César Prieto was one of Cuba’s top young talents before defecting in 2021. In Cuba, he broke Kendrys Morales’ rookie hits record by 20, finishing with 134 hits between Cienfuegos and Villa Clara, and winning the Cuban National Series Rookie of the Year award. His best season came in 2020-21 with Cienfuegos, where he led the league with a .403 batting average and recorded 128 hits, along with seven home runs and 51 RBIs in 74 games. He set a Serie Nacional record with a 45-game hit streak, surpassing Rey Isaac’s 37-game mark from 1994-95. The streak spanned 68 days and included 27 multi-hit games, 12 doubles, three triples, and five homers. His record even surpassed those of CNS legend Lázaro Vargas and 2020 AL MVP José Abreu.
During the 2020 Olympic qualifiers, Prieto defected in Florida, leaving the team hotel in West Palm Beach to pursue an MLB career. In 2022, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles for $650,000. In the Orioles system, he ranked among the top five infielders behind players like Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg.
He started his professional career at High-A Aberdeen, hitting .273 with 11 homers between High-A and Double-A in 2022. In 2023, he batted .349 with eight home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. Baltimore’s deep farm system left Prieto without a clear path. With prospects like Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, Joey Ortiz, and Coby Mayo ahead of him, he wasn’t going to move up despite his .317 average in Triple-A. He was then traded to St. Louis in a deal for Jack Flaherty.
Prieto finished the 2023 season in Triple-A Memphis, hitting .270 over 38 games, with four home runs, 20 RBIs, and five doubles. In 2024, he stayed in Memphis, batting .279 and showcasing more power with 14 home runs and 35 doubles (second in the International League). He also recorded 36 multi-hit games across 129 games—a solid performance, though it wasn’t enough to earn a call-up to the majors.
Within the Cardinals’ system, Prieto ranked No. 20 among their 2025 prospects and fourth among infielders, behind Thomas Saggese (5th), Yairo Padilla (9th), and the top-ranked JJ Wetherholt. He demonstrated his ability to handle Triple-A pitching and is considered solid defensively at second base, with the versatility to play third.
Additionally, Prieto has played in the Dominican Winter League during the offseason, widely regarded as one of the top leagues outside MLB. He played for the Aguilas Cibaenas, hitting .293 in 2023 and .262 in 2024.
César Prieto has now spent two spring trainings with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2024, he played 19 games, hitting .429 with 15 hits, 11 RBIs, and a .904 OPS. In 2025, he posted a .381 average in 19 games, adding five doubles and a 1.197 OPS and was reassigned to Minor League camp. Despite his strong performances, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot on the major league roster.
At 25, Prieto’s game is defined by one word—contact. He’s still young enough to carve out an opportunity, though the Cardinals’ infield depth works against him, much like in Baltimore. A strong season could earn him a shot with a team in the midst of a rebuild. With a .300 average, 10-12 home runs, and steady defense, he could make his way to St. Louis as a contact hitter with reliable defensive skills, similar to José Iglesias.