A seasoned striker Hanser Alberto announced his retirement via Instagram earlier this week, bringing a career that saw him spend eight seasons in the majors to an end. He played for the Rangers, Orioles, Dodgers, Royals, and White Sox throughout his time in the major leagues.
Alberto, 33, signed with Rangers from the Dominican Republic as a rookie and made his senior debut back in 2010. He scored a walk-off goal in the Dominican Summer League and continued to work his way up through the minors before breaking into the big leagues in 2015. He struggled early in his big league season and hit .140/72 in the big games. bench up and down Texas during his first two years on the show. After missing the 2017 season with a shoulder injury, Alberto resurfaced with the Rangers in 2018 but again struggled in a 13-game sample.
After being drafted by Texas during the 2018-19 season, Alberto bounced around the league before landing in Baltimore ahead of the 2019 campaign. The Orioles were headed for a 108-game losing streak that year, but Alberto proved to be a bright spot for the club as he played a regular role with the team. He enjoyed a breakout year in Baltimore, hitting .305/.329/.442 in 139 games. That batting line was good at a 95 wRC+, and combined with strong defense at second base was enough to make Alberto a 3.4 win player according to Baseball Reference. He also posted a career low 9.1% clip. Alberto regressed in the strikeout-shortened 2020 season, posting an 87 wRC+ with a 13.1% strikeout rate, but managed to appear in 54 of the Orioles’ 60 games that season.
As impressive as he was in 2019, the Orioles selected Alberto non-tender rather than carry him to the 2021 roster at his compensation price. In the last three seasons of his career in the majors, Alberto bounced between various clubs in a relief role. He joined the Royals on a minor league deal through the 2021 campaign, and his 83 wRC+ in 103 games for the rebuilding team was enough to convince the Dodgers to offer him a 2022 big league contract. Alberto’s productivity declined as he approached his 30th birthday, however, and he reduced his . the last two years in the majors with LA and Chicago.
After being plagued by injuries during his time with the White Sox, Alberto missed most of the 2024 campaign and was limited to playing winter ball only. He returned to full-season play in 2025 when he joined Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League, and eventually appeared in 26 games for them (and one more for Saraperos de Saltillo) before returning to winter ball. He appeared in 24 winter league games in the 2025-26 season for Gigantes del Cibao but has now called it a career.
In total, Alberto logged 488 games at the major league level. Along the way, he collected 378 hits, 22 homers, 12 steals, and 4.4 bWAR. He finishes his career with a lifetime .269/.292/.381 slash line. MLB Trade Rumors congratulates Alberto on his career and wishes him the best in his future pursuits as his playing career draws to a close.
