Niko Vasquez

Ernest Vasquez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
• High School Durango High School
• Born February 26, 1989 in Oxnard, CA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Infielder Niko Vasquez began his professional career in 2008. He spent his first few years in affiliated ball, then went on to a long career in independent and international ball.

He was taken by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 3rd round of the 2008 amateur draft, a few picks after infielder Danny Espinosa, a few picks ahead of outfielder Logan Schafer, and also ahead of future All-Star Craig Kimbrel. He was signed by scout Aaron Krawiec. He reached double-digit homers twice while in the Cardinals system, in 2010 when he hit 12 dingers with 70 RBI between the Quad Cities River Bandits and Palm Beach Cardinals, and in 2011, when he hit 13 homers between Palm Beach and the Springfield Cardinals. He left the Cardinals system partway through 2012 and spent some of the year in the Cincinnati Reds chain. That was his final campaign in affiliated ball.

In 2013, he latched on with the independent Frontier League, where he would remain through 2015. 2014 was a season of particular note -- that year, he hit .309/.425/.498 with 13 home runs, 67 RBI, 76 runs scored and 66 walks in 90 games between the Southern Illinois Miners and Gateway Grizzlies. He was second in the league in runs, behind Mike Schwartz's 79, and second in walks, behind Eric Williams' 90. From 2016 on, outside of a brief stint in the American Association in 2017, would play in the Mexican League and Mexican Pacific Winter League. He posted some impressive slash lines, including a .387/.459/.604 mark for the Mariachis de Guadalajara in 2021; he led the league in batting average. He was still active through 2025.