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Gabriel Rincones Jnr

EDINBURGH, Scotland — 12 June, 2026 — The Scottish Baseball Development Programme is proud to congratulate Gabriel Rincones Jr. on his historic call-up to the Philadelphia Phillies and his first career start in Major League Baseball.  Rincones, who spent his formative years in Fife and played in the Scottish National Baseball League with the Edinburgh Cannons, carries a piece of Scotland onto the game’s biggest stage — arriving in the Major Leagues almost exactly 75 years after Glasgow-born Bobby Thomson struck the most famous home run in baseball history, the “Shot Heard ’Round the World.”

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Born in Florida, Rincones moved to Scotland as a young child. He grew up in Glenrothes and developed his love of the game by watching, and then playing with, his father in the SNBL, eventually earning himself a spot on Scotland's national baseball team. He did all of this before most scouts had ever heard his name.

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"Gabriel's story is exactly why we do what we do," said Steve Silverberg, President of the Scottish Baseball Programme. "He is proof that baseball talent exists in Scotland — it just needs to be found, nurtured, and given an opportunity. We couldn't be prouder to see him take the field in Philadelphia, and we hope every young player in Scotland is watching."

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Selected by the Phillies in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Florida Atlantic University, Rincones rose steadily through Philadelphia's minor league system. Last season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he posted a .799 OPS with 18 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases — demonstrating the rare combination of power and athleticism that has made him one of the Phillies' most anticipated prospects. 

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Rincones' path from Scotland to the Majors was anything but straight. He returned to the United States with a dream of pursuing a life in baseball, but was cut from his high school team. He found a second chance at St. Petersburg College (Fla.), and was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 19th round in 2021, only to decline the offer and transfer to Florida Atlantic University to prove himself.  There, he posted a 1.110 OPS in a single dominant season before earning a much higher selection in the following year’s draft.  That perseverance, forged in part on Scottish soil, will now be on display for audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. 

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Scotland's baseball community has followed Gabriel’s climb closely. His story has drawn coverage from The Herald and other major Scottish outlets, shining a spotlight on a baseball culture taking root where few would expect it . For the Scottish Baseball Programme, which is building an elite pathway for the next generation of Scottish players, Rincones represents not just an inspiration but a proof of concept.

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"There are young players across Scotland right now with the tools to compete at the highest levels of this sport," Silverberg added. "Gabriel's journey shows that Scotland can produce major leaguers. Our mission is to build the pathways that make the next one possible."