Early Life and Background

Robinson José Canó Mercedes was born on October 22, 1982, in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic. He was named after Jackie Robinson, the legendary baseball player who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier. During his childhood, Canó spent significant time living in New Jersey, giving him experience in both American and Dominican cultures.

His father, José Canó, was also a former professional baseball player. José pitched in the major leagues for the Houston Astros in 1989 and spent several seasons in the Atlanta Braves' minor league system. Robinson would later follow in his father's footsteps, carving out a distinguished career in professional baseball.

High School and Minor League Development

Canó attended San Pedro Apostol High School, where he played both basketball and baseball. He began his journey through the minor league system in 2001, starting with the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Gulf Coast League. Over the next few years, he advanced through several affiliates: the Greensboro Bats of the South Atlantic League, the Staten Island Yankees in the New York-Penn League, the Tampa Yankees in the Florida State League, and the Trenton Thunder of the Eastern League.

In 2004, Canó played primarily with the Trenton Thunder before earning a promotion to the Columbus Clippers, the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate. He began the 2005 season with the Clippers before being called up to the major leagues.

MLB Career: New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners

Robinson Canó made his Major League Baseball debut with the New York Yankees on May 3, 2005. He quickly secured his position as the Yankees' starting second baseman. That year, he finished as the runner-up for the American League Rookie of the Year Award. His performance continued to improve, and in September 2006, he earned the AL Player of the Month Award.

On January 24, 2008, Canó signed a four-year, $28 million contract extension with the Yankees. He played a pivotal role in the Yankees' success during the 2008, 2009, and 2010 seasons. In 2010, he finished third in American League Most Valuable Player voting, further solidifying his status as one of baseball’s elite second basemen.

In 2013, Canó left the Yankees and signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners, making it the fourth-largest contract in MLB history at the time. As a member of the Mariners, Canó continued to excel, although he missed the 2015 All-Star Game due to suffering from acid reflux.