Yan Gomes is a Brazilian-American former professional baseball player who played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on July 19, 1987, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and grew up in Miami, Florida. Gomes played college baseball at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, where he was named the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year in 2009.
Gomes was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 10th round of the 2009 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays on May 17, 2012, and played in 43 games for the team that season. In November 2012, Gomes was traded to the Cleveland Indians along with Mike Aviles in exchange for Esmil Rogers.
Gomes played for the Indians from 2013 to 2018, where he established himself as one of the best catchers in the American League. He was named an All-Star in 2018 and won a Silver Slugger Award that same year. Gomes was also known for his excellent defense behind the plate, as he led all American League catchers in caught stealing percentage in 2014 and 2015.
In November 2018, Gomes was traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for a package of players that included outfielder Daniel Johnson. He played for the Nationals for three seasons, helping the team win the World Series in 2019. Gomes hit a key home run in Game 6 of the World Series, which helped the Nationals clinch their first championship in franchise history.
Gomes became a free agent after the 2020 season and signed a two-year contract with the Oakland Athletics in December 2020. He played in 95 games for the Athletics in 2021, hitting .242 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs. Gomes announced his retirement from baseball on November 19, 2021, after playing in the major leagues for 10 seasons.
Throughout his career, Gomes was known for his leadership, work ethic, and ability to handle a pitching staff. He was also a fan favorite for his outgoing personality and his willingness to interact with fans on social media. Gomes finished his career with a .242 batting average, 107 home runs, and 405 RBIs in 1,012 games played.
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