LAKELAND, FL – The Detroit Tigers have signed infielder Gio Urshela to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million. Urshela’s contract includes performance bonuses where he can earn up to $500,000 for plate appearances: $100,000 each for 500, 530, 560, 590 and 620 plate appearances.
In eight Major League seasons, Urshela, 32, has hit .277/.322/.423 with 114 doubles, seven triples, 64 home runs and 280 RBI in 664 games. He was named a Gold Glove finalist in 2020 among American League third basemen and played for Team Colombia in the 2017 and 2022 World Baseball Classic.
He is just one year removed from one of the best seasons of his career in 2022, playing in 144 games with the Twins and slashing .285/.338/.429 with 27 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs and 64 RBI. He established new career-highs in hits (143), walks (41) and games played.
Urshela was limited to 62 games in 2023 after suffering a season-ending injury on June 15. Urshela hit .299/.329/.374 with eight doubles, one triple, two home runs and 24 RBI. At the time of his injury, Urshela ranked seventh in the AL in batting average.
Urshela also has extensive postseason experience in his career, playing in 22 games across four different seasons and going 16×76 with a double, three home runs and eight RBI.
A native of Cartagena, Colombia, Urshela was originally signed by Cleveland as an international free agent on July 8, 2008. He and his wife, Danna, have one daughter, Gianna.
A corresponding 40-man roster move will be announced later.
