Bennett Sousa – Houston Astros Biography, Contract, Net Worth Information

Bennett Sousa has carved out a steady career as a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Right now, he’s with the Houston Astros, having signed a one-year contract worth $760,000 for the 2025 season.

He started out as a 10th-round draft pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2018 (288th overall) and has worked his way up to the majors, proving he’s a valuable bullpen piece.

Sousa was born on April 6, 1995, and honed his pitching at the University of Virginia before jumping into pro baseball. His net worth sits around $766,891, which makes sense since he’s fairly new to MLB-level paychecks.

Sousa got his break when the Chicago White Sox selected his contract from the Charlotte Knights in November 2021.

He’s followed the classic path for a mid-round pick, grinding through the minors and moving from a small signing bonus to a big-league contract. That salary jump is pretty typical for players who finally stick on a major league roster.

Early Life and Education

Bennett Sousa’s story starts in North Palm Beach, Florida, where he grew up and first fell in love with baseball. The mix of his upbringing and education set the stage for what he’d later accomplish in the majors.

Background and Childhood

John Bennett Sousa was born on April 6, 1995 in North Palm Beach. Living in a coastal Florida town meant baseball was always around, and the weather let him play all year long.

Even as a kid, Sousa showed a knack for pitching—especially as a lefty, which always catches coaches’ eyes. Left-handed pitchers are kind of a big deal for their different look on the mound.

His parents noticed his talent early and really supported him, signing him up for youth leagues so he could sharpen his skills.

Academic Achievements

Sousa didn’t let baseball distract him from school. Through high school, he managed to keep his grades up while still dominating on the field.

He liked analytical subjects, which later helped him get a handle on the data-driven side of pro baseball.

Before turning pro, Sousa attended the University of Virginia. Virginia’s known for tough academics and a strong baseball program, so it was a good fit.

While at Virginia, he took advantage of:

• Top-notch training facilities
• Coaches who knew their stuff
• Real competition
• The discipline to juggle school and sports

Influences and Early Interests

Sousa didn’t just think about baseball. He got interested in science, especially how it could help athletes perform better.

That curiosity ended up helping him adjust to the analytics-heavy world of today’s MLB.

A few youth coaches played a big part in shaping his pitching, spotting his potential and helping him get better. At Virginia, his college coaches taught him how to handle the mental side of pitching at a higher level.

He also liked breaking down the mechanics of pitching. He’d study successful left-handed pitchers in the majors and try to pick up their tricks. That kind of thinking helped him prepare for the jump to pro ball.

Professional Baseball Career

Bennett Sousa has worked his way up through the minors and now pitches for the Houston Astros as a lefty reliever. It’s been a steady climb, but he’s made it to the big leagues and landed contracts with major league teams.

Major League Signings

Sousa hit a big milestone when the Chicago White Sox selected his contract from the Charlotte Knights in November 2021. That move officially got him onto a major league roster.

Later, he signed with the Houston Astros for $760,000, which was a solid step forward. The one-year deal is fully guaranteed, so the Astros clearly trust him in their bullpen.

Sousa’s signings show teams see him as a reliable reliever. His current salary of $720,000 with Houston reflects that value.

Trades and Notable Losses

Sousa’s journey has included a few team changes, which happens a lot in pro baseball. He started with the White Sox, but things shifted and he ended up with the Astros.

Switching teams meant he had to adjust to new coaches, teammates, and a different clubhouse culture. That’s not always easy, but it’s part of the job for most players.

Minor League Signings

Sousa spent plenty of time in the minors before making it to the show. Playing for the Charlotte Knights, the White Sox Triple-A team, turned out to be a big deal for his development.

He used his time in the minors to fine-tune his pitches and prove he could help a big-league club. That hard work paid off when the White Sox brought him up.

Those years in the minors laid the groundwork for his MLB career. The progress he made there convinced teams he was worth investing in.

Free Agency and Major Deals

Now with the Houston Astros, Sousa keeps building his reputation. This chapter with Houston feels like a key step in his career.

His journey shows the usual financial climb for developing players. He’s gone from minor league deals to a major league salary close to $750,000.

With a net worth around $766,891, he’s started to build some financial security. Down the road, free agency could mean bigger contracts if he keeps improving.

Contract Details

Sousa’s career includes some straightforward contract agreements that lay out his earnings and team commitments in the majors.

Current Contract Terms

Right now, Sousa is playing under a 1-year, $760,000 contract with the Houston Astros. That’s a pretty standard deal for a player at his experience level. The contract’s fully guaranteed, so he’s set for the 2025 season no matter what happens.

After the White Sox drafted him, the Astros picked him up and kept the contract terms simple. There aren’t any no-trade clauses or complicated options—just a straightforward agreement.

These terms match his role as a reliever, and his pay lines up with other pitchers in similar spots.

Salary Structure and Bonuses

Sousa’s annual salary is $760,000 for 2025. Some sites, like SalarySport, list it as $720,000, but that’s probably just a reporting difference.

Unlike some contracts, Sousa’s doesn’t have a signing bonus or extra incentives. It’s a flat deal—no performance bonuses or milestones.

His contract puts him in the lower range for MLB salaries, but it’s a big jump from his $10,000 signing bonus in 2018 when he left Virginia.

Contract Negotiations

Sousa’s path to this contract started when the White Sox called him up from the Charlotte Knights on November 19, 2021. That was his first move to the big leagues after climbing through the minors.

His first MLB contract paid him $700,000 for the 2022 season, which is pretty much the norm for players jumping from the minors to the majors. The White Sox handled his early contracts by the book, following MLB’s collective bargaining rules.

The Astros picked him up later and gave him a slight raise. Since Sousa’s a pre-arbitration player, he doesn’t have much negotiating power yet—his salary mostly follows MLB’s standard pay scales for players with his experience.

