Kyle Higashioka, nicknamed “Higgy,” is a veteran MLB catcher known for his defensive skills and clutch hitting. He plays for the Texas Rangers after a standout 2024 season with the San Diego Padres, where he smashed a career-high 17 home runs.
Higashioka’s journey from a 7th-round draft pick to a World Baseball Classic silver medalist reflects his resilience. Off the field, he’s a family man with a deep connection to his Japanese heritage. This article breaks down his net worth, career highlights, contract details, and personal life.
Kyle Higashioka’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kyle Harris Higashioka |
| Date of Birth | April 20, 1990 |
| Age | 35 |
| Education | Edison High School; attended Orange Coast College |
| Nationality | American (Japanese ancestry) |
| Height | 6’1” (185 cm) |
| Weight | 202 lbs (92 kg) |
| Turned Pro | 2008 (Drafted by New York Yankees) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $5 million |
| Salary | $5.75 million |
| Wife | Alyse Higashioka |
| Instagram Profile | @alyse.higgy (private) |
| Twitter Profile | N/A |
Early Career
Kyle Higashioka grew up in Huntington Beach, California, where he starred at Edison High School, leading their baseball team to prominence. His talent earned him a commitment to play college baseball for the California Golden Bears at UC Berkeley.
However, the New York Yankees selected him in the seventh round of the 2008 MLB Draft, and he opted to sign professionally, receiving a $500,000 bonus instead of attending college.
Higashioka’s minor league journey began with the Gulf Coast Yankees in 2008, but progress was slow. By 2012, split between the High-A Tampa Yankees and Double-A Trenton Thunder, he batted just .170 over 147 at-bats.
Injuries then derailed his development: Tommy John surgery in 2013 and a broken thumb in 2014 limited him to 13 total games across both seasons. Despite becoming a minor league free agent after 2015, he re-signed with the Yankees, determined to prove his worth.
Higashioka earned Eastern League Player of the Week honors and was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He finished the year with a .276 average, 21 home runs, and 81 RBIs, securing a spot on the Yankees’ 40-man roster. This breakout performance set the stage for his MLB debut replacing an injured Gary Sánchez.
Though he started 0-for-18 in his first nine games, his defensive reliability kept him in the organization’s plans. A knee injury later that year sent him back to the minors, but his perseverance through setbacks laid the foundation for his eventual role as a trusted MLB catcher.
Professional Career
Kyle Higashioka’s MLB journey began with the New York Yankees in 2017 after a decade in the minors. Known for his defensive prowess, he became a trusted backup catcher, famously catching Corey Kluber’s no-hitter in 2021 and Domingo Germán’s perfect game in 2023.
Despite limited playing time, he delivered clutch moments, including a three-home-run game in 2020 against the Toronto Blue Jays. His role expanded in 2023, appearing in 91 games with 10 homers, though his batting average hovered at .236.
In December 2023, Higashioka was traded to the San Diego Padres as part of the Juan Soto deal. The 2024 season marked his offensive breakout: he slugged 17 homers with a .476 slugging percentage in 84 games, setting career highs in RBIs (45) and runs (29). His postseason heroics included homers in back-to-back Wild Card games against the Braves and another in the NLDS versus the Dodgers.
Signing a two-year, $13.5 million deal with the Texas Rangers in December 2024, Higashioka brought veteran leadership to the roster. Sharing catching duties with Jonah Heim He maintained a .261 average early in the season before a left intercostal strain landed him on the injured list in May. His contract includes a $7 million mutual option for 2027, reflecting his value as a defensively skilled catcher with emerging power.
Wife
Kyle Higashioka married Alyse Higashioka in a private Hawaiian ceremony on November 13, 2016.
The couple maintains a low public profile, with Alyse keeping her Instagram account (@alyse.higgy) private. While Kyle occasionally shares heartfelt tributes to her on social media, details about her personal life or career remain undisclosed.
They have no publicly reported children. Alyse’s support has been a constant throughout Kyle’s career, though she avoids the spotlight, prioritizing their privacy.
Kyle Higashioka’s Net Worth Details
Kyle Higashioka’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million as of 2025.
Current
Kyle Higashioka signed a two-year, $13.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers, covering the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The deal includes a $7 million mutual option for 2027 with a $1 million buyout if either party declines.
He earns $5.75 million in 2025 and $6.75 million reflecting his value as a veteran defensive catcher with emerging power. This contract followed a career-best 2024 season with the San Diego Padres, where he hit 17 home runs, prompting the Rangers to secure him as a complement to All-Star catcher Jonah Heim.
Salary
Kyle Higashioka’s 2025 salary with the Texas Rangers is $5.75 million, part of a two-year, $13.5 million contract signed in December 2024. The deal includes a $6.75 million salary for 2026 and a $7 million mutual option for 2027 (with a $1 million buyout). His earnings surged after a career-best 2024 season with the Padres, where he made $2.18 million.
