year career that spanned amateur, , major league, and independent levels.

Personal life

Dunand married his wife, Carolina, in December 2023.

References

  1. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dunanjo01.shtml
  2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dunand000jos
  3. https://www.mlb.com/player/joe-dunand-656388
  4. https://gopack.com/sports/baseball/roster/joe-dunand/3339
  5. https://www.milb.com/player/joe-dunand-656388
  6. https://soxprospects.com/players/dunand-joe.htm
  7. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2022-transactions.shtml
  8. https://fishonfirst.com/news-rumors/miami-marlins/6-2-25/
  9. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/columns/gene-frenette/2022/05/19/jumbo-shrimps-joe-dunand-anxious-mlb-return-and-more-big-moments/9805947002/
  10. https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/alex-rodriguezs-family-guide-meet-his-mom-dad-siblings-and-more/
  11. https://nypost.com/2017/06/11/perks-and-downside-of-being-a-rods-nephew-whose-day-is-here/
  12. https://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=297972
  13. https://www.mlb.com/news/marlins-draft-a-rod-s-nephew-joe-dunand-c235986444
  14. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/04/alex-rodriguez-nephew-joe-dunand-eight-straight-homers
  15. https://fishonfirst.com/news-rumors/marlins-minor-league/refocused-joe-dunand-thriving-during-spring-training/
  16. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/7057-joe-dunand/
  17. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/college.php?p=dunanjo01
  18. https://gopack.com/news/2016/8/30/baseball-dunand-erupts-cape-league-mvp.aspx
  19. https://theacc.com/news/2017/5/22/59231d4fe4b08540b71aefff_131480906007708034.aspx?path=baseball
  20. https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/roster/t-gs11880/y-2023
  21. https://www.si.com/mlb/braves/minor-league/atlanta-braves-minors-spotlight-joe-dunand-is-crushing
  22. https://www.mlb.com/redsox/roster/transactions/2024/01
  23. https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2024/03/red-sox-release-former-best-athlete-in-org-plus-a-rods-nephew-too.html
  24. https://bosoxinjection.com/posts/red-sox-releasing-nephew-of-former-hated-yankee-has-fans-asking-questions-01hsvhm2e76w
  25. https://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=1697234&seasonid=33927
  26. https://atlanticleague.com/atlantic-league-results-saturday-june-22-2024/
  27. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/7057-joe-dunand/stats/
  28. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKSTob-Odpn/?hl=en
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