Net Worth and Financial Overview

Bennett Sousa has put together a modest financial base through his baseball career. His contract value and net worth have grown as he’s stuck around in the big leagues.

Career Earnings

Sousa’s MLB salary history shows a steady climb. Right now, he’s making around $760,000 with the Astros. Before that, his pay was $720,000, so things are trending up.

He started out with a $10,000 signing bonus when the White Sox drafted him in the 10th round in 2018.

Since making his MLB debut, his earnings have picked up, especially after the White Sox added him to the major league roster in November 2021.

Investments and Assets

Sousa keeps his investment details private, but his net worth is estimated at $766,891. That’s probably a mix of his baseball pay, investments, and whatever assets he’s picked up.

Like most pros, he probably works with financial advisors to make the most of his income. MLB players often look for tax-smart ways to invest, since their pay and taxes can get complicated depending on where they play.

Players like Sousa usually put money into:

• Real estate
• Stock portfolios
• Private business deals
• Special retirement accounts for athletes

Sponsorships and Endorsements

Sousa’s got a pretty low-key endorsement profile, at least compared to bigger MLB names. As a reliever who’s moved around, most of his deals are probably with baseball equipment brands or local businesses.

At this stage, most players go after endorsements with:

• Equipment makers
• Athletic apparel brands
• Businesses in their team’s city
• Charities and community groups

Endorsement money can be hit or miss for players outside the superstar tier. Staying on top of contract obligations and performance is key if they want to keep those deals going.

Taxes play a big role too, since athletes have to deal with different state rules and sometimes even international tax stuff depending on the schedule.

Personal Life and Offseason Activities

Off the field, Bennett Sousa tries to keep things balanced. He splits his time between family, personal interests, and staying in shape. His offseason is a mix of training and enjoying life away from baseball.

Family and Relationships

Bennett Sousa, born on April 6, 1995, keeps most details about his family life under wraps, even as his baseball career grows. When the season wraps up, he heads home and makes time for family—it’s clearly a priority for him.

Friends and teammates call Sousa loyal and grounded. They say his family shaped those qualities.

He rarely opens up about personal relationships during interviews. Still, people close to the lefty reliever say family support has played a huge part in his journey as a pro athlete.

“Family keeps me centered,” Sousa admitted during a rare personal interview at spring training. “When you’re on the road so much, those connections become your anchor.”

Hobbies and Philanthropy

Sousa loves the outdoors. He spends a lot of his offseason fishing and hiking.

People have seen him at conservation events around the country. He supports environmental causes but doesn’t really look for the spotlight.

He also helps out beyond just environmental work. Sousa joins baseball clinics for underprivileged kids, especially in places hit by natural disasters.

At these clinics, he teaches baseball basics and talks about the value of education and sticking with things.

Sousa likes reading biographies, especially about historical figures and athletes. He says they inspire him.

Teammates notice his curiosity and wide range of interests. They say he brings a thoughtful vibe to the clubhouse.

Offseason Training and Travel

Sousa doesn’t mess around when it comes to offseason training. He works with pitching coaches to sharpen his technique and sticks to strength and conditioning programs built for pitchers.

In recent offseasons, he’s trained at specialized facilities along the East Coast. He spent time in New York and at the Blue Ridge Mountain training complex, which is known for high-altitude workouts.

These spots give him both technical resources and natural terrain. Sousa mixes both into his training routine.

Travel is also a big part of his offseason. He splits time between training trips and personal adventures, often heading to national parks or out-of-the-way fishing spots.

These trips help him recharge. They also let him stay active in different settings and at different elevations.

Injuries and Career Challenges

Bennett Sousa has faced some tough moments in his baseball career. Injuries have tested his grit and forced him to adapt as a pitcher for the Houston Astros.

Injury History

Sousa first ran into major trouble in 2019, back when he played in the Chicago White Sox minor league system. A shoulder strain kept him off the field for nearly six weeks, right when he was starting to gain momentum.

In 2021, elbow inflammation slowed him down again. He didn’t need surgery, but the issue limited his appearances and effectiveness for about three weeks.

The Houston Astros medical staff now keeps a close eye on his elbow.

In late 2023, Sousa tweaked his oblique, which interrupted his training. He followed a specific recovery plan to make sure the injury didn’t come back.

Recovery and Return to Play

Sousa takes rehab seriously. After the shoulder injury, he teamed up with physical therapists who built a throwing program just for him. They worked on slowly rebuilding his arm strength without risking another setback.

For his elbow, Sousa tried some new recovery techniques. He did targeted strength exercises and tweaked his mechanics to take pressure off the joint.

His commitment sped up his return to the mound.

The Astros use a data-driven system to track Sousa’s workload after injuries. They monitor pitch velocity, arm angles, and recovery times to help him avoid more setbacks.

He didn’t have to worry much about insurance claims, since the process ran smoothly. That let him focus on getting healthy and back in the game.

Impact on Professional Growth

Injury challenges have really shaped Sousa’s career path. That first shoulder issue? It set him back about half a season in the minors, which probably pushed back his shot at the majors.

Still, the setbacks taught him a lot. Sousa started to pay much closer attention to his body mechanics and learned injury prevention tricks that have helped him stick around longer than some expected.

His current $760,000 contract with the Astros shows both his talent and how much the team trusts his durability these days.

Teammates have actually pointed out how much more time Sousa spends on preventative conditioning now. He puts in extra work on flexibility and core strength—pretty smart, considering how many relievers get sidelined by injuries.

The tough stretches have even changed how he pitches. Sousa’s delivery is more efficient now, putting less strain on his arm but still getting the job done when he’s out there.