Abraham Toro was born in 1996 in Longueuil, a city about 20 minutes from Montreal, Canada. His family had moved there a year earlier, at a time when no one in Venezuela expected the country to experience the largest immigration exodus in the region’s history.
In 1992, Hugo Chávez attempted to seize power through two failed coups against then-president Carlos Andrés Pérez. Three years later, Toro’s family considered moving to Orlando, Florida, but a family friend advised them to move to Canada instead—just in time, before Chávez took power in 1998 and triggered an exodus of around 8 million people, according to various organizations.
«A friend of my mom told her it was easier to move to Canada, so she did,» the infielder told El Emergente. «I was raised in Canada and went to school there. I still have my home there. But I’m still proud to be Venezuelan. I was raised with my culture, and I always celebrated Christmas there.»
Abraham Toro is only 28 years old, but he’s already in his seventh year in the big leagues. He was originally drafted by the Houston Astros out of Seminole State College and has also played for the Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Oakland Athletics.
«When I was younger, a coach of mine had gone to that school, so it was easier for me,» he added. «I always dreamed of being a baseball player — it was always my goal.»
Toro first learned the game by watching his brother, Douglas, play. Douglas competed in an independent league in Quebec but never signed with an MLB organization.
Most Venezuelans grow up immersed in the country’s rich baseball culture, but for Abraham Toro, it was something new. He eventually got the chance to watch stars like Pablo Sandoval, Elvis Andrus, and many others during those early years.
«It was awesome,» Toro said. «I remember the excitement of the fans.»
Abraham Toro becoming an unexpected hero for the Red Sox
Abraham Toro‘s family decision to move to Canada opened many doors for him. He was raised in Montreal, where he learned both English and French—skills he hopes to use to his advantage in the future.
He attended junior college in Oklahoma and was expected to continue his education further, but when the Houston Astros drafted him, he chose to pursue his dream of becoming a professional baseball player.
«People told me they expected I would be selected in the 10th or 15th round,» he said. «On the second day of the draft, I wasn’t expecting a call—and suddenly, the [Houston Astros] surprised me. I was very happy. I didn’t know much about the Astros back then, but then I saw they were really good.»
He spent three years with the organization after being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2021 for Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero.
After stints with the Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland A’s, it appears Abraham Toro has finally found a real opportunity with the Boston Red Sox. Over the winter, he received just two offers—one from the Yankees and the other from his current team.
With Triston Casas out for the season, Toro has stepped up as a potential savior, slashing .333/.352/.563 with 8 doubles, 4 home runs, and 11 RBIs in his first 25 games of the year.
“There’s a long season ahead,” Toro said. “But fortunately, it’s been great so far. I’m working day by day. I just want to help this team, wherever they put me to play.”
He’s also making the most of his language skills to connect with teammates—and perhaps, one day, transition into a coaching role after his playing career ends.
“There are a lot of Latino players here,” Toro said. “It’s a big advantage to speak both English and Spanish. Maybe I can be a coach in the future, and that would be a huge plus.”
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Abraham Toro signed a minor league contract with the Red Sox during the offseason, after also receiving interest from the New York Yankees. He impressed during Spring Training and remained in big league camp until the final roster cuts in late March. Toro was then optioned to Triple-A Worcester, where he continued to hit well until he was called up following Triston Casas’s season-ending injury.
Photo: @RedSox video screenshot
