Jhoander Irigoyen Signs Minor League Free Agent Contract with Chicago Cubs

TAMPA, Fla. – University of Tampa catcher Jhoander Irigoyen has signed a minor league free agent contract with the Chicago Cubs organization following the completion of one of the most decorated seasons in Spartan baseball history. Irigoyen will report to a Cubs minor league affiliate to begin his professional career.

A native of Winter Garden, Fla., and two-time NCAA national champion, Irigoyen helped lead Tampa to the 2026 NCAA Division II National Championship, becoming part of the first program in NCAA Division II history to win three consecutive national championships while helping the Spartans capture an NCAA-record 11th national title.

"Jhoander has been the definition of what we look for in a Spartan," said head coach Joe Urso. "His work ethic, leadership, toughness, and consistency have been tremendous throughout his career. He developed into one of the best catchers in Division II baseball, and we're excited to see him continue his career with the Cubs organization. They are getting an outstanding player, proven winner, and an even better person."

Irigoyen capped his senior season by earning Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year honors while receiving First-Team All-America recognition from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA/Rawlings), Second-Team All-America honors from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA), First-Team All-Region accolades from the ABCA, NCBWA and D2CCA, First-Team All-Sunshine State Conference recognition, and selection to the NCAA Division II Championship All-Tournament Team.

Starting all 60 games behind the plate, Irigoyen batted .373 with 86 hits, 19 doubles, 11 home runs, 66 RBI and 55 runs scored while posting a .446 on-base percentage and .597 slugging percentage. He led the Spartans in total bases (138) and RBI while helping Tampa finish 51-9 overall, win the Sunshine State Conference championship, NCAA South Regional and South Super Regional titles, and ultimately claim the national championship.

Defensively, Irigoyen was equally dominant, recording a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 351 putouts, 21 assists and no errors in 372 chances. He finished the season without committing an error while serving as the cornerstone of one of the nation's top pitching staffs.

His postseason performances were instrumental in Tampa's championship run. During the NCAA Championship in Cary, North Carolina, Irigoyen delivered several clutch performances, including a three-hit, three-RBI effort in the national semifinal against Catawba, a two-hit, two-RBI performance with a home run in the championship series opener against West Chester, and an RBI in the title-clinching victory as the Spartans secured their historic third consecutive national championship.

Over two seasons at Tampa after transferring from Seminole State College, Irigoyen appeared in 109 games, batting .344 with 138 hits, 30 doubles, 15 home runs, 103 RBI and 97 runs scored. He was a key contributor to back-to-back NCAA Division II National Championship teams in 2025 and 2026 while helping the Spartans compile a combined 101-20 record over his two seasons in Tampa.

Prior to joining the Spartans, Irigoyen spent two seasons at Seminole State College, where he hit .339 with 10 home runs as a freshman before batting .357 with seven home runs and 55 RBI as a sophomore.