Over his 10+ MLB seasons, Higashioka has accumulated $12.1 million+ in career earnings, including a $500,000 signing bonus from the Yankees in 2008. His current contract reflects his growing value as a power-hitting defensive catcher.
Career Earnings
| Year | Team | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | New York Yankees | $500,000 (signing bonus) |
| 2017 | New York Yankees | $81,844 |
| 2018 | New York Yankees | $272,490 |
| 2019 | New York Yankees | $154,326 |
| 2020 | New York Yankees | $214,519 |
| 2021 | New York Yankees | $594,000 |
| 2022 | New York Yankees | $935,000 |
| 2023 | New York Yankees | $1,462,500 |
| 2024 | San Diego Padres | $2,180,000 |
| 2025 | Texas Rangers | $5,750,000 |
| Total | Career | $12,144,679 |
MLB Career Stats
| Season | Team | Games | AVG | HR | RBI | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | NYY | 9 | .000 | 0 | 0 | .100 |
| 2018 | NYY | 29 | .167 | 3 | 6 | .560 |
| 2019 | NYY | 18 | .214 | 3 | 11 | .675 |
| 2020 | NYY | 16 | .250 | 4 | 10 | .771 |
| 2021 | NYY | 67 | .181 | 10 | 29 | .635 |
| 2022 | NYY | 83 | .227 | 10 | 31 | .653 |
| 2023 | NYY | 91 | .236 | 10 | 34 | .687 |
| 2024 | SD | 84 | .220 | 17 | 45 | .739 |
| 2025* | TEX | 14 | .254 | 1 | 5 | .669 |
| Career | – | 398 | .214 | 58 | 171 | .668 |
FAQs
1. What teams has Kyle Higashioka played for in his MLB career?
Kyle Higashioka began his major league career with the New York Yankees in 2017 and remained with them through the 2023 season. He was traded to the San Diego Padres in December 2023 and played the 2024 season in San Diego. In December 2024 he signed a two-year contract with the Texas Rangers, becoming their catcher for 2025 and beyond.
2. When and how did Kyle Higashioka make his Major League Baseball debut?
Higashioka debuted on April 10, 2017, for the New York Yankees. He was summoned from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following an injury to Gary Sánchez and entered as a defensive replacement, marking the culmination of nearly nine years in the Yankees’ minor league system.
3. What are Kyle Higashioka’s career batting statistics through early 2025?
Higashioka has compiled a .212 batting average with 57 home runs and 169 runs batted in over 1,154 major league at-bats. Defensively, he has caught two no-hit bids and has established himself as a reliable backup and occasional starter behind the plate.
4. What unique milestones and achievements has Kyle Higashioka recorded?
Higashioka recorded the first three hits of his MLB career as home runs, becoming the ninth player since 1920 to do so. On September 16, 2020, he hit three home runs in a single game. He caught Corey Kluber’s no-hitter in May 2021 and Domingo Germán’s perfect game in June 2023, highlighting his defensive acumen.
5. What was Kyle Higashioka’s amateur and minor league background?
Higashioka starred at Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California, and committed to the University of California, Berkeley before signing with the Yankees after being selected in the seventh round of the 2008 draft. He progressed through five minor league levels, posting a .246 average with 85 home runs over 2,295 at-bats before his MLB debut.
6. How did the trade from the Yankees to the Padres unfold for Kyle Higashioka?
The Yankees traded Higashioka along with Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vásquez, and Jhony Brito to the San Diego Padres in exchange for outfielder Juan Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham. The move transitioned Higashioka from a backup role in New York to sharing catching duties in San Diego.
7. What were Kyle Higashioka’s key statistics during his 2024 season with the San Diego Padres?
Higashioka slashed .220/.263/.476 with career highs of 17 home runs and 45 RBIs. He provided power off the bench and spelled the primary catcher, helping San Diego’s lineup with timely homers, including his first hit as a Padre, a home run at Petco Park.
8. When did Kyle Higashioka sign with the Texas Rangers, and what does his contract entail?
Higashioka agreed to a two-year contract with the Texas Rangers on December 2, 2024. The deal includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, securing his role as a veteran catcher and pitch-framing specialist in Arlington for at least 2025 and 2026.
9. In what international competition did Kyle Higashioka represent the United States?
Higashioka was selected for the United States national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Serving as one of the backstop options, he contributed defensively and provided depth to the roster’s catching corps during the tournament.
10. What notable batting feat did Kyle Higashioka achieve against an unconventional pitcher in 2022?
Higashioka hit a home run off first baseman Frank Schwindel, who had been called in to pitch in the eighth inning. The pitch traveled just 35.1 miles per hour, marking the slowest pitch belted for a homer since Statcast’s debut in 2015, and underscoring Higashioka’s power and bat-control skills.
