Cardinals Resign Catcher Luis Bernardo For 2025 Season

The Hamilton Cardinals are excited to welcome back catcher Luis Bernardo for the 2025 season.

Bernardo, a 37-year-old catcher from San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic, began his professional baseball career in 2006, signing with the Baltimore Orioles organization as an international amateur free agent. He debuted with the Dominican Summer League Orioles, posting an impressive .304/.372/.423 slash line over 54 games. He played rookie ball for the Gulf Coast League Orioles in 2007 and the Bluefield Orioles in 2008. By 2009, Bernardo earned a promotion to Single-A Delmarva, where he logged 114 games across the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Midway through the 2010 season, he received the call to High-A Frederick, appearing in 48 games between 2010 and 2011. In total, Bernardo appeared in 300 games and recorded 1,016 plate appearances during his six years in the Orioles organization.

Having regularly appeared in the Dominican Winter League, Bernardo suited up for the Tigres del Licey in 2010, 2011, and 2013, and for the Estrellas Orientales in 2020. He later played for the Tigres de Chinandega in the Nicaraguan Winter League during the 2022 and 2024 seasons.

Bernardo made his IBL debut with the Hamilton Cardinals in 2023, batting .289 with 6 home runs and 43 RBI in 39 games. He returned in 2024, where he hit .267 in 42 regular season games and an impressive .375 over four playoff games.

This year, Bernardo has been serving as an Assistant Coach and Import Player Recruiter, playing a pivotal role in shaping the Cardinals' roster. Now, the veteran catcher is set to rejoin the lineup and bring his wealth of professional experience back behind the plate.

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